The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-08-02
WHITE SALMON
FORGING AHEAD
CAPITAL INVESTS IN BUILDINGS
Ringen AWakeS From Its Long Sleep
and Win Compete VITA More Mod
ern Town for Share Of Business.

The Glacier man took trip tC
White Salmon last week and while be
had been told Of the various atlraC.
tions of the place 10y residents there
he allowed a grain ot salt for the en-
thusiasm which every one hus OF
should have for his or her home town.
The terrymen told his passengers as
they mounted the steps to turn and
look back occasionally and they
would be well repaid, and they were.
No more convincing proof OF the
beauty and prosperity of the Hood
River valley, with the city nesting IN
the hillside. can he found than the
view afforded the sightsoer from the
steps leading to White Salmon. These
| steps, by the way, are not tor the
aged and intirm, but for those strong
of heart and firm Of limb. Once at
the top, however, the tired feeling
attendant on the long climb is forgot
ten in the admiration OF the beautiful
panorama of the house dotted valley
spread out before the eye with the
majestic peak, snow covered Mt
Hood, in the distance As far as the
very base of the mountain can bo
seen, evidences of thrift and progress
can, AL of which has been aCComp-
lished in but few years. From here
can be seen also almost every house in
the city of Hood River with It's
sprinkling of green lawns and shade
trees.
However, to return to White Sal.
mon, we find that the energetic resi-
dents of that town have not been idle
while Hood Riverites have been busy
On all sides can be seen evidences ui
progress and push. New buildings,
either completed or in course Of cree
tIon, can be seen in every direction.
Some of them arr residences am 9th
ela business iaces, while the gus OF
two new banks announce to lLu visit
or that capital has Investigated and
found an opening tor future invest
ments. Stages roll hy with fair
women aud members ut the stem sex
as passengers on pleasure and recrca-
tion bent Real estate men hustle
about showing strangers bargains and
opportunities in tie fast growing
town, using as their Argument values
at present compared with those d year
ago.
The problem of good water sup
ply, which has been a serious one l0r
White Salmon, il is said, viii sJuu be
solved by bringing water into the
town from Big Buck Creek. il com
pany which has been organized and
incorporated has filed on sufficient
water from this stream to supply all
purposes, both for Irrigation aud
household use. / he water comes
from the glaciers of Mt, Adams aud is
cold and sweet at all seasons Of the
year.
While the water project is a very
popular one with White Salmonites
the one that interests them most and
is dear to the heart of every TauChor
where long hauls are necessary to
market their products, is the oIoc-
trio road. While somo fear that the
road will not be built the majority,
pInning their faith to the influence
which the north bank road will have
on future industrial Developments On
that side Of the river are ganguino
The promoters of the road say it VIII
be built aud they ought to know
One question which ia occupying
good deal of attention among the
leading citizous is whether tine com
ing of the railroad will cause the town
to grow in the direction Of Eiugen, or
it will spread back up the
valley. 1t is said by those interested
that the natural place for Tie town TO- !
develop is up the valley where tbe to-
pogl Apply OF the country is letter
adapted to building purposes. The
nucleus of town airCHiy growing
and prosperous, 1T is thought by the
land wise, will check any growth in
the direction of the railroad, The
opponents of this idea point to the
fact that urban growth Is natural in
the direction of the railroad station
and argue that the haul from Biugen
to the present town Is really 4n easier
one than that from the present boat
landing to the same place. Hanchers
back in the valley, it is said would
rather go to Bingen than to the
White Salmon boat landing TO this
the adherents Of the present
town reply that there is no necessity .
for many OF the residents goiny TO
either the boat landing or the station,
as goods OF all kinds are hauled. up
from there and that it ia not likely
that they will dive a mile and a half
each way simply for the purpose of
seeing the station
All, however, admit that the town
site at Bingen is All admirable one
geographically it is perfect. Thocc
are said to be about 1000 acres there
available for lots and that the owners
OF the property have already been ap-
preached by several large real estate
firms who have offered to purchase
large tracts at good figure, with the
intention of laying out streets and
selling the lots by advertising. So
far these offers have met with refusal
as the owners are not inclined to
turn over their property to specuIat-
Ors.
There is, nevertheless, a very visible
awakening in the sleepy Ittle town
where many pioneer in tHIg country
first set foot and which many years
ago was known as white Salmon Ue-
fore its M IRE modern and Iuekv rival