The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-11-08
TAKES A SHOT AT
HOOD RIVER FRUIT
NOT THE BEST SAYS LOWNSDALE
But r.. A. Franz Says "Yes" and Dem.
0nstrates that Figures as
Usual are Truthful.

M. X. Lownsdale in communion
tion to the OIegonian Sunday endeav.
ors to show that apples elsewhere are
the equal of Hood River apples and
states his reasons as as follows:
1t is AL amusing, as well as an un.
worthy spectacle. to see The Oregon
ian defending itself against even a
fancied slight to the reputation OF
Hood River apples. For several years
the Oregonian has Eeen very indus.
triously worked by the advertising
bureau of Hood River, aud IL must be
admitted worked with a mastery
hand. Lsudation. of that fruit grow.
ing section at the expense of 0 her 10.
calities had become such habit that
when slip was made in which the
Willamette valley received dole OF
praise, it was to be expected that the
great paper would be called to ac.
1ount.
But, seriously, it Is gratifying to
note that paper of the standing OF
The Oregonian should even at this
late date herald the fact that as fine
aples can be grown in the Willamette
valley as in any section of the state.
The claim that Hood River valley
and the Rogue River section are the
only real centers Of apple growing has
been due in a great measure to lack
of information as to the real status OF
the fruit market, and not, | imagine,
TO any desire to ignore or slight the
willamette valeliy.
For instance, it is not generally
known that two orchards in the Viii.
lamette valley produce moIe Spitzen-
bergs than the whole Hood River
country. 1t is not generally known,
but is neverless fact, that at least
one grower has for many years receiv.
et exactly as much for his apples as
have the growers of any other section
in the state. 1t is not generally
known that, Notwithstanding the
great cry about 50 apples and the puz-
zle about the poor mans supply,
Hood River Is offering today prime
apples for 85 cents pei box, while the
same fruit is selling In Yamhill at
considerably higher figures. With
trumpet blast it is announced that
Hood River apples are the hest in
the world because they keep until
midsummer. A rather ticklish as
sertion for an horticultural authority
to make 1t is not generally known
In this connection that in test
made some years ago under the direc-
tion of Hood River people, and In
one of their own warehouses;, North
ern Spy apples grown at Scappoose
and shipped to Hood River, held up
longer and better In every way thar
the choicest Hood River fruit.
Now, we OF the Willamette valley do
not consider the Northern sSpyga good
keeper, and wonder what would have
been the result IL some of our valley
keepers had been in the test. | sug-
gest to my good friends In Hood Riv-
or that 1t might be we'll to conduct
quiet little test on the keeping quail
ty of their apples, as compared with
the same varieties grown in Yamhill,
for instance. | have at this moment
few apples In my warehouses which
| would gladly lend to such an expert
ment.
The swagger of a braggart mas never
appealed to me. His fame has never
been deserved. Ii has not seemed po-
litic to say that my section could
produce better apples than any other
locality In the world. | have ira, eled
In too many fruit growing lands and
have too often seen the fruit of ul Ter
localities to make such an idiotlC as
sertion. But SO mucn has een pub
lished by information bureaus and
by horticultural writer's generally in
laudation of Hood River as the very
best apple section in the state, that
propose after my picking season is
finished, to make an exhibition in
the most public manner possiIl le
which will demonstrate beyond Ill
cavil, beyond all sneer, hey ond all
ignorance, and, hope, to the admi-
ration of my rivals, that as lue hp-
pies are grown today In Old Van h |,
as in Rogue River valley, Hood III, or
valley, or any othe valley In the stu g
of Oregon. M. o. LOWNSDALE.
II. A. Franz, of the Apple Growers
union objects to Mr.. Lownsdale's
statements and in communication
anwsers his article by presenting the
below printed facts:
Since the Biennial Fruit fair at
Hood River several comments have
been made and comparisons drawn
about the zeal value of Hood River
apples. Most of these remarks have
been prompted by the jealousy Of sec
tions where apples are grown, while
others have been made with the tull
aud honest conviction that they can
produce better article than Hood
River. In regard to the Oregonian
having been "iDdustriolsly worked
for several years by the Hood River
advertising bureau" | wish to ssy
that one of the missions Of such great
daily newspapers as the Oregonian is
to acquaint the outside world with
the resources of its own state, and by
doing so bring in new settlers, invite
eastern capital to invest here and
take advantage of the many opportun-
tiles offered. That is what the Ore
gon an has done In creditable man
ner, not only for Hood River, but for
tho entire Empire state of the Pacific.
But why did the Oregonian do it
tor Hood RiverY Because we had
something. to back up our assertions
end statements. We could deliver the
goods and did deliver the goods, and
are delivering them today. Hood
River is a credit to the state of Ore
gon, and deserves all the publicity
she gets. She has earned it honestly,
and by hard work. Not through the
agency of an advertising bureau in
inducing newspapers to make false
ststemsnts about her, but by the hard
work of its industrious growers, pack
ers and shippers of fruit.
All that may be thorn In the side
of some of the other fruit growing
sections of Oregon. But they can
soon get rid of 1t il they will only
wake up, plant varieties that are suit
able to their local conditions and
then work In their orchards early,
late, and at all times, use brain as
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