The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-08-17
LAND OF PROMISE
HERE FULFILLED

IlEKE TULTILLLU
Dr. A. Leroy, superintendent of
the Bureau of Information Of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce, is the
author of the following article which
appeared in the August issue of Or
chard and farm;
Responding to migratory instinct,
and seeking more favorable conditions
for working out destiny, humanity
throughout the ages has followed the
iourneying sun. Westward the course
of empire takes its way" describes
the infinite movement Of the race
Rugged New England put metal and
moral fibre into men. When the flow.
ing stream of our progressive people
reached the Mississippi valley vision
broadened. Resolute men responded
to voices that vibrated through their
souls and started up the slopes of the
Roof of the Continent. 1t will become
more and more apparent that from the
crest they looked out over the land
that fulfills more hopes than any other
region of our globe. The panorama
of our advancing American civiliza-
tion is marvellous and thrilling. Like
the Chariots Of Morning, 1t rested up
on our Atlantic sea- board climbed
the Alleghanies; filled the forests with
cabin homes forded or bridged great
rivers; swept over the plains tarried
on the heights to thrust fingers into
rock bound treasure vaults, and gently
descended the western slopes. Here
civilization will tarry like the after
noon sun of delightful summer day.
sea and irradiate the long -slumbering
Orient.
A generous nation will pause fire.
quently to place forget-me- -nots upon
the memory of the Pathfinder, Z"
John g. Fremont, and the noble band
of men and women who opened the
way for the multitudes In fancy we
say, i hear the tread of the Pion-
eers. " In fact the tread was often
mutflled by dusty roads, unbridged
rivers, and perils innumerable that
lurked along the way,
Laid Substantial Foundations.
Those that laid the foundations for
new empire by the western sea
builded better than they knew. The
most vigoruous Imagination never
pictured present realities. They
sought seclu led, quiet homes In q
mild climate whore destiny might be
easily wrought out. They uncovered
to the world actual conditions more
enhancing than the Utopias of vivid
imaginations. There is warrant for
designating the Oregon country, "Ihe
Land of Promise Fulfilled" In our
material resources and conditions.
After generation Of numbering &C.
tivity, our forests are practically In.
tact. A single tree scaled sufficient
lumber for constructing four eight
room houses. Cut into inch square
strips and the pieces placed end to
and, the tree afforded sufficient ma
terial for constructing a line that
would extend from Philadelphia to
Providence, Rhode Island. 1t Is esti.
mated that the wooded area of Ore
gon, Washington and Idaho includes
1876, 600 square miles. The quality of |
these forests Is more surprising then
their extent.
Every fourth bushel of wheat that |
leaves the United States passes over
the Portland wharves. This Is largely
the contribution Of the Inland Em
pire, the vast agricultural region east
of the Cascade range. OF the lands
suitable for agriculture, one seventh
only has been utilized. 1t IL too early
In the season to accurately estimate |
the 1905 harvest, but in the land
whore failure Is unknown the marvel
GUS record will not be tarnished.
Products Find Ready Markets.
The contribution of horticulture
taxes credulity. The superior quality
of Hood River and Rouge river apples
has created foreign demand and
large quantities of Oregon apples are
shlppled to England, Germany, Japan,
China and the Islands of the sea. A
stretch of country extending a thous-
aud miles eastward affords a profitable
market for great quantities of small
fruits. The profitable horticultural
possibilities are unlimited.
The mountains that intercept the
winter storms store moisture suffici.
ent for developing power to turn every
shaft and spindle In the United States
and surplus for converting the drier
parts of the Oregon country into new
Egypt Of pToduotiveness. Supplied
with water, arid land responds more
abundantly than any unirrigated re, ,
gion.
The diversity and abundance of
products is so surprising that we're
an impossible wall constructed around
the entire region no important article
OF human welfare or comfort would
be lacking In this favored land.
Good Climate an Important Factor.
Upon the matter OF climate there
has been much misunderstanding and :.
some Misrepresentation. In this most |
important condition of advantage and I
comfort our region offers all that the /
most eXaoting desire. Free from OK
tremes of cold or heat, the Inland 9
Empire is an ideal climate. There l
Is exhilaration and tonic for all. The t
rainfall of the region west of the Cas-. :
cade range Is but slightly In excess of
the precipitation in eastern states,
Winters are very mild with but little
frost or snow. Field work Is unlnter.
NIbShs phihllbIb are COOI ana ue-
Electrical storms or sudden 1
changes are unknown.
The testimony of nearly two million
people now here warrants the desig
nation of the country as "The Land q
Of Promise Fulfilled" No region of r
the world presents such universal CON y
tentment among its people as Is wit
messed here. Contentment finds its
climax on the western slopes and in !
rich valleys beyond the Cascade range
Here Ponce de Leon would have dis. :,
covered the most real fountain of Y
perpetual youth and abiding satisfac.
lion that the globe discloses. Words
are inadequate to picture the enchant-
ing scenery of this favored land. n
Snowcapped mountains, lifting like =
white spiral stairways to the stars SC
Beautiful valleys and winding rivers ~
wealth of colors and contours A G,
masterpiece from the hands OF the OF