The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-06-06
EDITOR MCKEON
VISITS HOOD RIVER


and took drive over the country.
In q personal interview we found him
to be OF conservative nature; clear
cut In his statements and quick in
bis deductions. We found him high.
iy pleased with his visit, and on his
return to st. Johns he mari ates the
following account of bis trip:
The writer paid visit to Hood
River last week, and the time and
money spent was we'll worth the
price. All who are unaquainted with
scientific apple culture should make
trip to this famous valley at their
earliset conve1 1ience w ere apples, and
the highest priced ones in the world,
are raised. The people talk apples
and orchards, and every man, wtm-
an and child is Booster with a big
b.
The valley where the apples and
strawberries are raised, is fat ahead
OF the town. What Hood River
needs Is graded streets. Its business
houses carry fine fresh stocks and
impress the visitor that the people
are prosperous. Many handsome res
licences tell of the thrift of the people
in the valley.
A ride into the orchard district is
dissapointmnt at first Instead of
miles OF bearing orchards that one
would naturally expect to see there is
only on here and there. But there
are young orchards galore. Hundreds
OF acres have been set to trees during
the past two years. The orchards
that are in full beaI ing are money
makers. One man has a record of
clearing over $1,000 an acre after all
expense was paid. One of his New
town tree netted him So. Many 9TH
hers did nearly as we'll. Another,
was 40 acre commercial orchard
refused $40, 600 for 1t last fall.
1t Is the peculiar keeping and ship
ping qualities of the Hood River ap-
pie that brings the high price. One
old timer said: "Rogue River can
raise the same kind of apples that we
can. So can Yakima, Wenatchee
and the Willamette valley. But when
they ship their fluit we have them
skinned a mile. We send our apples
to Africa and Siberia, and when they
are opened they are found in the best
OF condition. Our competitors raise
a nice looking spple as we do, but
they have to get rid Of 1t at once be-
cause it doesn't keep. Last year we
sent our berries to Lcndon, England,
and to Hong Kong, China, and they
arrived in excellent condition. 1t is
because our fruit possesses keeping
and shipping qualities that makes 1t
desirable and sought for.
Five and ten acre orchards bearing
the high priced apples, OF what is
known as commercial orchards, are
not to be had at any price. At least
the writer did not hear OF one for
sale. AS one man said "lt would
be like selling ten dollar piece for
seven and half to let them go.
Tracts bearing the cheaper varieties
may be obtained, however.
The care given these money making
groves of trees is source OF wonder
ment to the visitor. The king or
queen of the harness horse does not
receive more attention. lhe trees
are trimmed and sprayed and every
thing done that will make the fruit
perfect. No matter how manv apples
are in a cluster they are all removed
but two. Then, il it is seen that
these two are going to touch, one OF
these is pulled off. To one who is a
stranger to the business 1t looks
wastefuI, but the result proves other
wise.
The tillers of these small farms do
not confine themselves to apples. All
the smaller fruits are grown. Straw
berries are sent out by the train load.
To imagine how these are picked,
packed, Grated and shipped is beyond
the comprehension of the uniniti'
ated. 1t is all done by clock work
simplicity. The farmers have union
that fixes the prices of the products
and labor. In fact there is no guess
work. Every thing is done on bus
iness basis by business men.
We are indebted 20 courtesies to W.
j. Baker, a resident of Hood River
for twenty years, and now in the reai
estate business. He has fund OF in
formation about the valley and its
products possessed by few, and has
the reputation of having more pleased
customers in the apple district than
any other man in Hood River. We
found everything exactly as repre-
sented and wish to recommend him
to all of our friends going to the fam
GUS apple district intending to In
vest.