The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-05-18

p
Hood River. This variety is early and
yields returns to the grower several
months sooner than the winter vari-
eties. The largest planting of this
variety is being made by the Boneboro
Orchard company which is setting out
100 acres. The Gravenstein trees, IL
years old in the 4. b. Billings orchard
adjoining thelBooneboro tract averaged
SO boxes to the tree last year and the
Apple Growers Union at Hood River
secured an f. o. b. price of 81. so a box
for his crop. As theIGravensten from
Hood River was the first fancy apple
in the New York market all of this
variety grown in the valley were taken
at the above price.
The apple now has the call and of
the 1000 acres under cultivation about
so per cent of the acreage has been set
to orchard. 1t is estimated that this
section has 25, 900 acres of land wait
ing to be developed which shows the
possibilities of the country when all
the available land has been put in cul-
tivation. Of course, the Hood River
strawberry thrives and owing to the
easy irrigation surprisingly large
proportion Of the crop of the whole
valley is now being shipped from Park
dale. Nearly all of the young orchards
contain from one to ten acres of straw
berries between the tree rows which
yield most acceptable income during
the early stages of the orchard.
There is probably no section any
where in which water for irrigation,
used OH the hay and berries, is to be
had for less money. The first ditch
was put in by few of the pioneers
about Is years ago and with the origi.
nal stock subscription Of one dollar an
inch for 2, 900 inches an assessment was
not necessary until four years ago since
which time small charges have been
made each year for water. There are
four other companies operating in the
Upper Valley in the various sections
formed by the three forks of Hood
River. While the other water users
have not been quite so fortunate as
the older settlers the cheapness is
almost incredible, and the cost of per-
petual water right is but $1l an inch in
the sections where the problems were
greater.
1t is impossible to lose sight of the
clearing operations which the settlers
are carrying on, some of them making
quick work of the brush land others
are roofing out the giant frs from land
which can be bought for less price be-
cause of the heavy clearing. Several
small mills use the saw timber from
the orchard land to be and the steady
demand for cordwood enable the thrifty
to save all the timber. The holdings
of the lumber companies which He
being rapidly logged also offer q
rapidly increasing area of land
partially cleared.
Besides the many individuals or
small tracts two large corporations
have recently gone into extensive
development of orchards. One Of the
companies is using large donkey
engine effectively in Gearing logged of
land on big scale and planting orch
ards which it is selling in small tracts.
This is the only company which has
ever attempted to sell orchards and
care for them for term of years in
the Hood River valley. The other
company is planting several hundred
|
will hold and operate on large scale.
Crews of men are daily ridding the
soil of brush, stumps and forest trees.
Mount Hood rising to the south and
overtopping the Valley like some.silent
sentinel beholds a change in scene each
morning. The Valley is illuminated al
night by the fires of burning log heaps
The Douglas fir and Sugar pine are
falling before the ak, their lumber be-
ing transformed into building material
for handsome residences and their
roots being torn from their deer
fastenings in the soil to make places
for the apple trees. The homestead
er's hut has been abandoned, giving
way to modern homes and bungalows
that grace the beauty of the environ
ment.
One of the most unique features oi
the Upper Valley country is the differ.
ent characteristics of its inhabitants
Among the original homesteaders is q
small colony of French people. Theil
hospitality adds pleasure to the visit o.
the passing traveller. He can i'm
agine himself in the land of the Swiss
chalet as he drinks the rich fresh mill
offered by neat hostess or tastes thu
home vintage, sitting in the shadow o.
snow peak and listening to some in
teresting story of the country told il
an Oregon-French patois. The interes
of the guest is aroused when the hos
appears with some appetizing produce
of culinary art, and upon some com
ment .he remarks very modestly tina
he is a professional waiter. More thar
a dozensOf the heads Of these Frencl
families spend the winter in the coas
cities, where excellent service is vel
known to those who dine at the large
hotels, garnering in harvest of tips
which lthey expend in the improve
ments of their ranches, on which they
work themselves during the summej
months. Louis Mex the first of thu
t'renchmen to settle IN the district, il
their leader. He is a very digniieC
parsonage and spends is winters il
Seattle, catering to the wants OF thu
hungry.
More than a score of young eastern
college men have recently built homes
in the district. Yale, Harvard, Cornell
Princeton and other Of the larger insti
tutions are represented. A few o
them:are married and they and thei
wives, enthusiastic and happy, are find
ing a great charm in subduing thu
wilderness sthan can be offered by thu
life ofsthe city. Theirssocial functions
during the past winter has been fea
ture Of Upper Valley wife. One O.
the most successful events of the sea
son was minstrel show given in thei
miniature theatrical hall over Park
dale's chief store the participants O
which were college graduates. A
number Of this coteriesare'prominen
socially in eastern circles. Everett
Brown, formerly member Of tn,
famous New York est. Nichola
Hockey Team" is now more stalwar
than ever enjoying bachelor freedom
on his ranch .and becoming an adep
horticulturist.
Naturally, these newcomers are a
first awkward in their novel positions
Their blunders give rise to many anus
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