The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-07-14

Nature, the great architect OF the
universe, located the habitations OF
man. Large cities are not placed by
chance. The little brook that trickles
from it's creivce in the rocks and re.
eeives its growth from the snow capped
giants of the hills, winds its way to the
sea, opening up highway for the traf-
fic OF a nation. Slowly but irresista-
bly,. it cuts it's channel through noun
tain gorges, over silent meadows, down
rocky sleeps, roaring, plunging and
spreading, but never stopping till il
mingles itself with the boundless ocean.
1t asks no help from the puny hand OF
man. Whether its waves dash against
the desolate shores Of the wilder
ness, or labor with the weight OF COM
merce, it cares not; only onward,
is its progress, inviting the laborer to
rest his wares upon its bosom, that
they may be easily transported TO the
teeming world. Il stretched its
hand up the canyon among the hills far
by the side of the great Columbia; an
opening had been made, and an outlet
granted for the many productions of
the great agricultural and horticultural
region here. Alone in its great power,
uncompromising in its resistless
strength. it gave out the fiat and located
the slightly little city of Hood River in
a natural grove of towering oaks. Lit
tie by little. men made obeisance to
the incoEtrovertible mandate and the
place has steadily grown until today it
has a population of aobut 500 souls.
Hood River is delightfully."- situated
on a hill side in forest, affOrding
ample shade and natural drainage. 1t
is in fact a Forest City. HorizOned
by rugged and picturesque mountains,
and tree tops. that cut sharp silhouettes
against a sky of Incompatible blue,
the town is hidden by dense carpet
of green. Here and there white
splotch shows against the deep mass,
where some house thrusts itself above
the trees. but a man standing upon the
heights to the south and looking down
would never guess that 500 people
dwelt under that natural tLatch of
stately oaks. To the north an inspir-
ing view of that grand, broad stream,
the Columbia, is afforded. The resi-.
dence portion in these circlng forest
hills, disclosing glimpses OF cosy cot
tages, unique villas and pretensions
mansions, surrounded by evidences of
artistic landscape gardening, sweep
ing driveways and every evidence of
wealth, culture and refinement. No
place of it's size in this or any other
state has more magnificent homes, nor
more happily surrounded. and in near
" every instance the landscape hand
some residences are owned by the occu-
pants thereof.
The business streets are we'll shaded
and located on natural incline and
are lined with pretty and c0mmodious
trade emporiums.
Hood River, the thriving town of
the Cascade mountains, is situated at
the confluence of the Columbia and
Hood rivers. at an elevation of 1903 feet
above the level of the sea. Owing to
its proximity to Mount Hood and to
its healthful location, the place at
tracts many summer visitors. Excur-
sionists visit us by steamers in large
and quite frequently during
the hot months. The town is also the
shipping point for the Hood River val
ley, noted the country over for its pro-
duction of Strawberries and apples.
While the population of the town is
only about 500. yet the valley is thick
ly settled and contains about 2, 900 peo-
Pile. 1t is on account Of this dense
that the rural free delivery
mail system is now ON experimental
daily trial in these parts.
A pen sketch of the Hood River val
ley, found elsewhere in this issue, even
when kept serupulously within the
bounds of facts, reads like tale from
the arabian Nights" The develop
ment that has been accomplished is
but feebly described when it is called
The old simie OF desert
converted into garden has been so
applied TO many localities
in Oregon that it has become trite;