The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-09-23

they can raise, provided the quality
IL kept up. That is the policy advo
Gated by all the horticultural socie
ties and commercial bodies. Those
who are interested In the develop
ment of the valley are all the time
preaching the doctrine that 1t is bet
ter to improve the quality than In
crease the crop, and the great ma
jority of orchard men agree will
them.
Hood River Is a happy, reckless
dashing stream. which rises In tn,
glaciers on Mount Hood and comes
tumtling down over the rocks with 9
dash aud a laugh until 1t enters &
wide valley, which has been broken
through the ranges that run north
aud south. Then Ii enters narrow
gorge just east of the town and Is lost
In the great Columbia. You have tC
climb steep bluff to get into the val
ley, and then you discover that it ID
more plateau, after all, with a grad
ual slope up toward the summit OF
Mount Hood, which rises IL, 225 feet
from the sea and almost ii, 600 feet
above the Columbia River. The
plateau is undulating and is out in
places by little streams, which run
into Hood River. All of the land
upon the level has Eeen planted to
orchards; and now the mountain sides
are being cleared of timber, the
stumps aIe being plowed up and little
apple trees are being set out In long
straight rows, as precise as soldiers on
parade. Ii has been demonstrated
that apples will grow up an eIeva
tion OF 1000 feet. Ht
The soil OF the valley is volcanic
the climate Is mild; the winter Ia
short and the summer Is long. The
mild winters are due to the warm
Japan current which sweeps through
the Pacific In the winter months and
the "Chinook" wind, which tempers
the weather all along the Pacific
coast and Is confidently believed to
be an absolute protection against
frosts. The minimum temperature
for period OF fifteen years has been
% degrees, the maximum 79 degrees,
There has never been any damage to
the orchards from the frost.
Hood River Valley owes its fame
and fortunes to Nathaniel Coe, a post /.
Office inspector, who was sent out to
Oregon by the government in the
early htties. lie took up homestead
claim on Hood River, which had been
abandonded by man named William
Loughlin, and set out an orchard OF
seedlings brought from New York, on
the present site OF the town. His
apples we're sought for by local
buyers and from Portland In those
early days, and brought him good
profit, but Mr.. Zoe never dreamed OF
the possibilities they represented.
Gradually other orchards we're added
to this and the remarkable crop in
creased year after year until it became
of great value to the few settlers in
the valley; but the growth of the bust.
ness was gradual and natural and was
due to the high quality OF fruit that
was sent to market. ..e.. ...
The profits of the Hood River
farmers from fruit growing being
advert tised brought Ia settlers, tut the
population of the town by the census
Of 1890 WAS only a little more than
500 and that of the valley 1000. Since
then the growth has been more rapid,
and the population of the town il now
estimated at 2, 500 and that Of the val
ley at 5, 900, while the wealth has In
creased several thousand par cent,
even beyond calculation. For exam
pie, In 1890, there was only one bank
In Hood River, aud that had only
$36, 600 deposits from large territory.
Today there are three banks In Hood
River alone, With deposits of 1892, III
on the frat OF September and two
more banks at White Salmon across on
the north bank of the Columbia River
With corresponding amount.
| A remarkable fact mentioned by O
banker Is that during this nine years
not mortgage has been foreclo osed in
Hood River valley, and he is confident
that the remarkable rec I'd that has
been made here in that and other
rsspects, the growth of the popula.
tion, the increase of wealth aud the
Development of the apple industry -
may be attributed to the friendly CO.
operation OF the people and theiI
neighborly support of each other.
There have been the usual rivalries
and jealousies between individuals
and competing interest, tut every body
has worked with zeal and sincerity for
the general welfare. And when Cit
IZen has been unfortunate he has re.
celved the assistance and support that
be deserves.
The banking interests and men OF
means have been gener ous in extend
ing credit and in loaning money to
newcomers who have bought land and
set out trees, and have helped them
over the non productive period, which
occurs in the experience Of every
fruit grower while bis orchards are
maturing. This fact Is COM fined by
people of other towns, who invar ably
cite Hood River as model to initiate
and attribute Its extraordinary sue.
cess to the friendly feeling that has
always been manifested by the citi-
zens toward each other and the team
work OF the business interests in PRO
noting immigration and trade and In
advertising the place.
A good many New York and New
England apple growers have come out
here and have bought orchards.
They stay here during the summer,
look after them very closely anil after
selling their crops go East for the
winter.
The prices OF land are fabulo lous.
There have been sales as high as 81, 500
an acre, and you could not tuy a
mature orchard for less than 81, zoo
an acre anywhere.
Only the other day Willis Van Horn
sold an eighty acre orchard to Ii. O..
Peters OF Cincinnati for S64, 100. This
tract Is covered with 3.year old
Spitzen berg and Newtown pipin trees
and will not produce apples for at
least two years, but considerable
portion of 1t planted to Strawberries.
One of the most remarkable expert
enoes have heard OF was enjoyed by
William Mason, letter carrier IN