The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-10-24
A. C. Staten Returns.

A. G.. Staten returned last Saturday
from an extended trip in Utah and as
far east as Omaha. He says Hood Riv-
er and Oregon are on every ones tongue
The worst feature. however, is that the
people fail to segregate Hood River
from the state of Oregon, and seem to
think that as soon as they cross the line
into Oregon, they can drop off the train
and begin to grow such apples and
strawberries as we do here. He says
there is an immense rush of immigrants
from the East and South to Oregon and
Washington, that when he boarded the
train at Ogden, Friday, to come home, it
was three hours late on oecount of hav-
ing been delayed waiting for the r. G..
W, which had large delegation of inn
migrants for Oregon and Washington.
The train was made up in two sections,
and still there was not room to accom-
modate the passengers in the tourist
sleepers, many of them being obliged
to I.de in the day coaches and bunk on
the seats, and the trainmen stated that
this rush has been on for two or three
weeks In conversation with one Of
these immigrants, a Kentuckian, he
learned that, in that part OF Kentucky
from which he came, the grass had
failed of late years, by reason of drouth,
and this gentleman was on his way to
Seattle to look up good grazing district,
and that there are so of his neighbors
who will follow him when he finds the de-
sired location.
Mr.. Staten took his grip full of Hood
Rivers big red apples, and when he
landed at Murray, he was Immediately
recognized by his old friends, who took
him in hand and passed him around
from one to the other in town, each
one quarreling for the next chance to
learn all about Hood River. Mr.. Staten
told the story so often, he had itdOwn
as pat as book agent, and when the
camp OF Woodmen, OF which Mr.. Staten
is member, called a special meeting,
and invited him to address them on the
resources and advantages of Hood River,
he was well prepared for the occasion.
As result, the wives OF the Woodmen
were ready to mob him the next day,
declaring he had made their husbands
all crazy over Oregon, but when they met
him at gathering later, where, for pro-
lection, he carried one of his big apples,
they divided it into small bits and about
40 of them tasted the fruit, they we're as
much taken up with Hood River as
were their husbands. Mr.. Staten also
says that in Salt Lake, Ogden, Murray
and several other places he visited, he
could find no apples such as we would
eat, that the most of the apples they
had on sale were scrawny, scabby,
wormy things which we would not pick
up for our Ligs here, and they were SELL
ing them at 81 box. He said, too,
that he could have placed so or more
of our booklets in the hands of men Of
means, many of whom contemplate
coming to the coast to locate, and some,
who will come in the spring. Two OF
the leading commission men of Salt Lake
made close inquiry as to Hood River,
and finally said they were determined
to come to Hood River and put out or
chards to raise apples for their houses.
The people were astounded, and found it
difficult to believe Mr.. Staten when he
told them that we shipped strawberries
to Alaska and China, which arrived at
their destination in good condition. And
it was as hard for them to believe his
report of the phenomenal yields of our
berry fields.
He made several side trips, with the
same experience, in all cases finding the
people eager to learn all they could Of
the conditions here. 1t might be pro-
ductive of good results il our CONNER
cial club should procure addresses from
Mr.. Staten and mail some OF the book
lets to interested parties.