The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-11-24
HOOD RIVER AND ITS FRUITS
november Lewis and CLARK journal

lnt tlllSHLy
among the surrounding hills and guart
ed by the snow-capped sentinels Of til
valley, nestles one Of the'most beautift
little cities in Oregon--aye, in all tn
West As one stands on the heights {
the city of Hood River and views th
glorious panorama spread by the LAWS
hand OF a bounteous nature, the majet
tic Columbia, ever rushing towards tn
sea, the broad expanse OF fertile valley
30 thickly dotted with comfOrtabl
homes and wealth-yielding orchards
secs in the distance the timber-clat
mountains holding in their fastnesse
untold wealth for him who will wFest i
from tbem-when one views all thi
and considers that hand in hand will
all this beauty and grandeur goes one o
the most delightful and equable o
climates, the wonderful growth anC
rapidity with which, not only the city
OF Hood River, but the whole OF The
valley bearing the same name, is com
ing into prominence and attracting the
attention OF Fasteners, is no longer 6
mystery.
Though the town was plated abou
twenty years ago, its growth for man,
years was slow; five years ago it mum
bered only 500 inhabitants. At tina
time new vigor was infused into TIN
commercial life by few of its citizens
who realized that the wonderful re
sources at their command pre-destined
them TO an important ioothold in the
industrial and commercial world. And
already they have met with ample evi.
dence that their efforts and time are not
mis-spent. Hood River has a popula-
tiou at the present time of 1900, with
every prospect of rapid and lasting
growth as it comes more and more into
the public'eye Situated on the extreme
northern border of the great state OF
0regon---27 miles from Mount Hood,
the pride Of oil loyal 0regonians, only
65 miles from Portland-s.it has every.
thing to make 1t desirable site for a
home.
Hood River valley ia ,pre.eminently a
fruit-growing district. The Strawberries
and apples grown here have secured
recognition In all the leading markets
OF the United States'0n account OF their
superior size, flavor and color. The
strawberry first drew attention TO the
fact that In the soil and climate were
combined such conditions as exist in
few, II indeed, in any other section A
popularity Of the Hood River berry
aside from its wonderful size is that its
rich color Is not surface, but extends
clear through the fruit, causing it to
remain red when cooked and canned,
whereas mostsbeFries fade when heated
or at least after. short time. After
being canned two or three years the
Hood River berry is found to be as
vivid in color as when plucked from the
vines. Another very desirable quality
which this berry possesses is remark
able firmness, which permits its being
sBhipped in the fresh state as far as the
Atlantic sea coast, distance OF over
1000 miles, where they arrive in first
class condition. They are shipped in
refrigerator cars, by special trains to
the principal Eastern cities during the
berry season and are put on the mar
fket in such perfect condition that they
command higher prices than do the
berries grown locally. For example,
this-year Hood River berries after a
2O00-mile journey sold for 81 a crate in
che markets OF Chicago when Michigan
berries, picked the day before, we're
only bringing 81 per crate In the same
markets.
In 1904 Hood River shipped East
10000 crates OF strawberries, netting
the growers $4,000. This does not
include the immense amount used
locally, Which would probably aagre.
gate another $4,000 crates.
A marked popularity OF this valley
10 that west OF the Hood River are
grown these remarkable berries, while
the soil on the eastern bank is found
much better adapted to the culture of
v the apples which have made the valley
famous. About 800 acres are devoted
to berry raising, the majority of the
helds being small, from one to five
acres. These fields run right up to the
city limits, and this is laughingiy urged
as good reason why city lots are 80
high priced, the land is too valuable 10
devote to building homes upon. This
berry land is a rich, reddish, sandy
loan, and has large percentage OF
what is known as shot gravel. O., q
email gravel, which resembles nothing
30 much as ordinary shot. When this
10 exposed 10 the air as the ground Is
cultivated It deteriorates and eventually
disappears in large measure. Scien-
lists tell us that 1t is the iron found in
this gravel which imparts the fine color
and hFmness to the Hood River valley
fruit.
Most Of these berry farms'are of such
size that they can be cultivated and
cared for by the owner without outside
help until the harvest Is ready to
gather. These farms sell at from $500
to $500 an acre, and raise from one to
two hundred crates per acre. owing
largely TO the care used In their cnltiva-
ton. The leading variety used for COM
mercial purposes is that known as
Clark's Seeding.
There is considerable uncleared berry
land available which may be obtained
alta very reasonable price. 1t Is an
ideal place for small farm. What is
known as four-tier berries, or four tiers
high and four berries In row that
completely fill the boxes, i, the stand.
ard for shipping; anything smaller than
tive-tier berries being discarded and
sent to the canneries. The grading and
packing of the fruit is regulated by
inspectors employed by the shippers.
Through their vigilance the fruit grown
and shipped away is kept at a high
standard OF excellence. About 85 per
cent of the growers are organized for
marketing their own berries under the
name OF the Hood River Fruit Growers
union. A few rrowers ship indepen-
IDENTITY, and the balance consign their
berries to local commission men.
Nor is the berry season as short as
some might imagine. Hood River val
ley is composed of series of lodges or
benches, rising from the Columbia
river back to the mountains. On the
lower bench, where the elevation is
about 100 feet, the berries are ready for
market by the middle of May; on the
next ledge, at an elevation of 400 feet,
they attain perfection two or three
weeks later; ON up at what is known as
Mount Hood settlement, where the
elevation is 1900 feet, the Fourth of
July finds the berries at their prime,
while higher yet, and only eight miles
from the city OF Hood River, ON the
slope of Mount Defiance, the residents