The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-11-01
2lood River Glacier.
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER /, 1901.
Where Rolls the Oregon.


Correspondence Oregon, City Courier-Herald.
After a few days OF activity in The
Dalles we floated down to Hood River,
where we spent Sunday. Hood River is
famed the world over for her big red
apples and luscious Strawberries, and per-
haps the readers Of your columns will
find brief sketch OF some interest
We are indebted to much valuable in
formation to Hon, f. l.. Smith, presi-
dent of the Oregon state board OF hor-
ticulture, who has been resident OF
this valley for 26 years, has lovely and
prolific orchard OF 80 acres, three miles
above town, and he is enthusiastic over
the inture prospects for the Oregon fruit
growers II they can be induced to. CO..
operate, for only in union IS there
strength The individual producer ls at
the tender (?) neFcies Of commission
sharks and diamond stud spectators
One reason why Hood River fruit all
ways commands good prices is that they
have well organized union and no
competition among the producers.
Henry T. Williams, who owns eXten,
sive orchards in the Ozark mountains Of
Arkansas and who recently purchased
IN so acre orchard in Hood River val
ley, says, in speaking of the strawberry
industry here "The demand exceeded
the supply. Markets that wanted them
could not be supplied, and had TO 60
without. Commission men who wanted
them on commission we're told that
nothing left this place except when paid
for in advance or guaranteed. Dealers
wanting to beatdown thepriees we're told
that ii they were not good to stick by
prices first given they would not get any.
Never before was the grower king q the
market. But one variety can be sold
with favor and but from one place, the
home Of its adoption-Hood River
There are certain peculiar merits
connected with this variety--the Clark's S
Seedling-that constitutes a chapter in
horticulture, very remarkable. What it
is that gives this berry its excellence
here no one knows. The berry is not
the same elsewhere. It carries for disc
tances Of 1900 miles or more and holds
firm to the end. /"
Several shipments that went to the
Klondyke country are reported to have
arrived there in good condition and sold
like hot CAKES at s. a box There We're
10000 crates Of strawberries shipped
from here this year--over 60 carloads
The cash returns to the growers was
about $S5 900; deduction OF $25 900 for
picking and crates, leaves the growers
about 100000 clear Of expenses, The
entire acreage in strawberries in Hood
River and White Salmon is about $50
acres, over $l60 per acre net profit.
Space will not permit us giving the
Hood River valley proper description.
The people here all seem prosperous As
an example Of apple culture we will
mention G. Dethman's orchard Of
five acres ] ] years of age. lie has most
~ late winter varieties, and Of course,
exercises care in picking and plcking,
but ier the last five years bis apple crop
from these five acres has brought him
an average Of Sl400 in cash. Say don't
that beat raising 40 cent wheat
Onr thanks are due " Winehell, a
pioneer native son Of Hood Rivervalley,
for pleasant drive, and much OF the in
formation we gathered of the valleys
pioneer history. The first settler locat-
ed in Hood River valley in 1854. The
first store building was erected in the
town in 1891 by John Parker, now de-
ceased 1t is still standing and is occu-
pied by Bone & McDonalds as a general
merchandise store The town was in
corporated in 1894, and now has pop
ulation of 700 souls An electric hight
plant has recently been placed in opera
tion. II hasa local telephone system, and
isa live up to date town. 1t is66miles by
rail from Portland Dnring the high
water, the river steamers run right up
to the town, but at low water as at present
it's a mile from the landing. But after
all is said about Hood River, She can't
hold a candle to our native soil-Clacka-
mas county. HOBO.