The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-11-28
AN ORCHARD IN
WESTERN OREGON
ENTERPRISE GROWING AT MEDF0RD
This and Other Great Projects Rap
idly Making Rogue River
Valley Famous.
(Medford, Ore. Tribune

One sure sign that Jackson county
! in general, the Rogue River valley
in particular, are beginning to get
the outside recognition to which it
has long been entitled, and which is
but the forerunner OF large immigra-
tion. is the avidity with which the
Portland papers are seeking material
and copy regarding this valley. \
close observer will perhaps have OBJ
served that Medford and Jackson
county during the past few months
have received a great deal more
space in the journals of The metropo-
lis than any other section of the
state. Little of this has been poll
tics OF speculation, but records OF
actual events in our mines and tim
Der and wonderful record breaking
stunts in our fruit products and veg
etation. This is the advertising that
paws and that the valley deserves.
j. A. Westerlund, of Chicago, pres
ident of the Western Oregon Orchard
company, who has just arrived in
Medford, was in Portland the other
day and in conversation with rep
resentative of the Evening Journal
told something of this immense en-
terprise which lies not far from our
city limits This company has 400
acres planted and will during tAe
coming winter plant 600 acres more,
the land now being prepared to re-
ceive so, 600 trees which have al
ready been ordered.
Telling of this enterprise. Mr..
Westerlund said: I'VE first had our
attention attracted TO Oregon as an
apple state several years ago by the
Hood river apple business. Since
then | have made twenty-nine trips
from Chicago to this section of the
country. We purchased our first
land in Jackson county al $50 an
acre. The last acreage bought cost
us SIS per acre. 1t was rapid in
crease OF land values around our
orchard enterprise, but we had TO pay
It, We have to the present time
planted 10000 trees and have go
900 more now ordered. Our work has
been done quietly and until the
present time we have not been will
ling to say anything about 1t for pub
LEGATION. We believe Oregon is the
greatest apple section in the United
States and that this industry Will
make fortunes for a great many peo-
ple. 1t will distance the profit and
prosperity that grew out of the Or
ange business in southern Can
fornia."
The company conducts its business
on a unique plan that has not been
tried before in the fruit business.
Each acre planted to trees represents
a share. valued at $500. 1t is esti-
mated that when the trees are in
bearing they will yield good divi-
dend on the valuation, year after
wear and that the yield can be con-
tinued indefinitely. Fred Lundahl,
formerly of Portland. is the manager
and resides on the property.
Mr. Westerlund has been making
an investigation of the grape grow
ing industry and demand in Oregon
and has determined to enter extern
sively into that branch of horticul-
ture. He has ordered grape plants
for planting thirty-fiye acres and Will
increase the vineyard to 100 acres.
The above order of trees is placed
with the Woodburn Nurseries. Wood
burn. Ore, billiard Cooke. general
agent, North Yakima. Washington,
and consists of $4,000 apples, goo
pears, COO cherries, 900 peaches and
500 apricots, 1000 grapes. and in ad-
dition last year the same firm fun