The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-07-15
A Winner.
Raymond b. EARLY

10Th century, those intrepid explor-
ers, Lewis aud Clark, sailed their
frall bstteaux down the gorge of the
Colu 1bia, they beheld country OF
virgin wilderness; majestic as the
century was, and magn Iticent Hs we're
the possibilities which even then
could be foreseen by this hard hand
OF ArgOnauts, yet the vast scene WAS
untouched by the haud of oiviIiza
tion; no sound was heaid save the
dashing of the Oregon as it flowed
lestlessly to the sea. Now and then
upon the stiffness. while upon some
distant hillside the tribal campfire
alone showed that human habitation
was present.
This was but trifie over a hundred
years ago-a mere bagatele in the
chronicle of time but marvellous
changes these few years brought forth.
Some twenty odd miles below the
rapids at The Dalles, where these
hardy explorers again embarked in
their boats, they beheld scene which
caused even their accustomed eyes to
open wide in wonder at the beautiful
spectacle esented. On their left,
gushing ON the eternal SHOWS at
the loot OF the grand old mountain,
flowed our picturesque and now far
famed Ii cd River to the south Mt.
Hood raised its whitened head In
solitary magnihcance; while to the
north Mt. Adams looked down in
likened splendor. Little dreamed
these pioneers how h1ndl ed years
uharIl bn rDh hfoh
they then witnessed.
But little time did Lewis and Clark
have to ponder what the future years
should bring to the locality which
they we've passing. Eagerly they we're
pressing forward to the shore of the
Pacific, which marked theiI journey 's
end. They hastened on their way,
glad in thought that the first halt OF
their arduous tiip would soon be ac
oomplished In safety, and that foot
worn and weary, they could rest 10
the sound of the ocean breakers.
And so the years went on and still
on-other pioneers came and saw the
same beauteous scenery of Hood
River, but passed Oh to the willamette
Valley where first came to be laid the
foundations of the great comm On
wealth OF the state of Oregon. But
"though the mill of the Gods grind
slowly they grind exceedingly fine,
and with increasing years this fair
valley began to be settled. From
this time Oh, the story is familiar to
US all
Far and wide wherever the English
language is spoken, aud more than
that, even in countries where foreign
tongues hold sway, the fame of Hood
River and her marvellous products are
known and wondered at. The TOPIC
have chosen for this occasion is IA
winner" and to whom or to what
could it be better applied than Hood
River-H Hood> River city, Hood River
valley, because they are all as inti-
mately assnciated with one another
and their interests are as closely
intermingIed that they are in truth
all in one.
To anyone who has watched the
development of Hood River, city,
valley, and county, from the time
when the old Coe and Benson Dona-
tion Land Claims marked the first
settlements, till today when the eyes
Vi Uub WuOlC arc buIuGu W
US in wonder and admiration, surely
the story is a wondrous one. Here,
right in our midst, have been applied
these intelligent applications Of brain
and Industry, which have resulted in
producing a fruit which has received
the appro bation OF kiugs and Emper
ors. From these very fields which
every day our eyes look upon, have
been sent the products, the tairest of
their kind, the world has ever seen.
Upon our mountain sides and by the
banks of creeks and rivers grow the
timber which Nature has planted,
and which the demands OF man cause
to be shipped to the tuTthermost parts
OF the world.
The future prospects of our COM
munity are indeed bright When we
think Of the wonderful improvements
OF the past few years, we can but
wonder at what new changes the
future may hold ior us.
Many new projects are being in
vestiaated and developed; new meth
ods of horticulture are being studied
for scientific care OF our orchards !;
the roads and streets of our vBlley
and city are being improved; new
buildings are constantly springing up
on all sides. Each year more people
come from less favored localities and
make their homes here; more orchards
are set out, more fields are put under
cultivation, to supply the whole world
with the peerless products of our soil.
Each year the forest clad hillsides are
dotted with more clearings and the
line of forest is forced to retreat fur
ther and further towards snow.capped
Mt. Hood.
Indeed, our valley has been en-
dowed so many natural resources and
such wild and magnificent scenery,
that we may we'll wonder ii this was
not the original Garden Of Eden.
The pi ogTessive people OF ouI locality
changed its rugged grandeur somewhat
but they have made it still more
beautiful, with its we'll kept orchards
and green fields.
l. he time allotted me is far made
quate TO do jusi.ce to the beauties
and advantages OF our famous valley.
But not alone to the material side
must we look. Ever SINCE the valley
first began to be settled, careful at
tention has been paid to educational
features. From the small one story
school house have grown the spacious
buildings which are now to be found
everywhere, and which mark. the
people of this community as intelli-
gent and progressive citizens, who
are determined that the rising gener-
alton shall have all the antsges
possible in equipping them for the
life that is opening out before them.
1t is this which in the end will make
and always keep Hood River a "a