The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-05-26
The Famous Hood River Valley.
By cApr. JAMES ?. SHAW.

Hood River Valley is gem all by
itself. titles In the northwestern part Of
Wasco county, % miles west of The Dalls
the county seat, and 66 miles east of Port
land, on the line of the o. r. & N. r. R.,
the valley extending to the Columbia
river on the north.
This valley has an elevation of 200
feet at its northern terminus, and 1900
feet In the upper or southern part. Its
width from east to west, is from five to
eight miles, and from north to south, 20
miles. The tillable land will reach 50,-
600 acres, about one fourth of which is
in cultivation.
The surface is generally rolling, the
elevated portions being considered the
strongest soil.
The valley lies picturesquely envi-
roned between two mountain ranges
that reach a general elevation of 1000
feet above sea level. These ranges are
spurs of the Cascades, and are fringed
with fir and pine that present pleasing
background.
Mount Hood, snow crowned and ever
beautiful, forms an impossible barrier
to the valleys further progress to the
south, while the mighty Columbia stops
its further extension tO the north.
Hood River, tortuous and ever rest
less stream, its icy waters flowing from
glacial caves from under Mount Hood,
divides the valley into East and West
divisions. That portion lying east ofthe
river being considered best adapted to
the growth Of the apple, while the west
side is devoted to the raising of the far
famed Hood River strawberries, The
soil of this side of the river is composed
of volcanic ash, thoroughly impregnated
with iron oxides and mixed with large
percentage OF decomposed sandstone.
When water is once applied to soil ofthis
nature, the fruits grown upon it are as
nearly perfect as can be raised in tenn
perate zones. Water for irrigation pur-
posesis broughtinto the valley by bitches
and fumes, the water being taken out Of
Hood River, supplying the ranchers with
water through lateral fumes. Theso on
the east side is somewhat varied in its
characteristics being of a more clayey
nature in some parts, while in other sec
tions the same decomposed granite and
volcanic ash is met with, giving to fruits
raised mere their superior naVOf, color
and shipping qualities.
1t is not alone the chemical elements
the soil ofthis section contains that give
superiority to fruits grown upon it, but
the climate as well. Clear skies over
head and balmy air just when the fruits
are ripening perform no small part in
giving to the world the finest apples that
grow. The red on Hood River apple is
a deeper red and the yellow on Newton
is richer golden color than is found else
where. Rub your hand over Hood
River apple, and you obtain varnish
like appearance to the skin that is mar
velous.
Nowhere else has there been a spot of
earth found where the apple, cherry and
strawberry are grown that can approch
the matchless size, flavor aud color of
these fruits as sent ont over the country
from Hood River.
The climate in this little paradise is all
that the most critical could wish. Here
are no cyclones to carry away our houses,
neither do the rigors of winter nor the
shifting extremes of summer prevail.
The air comes ladened from the noun
tains with sweet smelling fragrance of
the fir and pine, giving health to the in