The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-06-29
TOWN OF 0RTLEY
SHOWS ADVANCEMENT

Have you ever been to Mosier over
the road that winds through the break
in the hills or ridge that rises steep
and forbidding and extends from the
foot of Mount Hood down TO the very
brink of the Columbia? Have you
ever stopped your painting automobile
after you had passed into the narrow
gorge and climbed along the ravine,
in order to scan more closely the sides
of the cliffs, where blossom myriad Of
wild flowers. The passing breeze
watts the perfume of the mock orange,
to your nostrils and you are enchanted
with the exquisite beauties of nature.
A glance backward catch In the
moment the panoramic view of the
Hood River Valley and you stand and
turn and look in silence at the homes
of the orchardists and the dark green
verdure of the apple trees, millions OF
them, and the purple haze overhangng
the background Of hills to the west.
The car climbs on the summit and
you behold in front of you the hills of
Mosier. 1t is for but an instance,
however, that you look at them; for
the car begins the steep ascent. You
forget the poor condition of the road
and it must be remarked that it ISM
in a mean state now. An almost in
conceivable amount of excellent ma
terial has been made ready by nature
and in a short time the roads will be
of the best. The highway leads on
into ..Wasco county, through stretches
made cool by overhanging naples and
wild vines and on into the town OF
Moser.
OFF on an airline six miles to the
east Of Mosier along the high banks of
the Columbia is the new townsite Of
0rtley, located very nearly in the
center of the big 2400 acre tract that
the Hood River Orchard Land Com
pany is clearing and plotting in ten
acre tracts, which they are selling,
state Devlln & Firebaugh, the sell
ing agents, as rapidly as they are
able to develop the land, to indi-
viduaI parties. The big real es-
tate company contracts with its pur-
chasers to put the land in condition and
care for the orchard bought for a peri
cd of five years. A tract of 325 acres
adjoining the townste has been cleared
and set to trees. All of the land set
and additional plots, which in the ag-
gregate will amount to about 425
acres, has been sold. The 325 acres of
we'll cared for young trees on the roll
ing fields presents beautiful picture.
The townsite, which has been plotted,
will be connected with all parts of the
large tract by boulevards. The company
has drawn up plans and specifications
and work will soon begin on the con-
struetion of large hotel, the esti-
mated cost of which is SIS, 900. Con-
struction will also begin Immediately
on large machine and blacksmith |
shop. The location, with its magnifi- |
cent view, offers an ideal site fora |
hotel and town.
Ortley, on an air line, is just little |
over mile from the O-W. K. a. N. |
station, Rowena. The real estate com
pany is constructing wagon and
road to connect with the
completed auto road from Mosier to
The Dalles. The distance by this road
between the townsite and the station
is about two and one-half miles.
An engineer made survey last week
for tramway to be built from the
townste and Rowena. By means of
d cable and a small tram, transporta-
tion facilities for the orchardists of
the community will be made easy and
cheap The new town already supports |
a general store to supply the needs of |
the constantly increasing number of
purchasers who will locate immedi-
ately on their holdings.
The automobile road that leads from
Mosier to 0rtley penetrates into the
interior of the country and then winds
back toward the river and the tract.
For a part of the way the road is in a
kind of depression and the stranger
loses sight for the time being of the
scenery. However, the
snow peaks begin to loom up as the
ascent is begun on the run northward
toward the Columbia and great and
pleasant surprise is had when an emf
nence on the Mosier View estate, the
elevation of which is 1900 feet, is |
reached and one of the most gorgeous |
views along the scenic river is had. |
The view spreads out for miles and |
miles in all directions. To the south |
west looms the wonderful peaks of |
Mount Hood. On the north across |
Kliekitat county are the glaciers and |
white sides of Adams and far away to
the northwest the top of the peaks of
St. Helens and Rainier peep over the
purple skyline. To the east the Colum-
bia winds away out of sight in the
purple haze like ribbon. The build
ings of The Dalles on its bank look
like those of a toy city. Looking down
the river one can see beyond White
Salmon. Directly opposite are plainly
discerned the newly made streets of
Lyle. The wild expanse of the broken
skyline of the southwest fills one with
a wonder that's almost awe.