The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-01-24
THE LAND OF FINE FRUITS.
The Charming Resort and Rich Valley
Of Hood River.
Hugh Gourlay in New Years oregonlan.

Railway < Navigation Company, 66
miles east Of Portland, and also on the
Columbia river, between Portland and
The Dalles, is the charming townsite Of
Hood River. 1t is doubtful if any other
settlement in the Pacific Northwest en-
joys the attractions Of scenic grandeur
and beautiful surroundings that are
claimed by Hood River. The view from
this point commands wide stretch OF
the Columbia, the great river OF the
West Directly south of the townsite,
towering upward till the apex seems
to almost penetrate the dome OF the fir
mament itself, is Mount Hood, the most
attractive Of all the snow peaks Of the
Cascade range Of mountains, while to the
north the ice-bound summit OF Mount
Adams pierces the sky, Hood river
itself, which empties into the Columbia
at Hood River station, is stream Of the
clearest running water that finds its
source in the glaciers Of Mount Hood.
AS permanent place of residence or as
a charming summer resort, which now
annually claims the interest of large
numbers OF Portland's people, Hood
River is one Of the mostattractive towns
Of the Pacific Northwest.
First impressions may go far in claim
ing that recognition which is not without
its advantages as bearing directly upon
the commercial supremacy of any popu-
lous center of country. The man who
views the townsite OF Hood River for the
first time wants TO stop there. A closer
examination of the town itself, its many
beautiful surroundings, and the rich
section Of country from which it derives
its support, will inevitably make an en-
thusiast out of him who from passing
interest alone started to make casual
observation of point that had impressed
him iavorably.
Extending for 20 miles or more inland
from Hood River station is the most
wonderful stretch of fruit lands in the
United States. Hood River strawberries
today are the finest strawberries sold in
the Portland market. The carloads of
these berries that were shipped East
during the past year opened the eyes Of
the Eastern people to the possibilities Of
fruit production in the far west. The Hood
River strawberry is the largest strawber-
ry raised in the world. 1t is firm in text
ure, it is delicious in quality and it is
especially adapted to shipment over
long distances. All OF the varieties of
small fruits grow equally as we'll in
Hood River valley as does the strawberry.
Hood River valley, renowned almost
the world over for its apples and straw
berries, occupies about 100 square miles
OF the northwestern portion of Wasco
county. This valley has given its name
to the "Ilood River Seeding" straw
berry, whose reputation for attractive
color, exquisite flavor and superior ship
ping qualities is known all over the Unit
ed States. Here, and in Mosier and The
Dalles districts this berry attains such
perfection that it has never found a peer
either at home or in the numerous states
where it finds ready market. Just
what it is that gives this berry its ex-
cellence, whether soil or climate, no one
knows. 1t is not the same elsewhere.
1t can be shipped 1000 to 1000 miles
and more, and is as firm at the end
of its journey as it was at the beginning
That the market for Hood River straw
berries is practically unlimited and that
their cultivation is profitable, may be
gathered from the following report of
the crop of 1901 las furnished by the sec
retaries of the Davidson Fruit Company
and the FruitgrOwers' Union, two Hood
River shipping concerns:
These two shipping concerns this year
shipped 1000 crates of the 10000 crates
of Strawberries shipped from Hood Riv-
er, or fOur-iiiths of the entire crop They
shipped 50 straight carloads under re-
frigeration, and between Is and 20 cars
by express, or about so cars, all told.
The cash returns to the growers for
their 900 crates amounted to $85, ,000
A deduction of $25,000 for cost of picking
and crates leaves the growers about $780,
900 above all expenses. The entire acre
age in strawberries in Hood River valley
and White Salmon is about $50, which
would make the average net to the grow
er above all expenses something over
$3.50 per acre
The output of Hood River Strawberries
should be increased until we have three
or four times as many as we have now.
The markets are taking more each year
than they did the previous season, and
there will be no trouble about the mar
kets increasing with the production.
There was no market this year that got
all it asked for. Both the Fruit Growers
Union and the Davidson Fruit Company
made several sales of Strawberries for
shipment to the Klondike country, and
the berries were reported as arriving
there in good condition, and selling at
S. per pound box.
The value of crop of $50 acres of
Strawberries in Hood River valley in '0l
was $75 5000, The net profit to growers
OF this fruit product averaged $3.50 per
acre. The Hood River district last year
exported 1000 crates alone. Eight cars
of this product were billed to Montana,
seven to North Dakota, three cars to
Winnipeg and one car each to Duluth,
Denver and Omaha. Only about one
quarter of the acreage specially adapted
to strawberry culture is now in cultiva-
ton in the Hood River valley
The market value of the Hood River
strawberry may be appreciated by the
statement that in the Middle West when
placed in competition with the Arkan-
sas and Missouri strawberry, it readily
commands price in advance of the
southern product. The Hood River
berries have been sent by express to
cities even on the Atlantic seaboard,
points which the fruit reached in per-
feet condition.
Like the strawberry, the finest apples
sold in the Portland market during the
fall and winter season are from Hood
River, The great value OF the Hood
River apples is attestod by the statement
that in the Portland market during the
winter months this apple brings from 81
20 SS and even more box (busheD.
The Hood River apples are of the bright
est color. The quality OF the fruit itself
is unsurpassed,and il possesses keeping
qualities which commend the Hood. Riv-
er product especially to dealers. With
a full acreage OF the Hood River valley
planted in apples and strawberries,
there would never be any trouble what
ever in finding ready market for the
entire fruit product OF this section at
profitable prices
The climatic conditions Of Hood Riv-
er valley are especially favorable. The
average annual precipitation is 80 inch
es. There is practically an entire free