The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-08-18
FINEST FARM
IN WASHINGTON

noon in search Of q news story for the
next weeks paper he accosted Judge
Byrkett Of White Salmon, who invited
him to cross the river and take look
at the Glades ranch. The judge thought
there might be q good chance for story
there. And he was right.
II was the reporters fret visit to the
famous Byrkett ranch. What be saw
would ill page and then some. There
were acres and acres Of meadow, with
hundreds Of tons Of hay in the stack
and more to cut, tons OF tomatoes bear
ing the green vines TO the ground,
strawberry fields that would constitute
an ordinary farm, bands Of sleek Jersey
cattle, fat Shropshires, spacious pens
filed with q, crossed breed Of Poland
China and Berkshire hogs, ranch hands
busy everywhere, women and girls
packing fruit.
This big farm contains 100 acresof
the richest landin the state OF Wash
ington. There is land here, If cut up
into small tracts, to support 35 families.
The ranch is easily worth $lO0, ,O0Os
There isn't another place like 1t in the
state, and " cannot be duplicated in
famous old Oregon.
The newspaper man saw some other
fine farms. 0nelof them, four and one
half acres in extent, belongs TO 3. G..
Zeigler, who ten years ago contracted
10 buy the land for 81 900. Mr.. Zeigler
had but $50 at the time. Today, Mr.
Byrkett says the man is worth SIS, 900.
Think OF it! He started in decade aSo
with four and one-half acres and today
could convert his holdings into snug
fortune. He owns besides this little
place, q 320.acre apple ranch farther
back In the hills, and at Trout Lake
S2O-acre hay farm. Hesis the financial
pillar for mercantile establishment,
has money in the bank and pays cash
for everything.
He has just completeda ". 900 dwell
ing, and never makes less than $3.50 an
acre from his land, He has, accom-
plished oil these things because OF
intelligent, industrious and persistent
efforts. But the story OF his accom-.
plishments must be left for another
story.
Adjoining MF. Zeigler is G. D. Moore,
who will also have something to tell
later. The Glacier news gatherer knows
now where to seek for good stories.
Further on upsthe river H. the place
OF j. p. Egan, the man whom the voters
OF White Salmon intend TO make a
county commissioner at the election
this fall.
Then comes, d. D. Mcclure, Mr..
Mcclure purchased nine acres OF
raw land here two years ago for ~, e50,
so Judge Byrkett says. The greater
part Of the land is already, cleared and
planted TO strawberries SO valuable Is
the land, that little draws are filed and
leveled for planting. In among the
rocks are hundreds OF cherry trees
This is their first summer, but without
drop OF water they have made q vigor-
GUS growth and look green and thrifty.
The Judge pointed out reservoir which
cost $500 or more, into which Is flowing
q miners inch Of water, but from which,
by means OF pipe line system and
revolving hose sprinklers, Mr.. Mcclure
is enabled to irrigate seven acres OF his
farm. The reservoir Is made OF solid
stone, lined with concrete. II has a
capacity OF 800, 900 gallons.
OF the Byrkett ranch, 200 acres are In
meadow landss 40 acres In woods, the
same numberin graiB the remainder
In crops, fruits, buildings and barn
yards. Thejudee has a spacious resi-
dence, containing all the modern
plumbing convenienees of modern
city dwelling. The view from the house
IL grand, indeed. To the north the hills
half mile distant rise to a height OF
2 ,26O feet. Part OF this rise il almost
perpendicular. Toward the river lie
the broad acres OF the Glades ranch.
Mr.. Byrkett has this name registered
In the American Jersey Cattle club, and
no one else has the right TO use il.
From different parts OF his house,
Mr.. Byrkett can aee over every acre OF
his land. As one Of the Japanese hands
expressed it: "Me no loaf; you see too
we'll"
The rich lands OF the Glades ranch
grow more productive each year, for by
each receding high water there is depos-
tied from one to four inches OF river.
deposit or silt. BY tie flood OF '94, four
feet OF new soil was added to the farm.
The whole farm is an alluvial deposit.
No richer land can be found. Az for
depth, 90 feet down won strike bottom.
Buried far beneath the soil are pieces OF
old drift wood, which floated in cen.
turies age and laid the foundation for
this rich little bench.
Ten thousand dollars year Ii the in
come from this ranch. This year Mr..
Byrkett's strawberry returns were short
or than those of average years. which
will lower somewhat his gross farm re-
ceipts, but with that little difference the
judge estimates that his income for 1904
will count up 40 follows:
Strawberries, 5000; tomatoes, $500,
fruits and melons, $500, ensilaee, $500;
hay, $1,000; pigs. S400; cattle, $l000-to.
tai, $1,000. The Judge counts on about
one-fourth OF this as cost of production,
which leaves him profit OF about
$76O0.
Mr.. Byrkett says he should have had
5000 from Strawberries this year, but
with the glut In the Eastern markets
his returns were cut short couple OF
thousand.
The Judge has 20 aores planted to ber-
rles. lie aims 10 make $500 an acre On
his strawberries. His land, as is that
Of his neighbors, is from ten days to two
weeks earlier than the berry patches on |
the south side Of the Columbia, and
one-third OF his crop Is marketed before
the Oregon growers are ready for ship
ping. Two-thirds Of his crop is on the
markets before the bulk OF the valley
berries ere started toward the buyers.
Pigs are sort OF q byproduet with the
owner of the Byrkett ranch. He aims
to make from $500 to $500 year on
hogs, which he feeds on the refuse from
the ranch.
He aimsto keep seven OF eight head
OF dairy cattle. this winter. Two years
ago he had 40 cows that brought him in
$3.50 to $500 month from the sale Of
butter. The butter he disposed of TO
the steamboat companies and TO patrons
in the town Of Hood River Byrkett
butter has guaranteed quality. Cattle
he finds nav we'll. and ha exneeka 10 hnv