The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-08-17
By ROSWELL SHELLEY.

Jne request OF the GlaCler, f0I
n two days we enjoyed a heart-to
80 heart talk with the Mount Hood
peoplN. While the time was far toe
short to cover the territory that q
detailed account could be furnished
we kept our eyes AMI ears ope and
hero With submit some of the many
imp essions that crowded in upon our
min | and vision
At O'Clock Wednesday morning,
the 9th inst, in company with wife
and our dog Sport, we reined our
horse into the dusty road and began
the climb. Just as the sun was peep
ing over the hills we halted and break
tasted on top of the Booth hill.
Here we look down upon the j. P.
Hillstrum place. Mr.. H. is an old
timer an1 devotes his attention main
ly to stock raising and butter making
and they have the reputation of max
ing as fine butter as can be produced.
There being no signs of life then, we
jog along and make our next halt at
the home of o. II. Rhodes, who was
up before the sun and had his horses
already hitched to the mower. Mr..
Rhoads is a true type of the western
er, possessing a charming personality
and whose gerious and openhanded
hospitality at once appeals to one.
Both he and Mrs. Rhodes greet us
cordially and and we spend pleas
ant hour in his garden, hay field and
in the house. Mr.. Rhodes is al 70 en-
gagged in the stock business and his
widc-spreading meadow of Black
bea erdam land furnishes abundant
feed for winter as well as placing dol
lars in his purse that is never en- PITY.
Tho Bone ditch runs through his
mep dow, following the natural channel
of o creek that helps to swell the ditch
and consequently lie has an abundance
of free water, which is the key note
to his fine garden and luxurient mea-
dow. Mr.. r. informs me that his
place was formerly the rendezvous of
the Indians and there is wler they
dug their Camas before going into
winter quarters. There are many In
dian relics in thier sittingroom in the
way of arrow points, mortars and pes
sells picked up from his meadow each
year add to the unique collection.
Mr.. r. is thoroughly imbued with the
Hood River spirit and went with US
to the
Elppa Orchard
adjoining his place on the south.
Here we found Mr.. Jensen the manag
er, in his normal condition., courteous
and polite, who gladly greeted us and
gave us information concerning this
splendid enterprise, which up to the
present writing no word has ever gone
into print as far as | know. And
why? About one mile from the pub
lie eye you suddenly emerge from
the dense forest of magnificent saw
timber and find yourself in square
hole surrounded by tall timber, where
during the last two years the forest
has been conquered. On the west
slope of the hill you are confronted
with tract of more than 20 acres of
shot land, all cleared and planted to
apples. On the east side of the tract
there are substantial buildings, in
Guiding house, barn woodshed and
shop, with pure spring water piped in
for domestic purposes and the sprink
ling of lawn and garden. The whole
tract is like garden without root or
weed, only few struggling fern that
battle the skill of the trained Jap who
cares for the place.
The Elppa orchard is a corporation
made up by Portland people who have
faith in this country, the best evi
dence Of which is that they prove
their faith by their works, and have
already made garden out of a wilder
ness. Such work is commendable and
we think the public should know of
it.
There we met three bright faced lit
tie girls from Portland with two |
grandmas, who are there on their |
summer vacation. The girls are
dressed in blue overalls and are enjoy
ing life immensely, under the guild
ance of their old friend, Ben Jensen. |
Renewing our journey, we next pass
the ranch Of Jake Lenz, who is road !
hunter and angler, and a
general all round pioneer sport. The .
shutters we're closed. Jake and family |
were off on one of thier many summer .
outings, and we we're compelled to .
forego the swapping of yarns or the .
shaking of Jake's glad hand. His
ranch lies under the Bone ditch and F.
responds to touch of water, making it
possible for him to take life easy.
Jake will have an easy chair during
his declining years-a thing we are
all looking for,
Passing onward we see Paul Au-
bert's place to the right, and j. r.
Steel's to the left, concerning which
we notice on our return trip. Our
next stop is at the home Of Mr.. Du-
mas, that amiable gentleman from
France. And here a revelation awaits
us. This is the Tilman ranch, and
one of the oldest places in all that re-
gion, and is worthy Of more than pass
ing mention. Mr.. Dumas has recent
ly built on tie Mount Hood road
group of buildings which are complete
in every detail, consisting of modern
house, barn, woodshed, blacksmith
shop, up ground cellar, smoke house
and pig pen. All are newly built and
planted and have village look. He
has recently cleared four or five acres, I.
which are to go into Strawberries this
Tall. His old place on the east is in
The hands of Y. V. Willis, the former
school master of Odell. Mr.. and Mrs.
Dumas are hospitable to the limit,
and took exceeding pains to make our
short viist pleasant one. And they
succeeded. He is the party the Gla-
,ier last year wrote of in detail and
here is the place where snails we're
hen being propogated, but they have
for reasons unknown to Mr..
Dumas. But enough remains in sight
and in prospect to render the life of
,hese contented people dream. They
.ro anchored here with life, cOmfOrta
Die in their surroundings and quick
med by the inspiring forces of nature {
spread out before them, their last
lays should prove their best ones.
Aud we congratulate rather than envy
hem their happy lot in life.
The day is growing and we move
IN, catching glimpses of improvments
lere and there, stopping next at the re-
ay station on the Cloud Cap Inn road,
We net Will Edick on the box, dust
covered and still holding the ribbons
,ver his four greys at the end of the
'un from the Inn. Eerybody knows
Bill Edick and Bert Sandman, who
lave charge of the summer traffic on l
he upper end of the mountain travel.
This is a historic place, being for
,ears the postoftice and the center of
attraction of the Mount Hood settle