The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-05-26
Big Deal In Apple Land.

OHe OI lne ldfBeSL uehiB III HOOu
River Valley land that has been made
in some time has been completed,
whereby the Hood River Fruit Com
pany, capitalized at $4,000, has pur-
chased 1853 acres of orchard and apple
land. The deal Is the outcome Of In.
yestigatiUns that have been made qui-
etly during the past six months by
Burt Van Horn, Il wealty aud success
ful apple grower from New York state.
Mr.. Van Horn has an orchard of 400
acres near Buffalo, N. Y, consisting of
apples, peaches and pears. This or
chard has been in The family for llS
years. In 1887 Mr. Van HoIns father,
who WINS u congressman, set cut the
first large apple orchard in Western
New York, consisting of Is acres. To
this were subsequently added 30 acres
NOSE ofapples. From this As acres Mr..
Van Horn took crop last year OF
1900 boxes, or 5000 barrels, us they
are packed in the east.
In handling large quantities Of his
own apples, as we'll as the crops Of Other
growers, he came into competition with
Hood River apples. He became curious
10 see the famous valley that could
produce such fine fruit, and finally
took trip out here last August, re.
naming one day only on account Of n
press Of business, the marketing Of Il
large crop Of peaches taking him back
He returned again In November, re-
manning month, and left his private
secretary, I. A. Decker, on the ground
The result Of their vestigations Is the
large purchase above mentioned, and
the forming Of stock compuny to put
the enterprise on a business basis,
The company has been formed soley
for the purpose Of growing apples In d
scientific manner, and not for speculn
ton. No more land will he bought
nor any Of the present purchases sold
II will be great benefit to the Hood
River Valley in many ways. The men
composing the company are now vitality
interested In the future of the Valley
and the welfare Of the city of Hood
River and every acre Of their land will
80 sct In apples, which will he cultlva
I'd In the best manner that science and
experience have demonstrated,
Mr.. Van Horn Is business man ot
Wide experience and Of ample means
For nine years preceding January, 1892
he was In the street railway business
having built the electric road from
Buffalo to Niagra Falls, and was gen
eral manager Of the road until the con
solltlntlOn of all the electrical roads o
Western New York into the Interna
lional Traction Co. by j. z. Morgan q
Co., at which time Mr.. Van Horn was
made genera. manager of the entire
system, comprising over $50 miles oI
track. Under his management the
Pan American terminals were built and
the road thoroughly reconstructed
throughout. The heavy strain brok,
down his health aud in January, 1902
he resigned his position aud retired Il
his farm, since which time he has beer
engaged IN Its management when not
abroad. He expects to spend consid
cradle time at Hood River In the spring
and fall except when other busines,
interests aud his annual trips abroad
take him elsewhere.
I. A Decker will be In charge of the
property. lie. was Mr. Van Horn's
private secretary while the latter was
engaged in his railroad enterprises, G.
X, Marshall, who came here at the re-
quest of Mr.. Van Horn, has purchased
fruit farm for himself independent Of
the company, He was electrical and
mechanical engineer Of the Buffalo &
Niagara Ry,
Mr., Van Horn remarked that he be
lleved the enterprlsing people he met
Ia Heed River would not allow the city
to remain long without fire protection
and sewer system, and not wait,as many
cities of the west do, until disastrous
fire wipes out the buildings, and an
epidemic of typhoid causes the loss OF
valuable lives,