The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-02-15
BENNETT FINDS ALL
OREGON PROSPEROUS

A. Bennett, editor Of the lrrigoI
Irrigator, who is also vice presiden
Of the Oregon Development League
and who has just completed an eX
tended tour of the state in the inter
ests of that organization, is in The
city for the purpose OF consulting
with local members of the league.
Mr.. Bennett is enthusiastic over The
great awakening that has come to the
entire state Rs a result of the Lewis
and Clark fair and at the Commercial
Club yesterday gave an intert sting
account of his trip.
"My tour took me as far east is La
Grande and as far south as Corvallis, "
he said, "and, Judging from what
saw and heard in the various towns !
visited, Oregon is on the eve of the
greatest era of development in her
history. In not town that visited
did | hear complaint of dull times
or poor business. On the contrary,
everywhere went | found the stI eets
full of people, the merchants busy,
money plenty, produce in GOOD de-
mand and every honest man welcome
to credit.
Naturally | visited the Offices OF
the country newspapers in the places
passed through, and, as every body
knows, there is no better place to get
into intimate touch with a commUn-
ity than in the local editors santum.
"The credit for this condition OF
affairs is largely due, ! bel, eve, to the
work that has been done Of late by
the Oregon Development League. By
bringing together 60 comercial bodies
in all parts of the state, it is in po.
sitiOn to WELD a wide and beneficial
influence Nearly every town of any
Importance in Oregon nowadays has
its commercial club or other business
mems organization, and what is more
to the point, each of these various or
ganizations is growing and prosper.
ing beyond all precedent. A typical
case is that of Albany, where the Alec
Club, deriving its name from the mi
tials Of Albany, Linn county, Oregon,
is doing great things for the upbuild-
ing of the town and surrounding
country.
"Woodburn, of the valley towns,
particularly impressed me with its
evident prosperity. S'lverton, too,
struck me as hustling, bustlIng
place when was there Saturday a
week ago All through the valley a
feeling of optimism prevails and finds
warrant in the influx Of new settlers
and increasing demand for farm lands.
con my way to the east found
Hood River as prosperous as any com
could hope to be. Likewise
The Dalles. On the branch line lone,
Lexington and Heppner are making
A splendid growth and have bright
Never since the great
food of a few years ago has Heppner
] displayed more business activity than
At the present time.
Gin my own town we are looking
Onward to big year, inasmuch as
lot less than 100 small tracts which
we're planted in fruit trees few years
igo will come into bearing this season.
Arlington, lTrigol and even sleepy old
old Umatilla, awakened from Rip
Van Wrinkle nap, are deriving great
benefit from the construction work on
he north bank road. Echo is hum
ming with prosperity and has IA news.
paper that is a credit to the Commun-
ty.
'Pendleton is taking on citilied airs
With business mems club which has
4 membership of 400 and home
equipped with gymnasium, shower
baths, billiard parlors and library.
La Grande is doing big business and
Hot Lake, a little further on, is agog
ovre the report that aa company of
capitalists is planning to spend more
,han $500, 600 in making it the Carls-
bad Of the West
"Crop prospects in Eastern Oregon
we're never better, owing to the heavy
TALL Of snow in the mountains east OF
Jhe Cascades. "