The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-05-04
VISITING ENGLISHMAN
LAUDS ORCHARDS

W. j. Bells, prominent fruit mer-
chant of Liverpool, member of the
liberal party and justice Of the peace
Of Walasey, the newest borough of
1 England, accompanied by his friend
and political opponent, W. S. Chantrell,
councillor of the Conservative party
for the borough of Walasey, spent last
Thursday and Friday studying the
methods of the local fruit industry and
viewing the beautiful scenery of the
! Valley. The two well known English
men crossed the Atlantic to New York
as cabin mates aboard the Coronia of
the Cunard line and have since been
making aneextensive tour of the United
States. On reaching Hood River Mr.
Bells stated that they had Travelled
8,072 miles. Everywhere they have
been, he continued, that is, wherever
it was known they were fighters on
different sides of the political fence,
they have aroused the greatest surprise
among Americans. Mr.. Bells left
Hood River on Soo-Spokane train to
return directly to his business in Eng
land. His friend, Mr.. Chantrell, how
ever, will continue his tour for a while
on this continent. lie left for Seattle,
Vancouver. from which point lhe will
start east, making sutdy of the
Canadian provinces as he travels.
Mr.. Bells is strong sympathizer
with the suffragist movement IN Eng
land. However he says that he does
not 90 so far as to support the militant
sutfragettes. In speaking of the
militant sutfragette who threw the
bottle at the head of Mr.. Asqut, how
ever, he says, that he admires her very
much. II do not think have ever
seen such herosm," said the English
J. p. who, when he is not selling fruit,
presides as judge at WALTON Gaol, "She
was certainly willing to sacrifice her
life for the cause of the suffragists.
For number of weeks she refused to
take food and her life was only sus-
tanned by the liquid nourishment. forced
down her throat by the prison guards. "
In addition to his political prominence.
Mr.. Bells is leader in the fruit Ibusi-
ness, to which he has devoted his time
for the past 81 years. He has for the
past 2 years been president of the
Liverpool Fruitbuyers Association, the
membership OF which extends to all of
the cities of northern England. fMr.
Bells states that he has sbeen much
Impressed with all parts Of the Pacific
coast, but grew enthusiastic when
speaking of Oregon. "We Englishmen
never realized what a magnificent
country and how much progress was
going on on the western border of our
country" he said. "My, but it is a
revelation The improvements that you
are making are wonderful. And Hood
River-l have known the place a long
time and 1T is easy now to see how you
rase such fine apples, after have be-
held the healthy and clean conditions of
your orchards. From appearances,
they must receive more attention than
the royal park of our England"
Mr.. Chantrelly, the Conservative
councillor of Wallasey, is an enthusiast
over photography. He has been secur-
ing views in all parts of America, with
which he will illustrate series of
lectures on his return home. He took
a number of pictures of the Valley and
scenes of Mount Hood. When asked
about the scenery of this state as COM
pared with that seen elsewhere, he
stated that he saw nothing that could
compare with the Columbia River
Gorge from Portland to Hood River,
except some short stretches along the
Coast Line of the Southern Pacific.
"You must have an ideal climate for
apples" " said he, "And what a para
disc to raise them in" Mr.. Chantrell
was also impressed with the price
received for orchard land. He stated
that the most intensively cultivated
soil of England did not bring such a
price.
Mr.. Bells and Mr.. Chantrell were
accompanied to Hood River by j. 0.
Him, prominent capitalist of Santa
Cruz.