Evening star., 1905-10-01
Bennett. editor Of the RabbItvtile observ-

Bennett. editor of the Rabbitviiie observ-
er and Thunderboit, for two of the tuiciest
apples that can be imagined. and for sew
eral good Jokes. Mr.. Bennett told me that
the entire crop OF apples in the Hood river
valley were sold on the trees for 81 a box.
But he understated the facts. He Is a
modist and truthful man. I discovered
however. from commission men down street.
that the price was $50 box. and that 1t
Is the largest price ever paid for apples
in history. The Spitxenbergs from Hood
river brought s. box, there being from
fifty to one hundred apples to a box. This
Is equivalent to about $3.50 barrel. and
every one OF them were shipped to London.
where they are sold from s. to $3.50 box
by the fancy grocers. The fruit-growers of
the Hood river valley are entitled to the
credit, therefore. OF producing the highest
priced apples ever grown-the Yellow New
town and Spftxenberg brands-which have
Drought the most money in the largest fruit
acres of orchards this year will bring up
ward OF $15O,000--an average of $50 an acre,
"n,cn is pretty good for single county.
fIne strawberries and cherries Of the
Hood river valley are said to be quite as
good as the apples and about 100000 crates,
valued at $l35.000, were shipped this year.
oregon Is coming to the front as a fruit
tensive as that Of California It has swept
the honors at all exhibitions in Europe and
America during the past ten years At st.
Louis the fruit exhibits from this state
seven gold medals, one hundred and ffty.
Two silver medals and seyenty-two bronze
medals The Hood river valley has taken
sne highest prizes for apples and straw
oerr1es Wherever It has exhibited.
Exhibit Of Fruit.
Another remarkable exhibit of fruit can
De found In the corner Of the Washington
state building. 1t comes from Whatcom
county, the most northwesterly corner of
the United States. There are nine stalks
OF rhubarb there Weighing nineteen and
one-iourth pounds. One stalk weighs three
POUNDS and seven ounces, and the leaf at
tacned TO 1t measures three and one-h half
Dy lour and one-half feet in size. The ex-
hibits Of apples. pears, cherries and ber-
res nave been changed every few days and
each display seems to surpass the last. The
saroen vegetables from Whatcom county
nave also attracted q great deal or atten-
tion BY this exhibit Whatcom county
washington, stands first at the exposition in
early peaches, egg plums and OldenberR ap-
pies ana It ties Hood River Valley In cher
The state of Washington has several
other attractive exhibits, and indeed ali Of
the mountain and Pacific coast states are
wen represented. They have taken advan-
tage OF the opportunity to show their won
derful natural resources and their mar.
Vicious development. California has A mic
turesque building of the mission type: Ore
soH' Aoano and Utah show themselves in
attractive dress. while Of the eastern
states Illinois, Missouri. Massachusetts and
New York have buildings of their own
Inc Illinois building is a reproduction of
the Springfield home of Abraham Lincoln
ana Is used for the purpose Of entertain
ment only.
The irrigation building is of especial i'm
portance and interest because the atten-
ton OF the population of the northwest is
now being absorbed by that subject more
than by any other. The irrigation congress
brought together a large attendance of
aeIegates from all of the arid states and
territories. All of the congresses were re-
markabiy successful and the attendances
were large Public interest in these as
semplages seems to be increasing, and dele
gates come thousands Of miles to attend
them. The most notable here have been
the congress Of civic federations, and NUM-
clpalities and the Trans-Mississppi con-
sIess, Wnich drlfted into heated and ex-
citing debate over the Chinese exclusion
question.