The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-09-24
ON A HOP RANCH.
Now Chinese Compete with Indian Pickers
in Neutrality-suspicious. Scenea

St~~-s
in this state, hops being the most va.u-
able agricultural crop of western Wash
ington. The Snoqualmie hop ranch con-
sists of 1900 acres, 300 being in hops.
The production of this farm is from
1900 to 1000 pounds per acre. 1t is
said that the clear profit to the state this
year was over 81 1000.
The first hops raised here were planted
in 1866 near the present city of Puyal-
lup A peck of hops were planted by
Jacob R. Meeker. From these he har-
vested bale of hops, receiving eight
cents per pound for them. This at
tracted attention to the industry and re-
suited in further planting along the
river and in the valleys. From this
small beginning sprang an industry that
has brought into the state more
$20,000000 and given employment
fully 5000 people annually.
I quote from an article written by Mr..
Ezra Meeker for the state board of trade,
so that facts and figures are authentic.
Hop picking is one of the picturesque
scenes of Washington. The work Of
harvesting is done largely by Indians,
though other nationalities are well rep
resented, who come from all parts of the
state, from British Columbia and even
from Alaska. 1t is the time of year
when the Indian is sure of sufficient
work to enable him to buy his winter
stores. Most of them reach the hop
yards in their canoes, which, hewn from
single logs, seem clumsy and unsafe to
the white man, but in which the Indians
brave even the tempests of the ocean.
The high prows are gayly painted and
usually decorated with a rude figure cut
out of wood. Hundreds and even thou
sands of these canoes in the early au-
tumn are to be seen on the waters Of
Puget sound, and the beaches are COW
cred with temporary camps.
From the shores of the Pacific, Of
British Columbia and beyond, whole
tribes embark, pass through the Gulf of
Georgia and across the Straits Of Fuca
and paddle up the sound for the sole
purpose of being present at the hop
picking and spending the money earned
in blankets, gaudy calico and other
stores, to last until the next season of
plenty. gaa e
Men, women and children just able to
walk engage in the work, and are all
industrious as long as the season lasts.
Their painted faces and bright raimert,
in contrast among the dark foliage of
the hop vines, form a picture that is
ever new. And when the harvest is
over they return to their homes by easy
stages, taking care that much of the
bright silver is well expended or gam
bled away before civilization is left
behind.
The question of questions with hop
growers is, Will pickers enough come?
If SO, will they arrive in time? The In
dams are quick to perceive the situation
and ready to profit by the anxiety of the
growers, and to drive the best bargain
possible. AS the acreage has increased,
however, the supply of labor has thus
far been ample, so that there never has
been any real loss from lack Of piekers.
For five years, from 1886 to 1890 inclu-
sive, Mr.. Meeker has kept accurate ac-
count of the production of one farm
of sixty-one acres which he has in hops.
During that time there were grown and
marketed 574,602 pounds of hops, which
sold at an average of II 3-5 cents per
pound, aggregating SOL, 1895. The
cost of production was 8 cents per
pound. The net profit, therefore, from
sixty one acres for five years was $49,-
415.77, an annual average of $9,888. 10
and yearly average net profit per acre
of $4,000. These figures will show a
much greater profit than from hops
raised in New York or New England.
In central New York the cost of pro-
ducing crop is not less than 10 cents
per pound, while in New England an
average of at least IS cents is reached.
~ A new element has entered into hop
picking-viz. the Chinese. Last autumn
when the fleets of canoes came from
Alaska and British Columbia came down
the sound to the hop ranches, the Indians
found their places taken by the yellow,
bias eyed Celestials, who had come in
and possessed the land. The cursing
was deep maybe, at least it was silent,
and the high prows were turned home
ward again. They camped all along the
coast and reached their homes by slow
stages. They usually carry small tent
in which to sleep, but all their occupa-
lions and recreations are carried on in
the broad sunlight, with only the blue
sky for a canopy. Their household
utensils consist of camp kettle and
several large spoons. Fish, vegetables,
everything they eat, cooked in the one
kettle, and the various members of the
family sit about and dip in their spoons
whenever they feel the pangs of hunger.
They are filthy beyond description, and
as for good looks, l have yet to see one
that ever appropriated toward that
point. The beautiful Indian maiden
strong, 1.-THE and symmetrical-has been
lost, if she ever existed among these
tribes, through the degenerating infiu-
snce of civilization.
When the Hydah and Fort Simpson
Indians had returned last fall so far as
Victoria, B. c., they stayed there for
several weeks, during which time they
gave three entertainments, consisting of
songs and dances such as were in vogue