The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-10-13
FAMOUS WILLOW
FLAT COUNTRY

j. A. Knox has over 100 acres at the
turn OF the road going up into the upper
valley and still does most of the local
hlaeksmithing at the shop on his farm.
He has less than 25 acres cleared, about
five acres Of which is in apples, the bal
anee in hay and pasture. His work In the
shop has not given him time to improve
his place as much as he would like.
w. G. Dodge, j. Q. Carnahah aud A.
T. Dodge have places on the slope, and
are making steady improvements.
On the new road connecting Dukes
Valley with the Mount Hood settlement
are located the farms Of N. G. Suits
and Charles A. Suits. They have nice
homes built, have small orchards set
out, and are raising hay berries and gar
den truck. Considerable more clearing
will. be done this winter.
No one section OF the valley has come
to the front more rapidly than Willow
Flat. Lying upon what may be called
the second bench, at an altitude of a
little over 1000 feet, nine miles from the
city, II is nicely situated about half way
between the upper aud lower valleys.
The soil is yellow silt, with a sprink.
ling OF shot gravel in places, 1t needs
more irrigation than the white clay land
but does not pack down or bake in the
sun, being very easily cultivated, and
and always keeps loose and moist.
The Booth place, one OF the oldest
homesteads in the valley, attracted at
tention to this section ON account Of the
fine quality of fruit raised. Only about
atnhk hnx.a s.laa.-1
the place, but il is all in orchard, and is
always to be depended upon for first
quality fruit.
Noah Bone was also one of the early
settlers on the fat, and has nearly so
acres in cultivation, 35 OF which are in
orchard, and 20 in hay.
H. L. Davidson was attracted to the
fiat a Few years ago, and has cleared up
tina largast part of his 60 acres. He
has a fine peach orchard three years old,
and the balance OF the clearing is set to
apples and berries.
G. +. Belieu has 90 acres, partly i'm.
proved, A. j, 'avidson, l3, and Nels q.
Hagan 70.
ID. l.. Davidson has set out an orchard
OF IA acres, and has also five acres in
strawberries, from which he got very
satisfactory returns.
G. r. Bone has only FIVE acres left in
Willow Flat, on which he has his sum-
mer home, e,making it q convenient head
quarters from which to look after his
ditch and numerous other interests He
recently sold 100 acres to the Hood
River Orchard Co., with which he is
also connected, the Van Horn interests
having large block of stock. This
tract will DO nearly all cleared up this
winter and it is planned to have at least
so acres in orchard in the spring. 1t is
probable that about 80 acres will be
kept for hay land and other crops.
Rogers q Co., have 40 acres, Is of
which is now in apples, and the balance
will be cleared as soon as possible
c. w. Murphy is slowly clearing up
his farm of 75 acres, and has very good
prospect
+. A. Massee has one of the comfort.
able homes in the fiat, his place adjoin-
ing the Davidson ranch and command
ing very fine view. He is clearing
land steadily having seven acres already
in orchard, and viii, set out about three
acres to peaches and cherries in the
spring.
Dukes Valley adjoins Willow Flat on
the west, most of the farms lying on
the fiat and extending part way up the
rather steep slope of the ridge that rises
up on the east bank Of the river.
The largest place is owned by ]. p.
Thomson of The Dalles, consisting OF
so acres. This is strictly hay ranch,
there being about rs acres in clover.
+. il. Massey has fine place located
partly in the vallep, with level bench