Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-07

over for yound orchards just coming into
bearing. Raw land was offered at $50
to $3.50 per acre, according to location.
Inasmuch as it costs SIS to SIPS per acre
to clear, and 1t has been found much the
better plan to plant some crop the first
year after clearing. we concluded that even
raw land was by no means cheap.
About eight miles of drive brought us
to Booth Hill, a very long, steep hill.
beyond which lay what is known as the
Upper valley, but we did not investigate
this district, as we had been sufficiently
impressed not only with the beauty of
the Lower valley, but more with its desir-
ability as a money maker and home site.
The auto now crossed fuckers bridge and
returned to Hood River through the West
Side district; and, as we boarded the train
that night for Portland. l turned to Ger
trude and said: IT'S Hood River or bust"
and. at this writing, it looks like both.
After that we made frequent trips to
Hood river investigating this or that prop
osition, and We soon came to know that
there was much of eXaggeration and mis-
represe n alton in this valley. We learned
that not all the Hood River valley is
adapted for apple growing; there are frost
pockets in places and in other places no
depth of soil. One orchard shown us had
been twice planted, the first trees having
attained a certain growth and then died
for lack. OF depth of soil. Another place
recommended as having plenty OF running
water for irrigation purposes was found
to be undertake with springs. and of course
the land had no value as apple land
For our purposes we wanted a partly
bearing orchard II had no faith in straw
berries planted between trees) and to carry
us along knew we must have a steady in
come from an orchard Then, too, we
needed buildings, and in every case where
the buildings were at all desirable or the
orchard in good condition the price was
almost prohibitive. There were no real es-
tate snaps, such as you read about. We
became discouraged and were about to
give up our idea of settling in the Hood
River valley, when we were told that
prices in the upper valley were not as high
and the land Just as rich and productive
The real estate agents never so much as
mentioned this upper valley and even Hood
river people generally had no good word
to say Of 1t, but we decided TO Investigate
for ourselves, and one Sunday found us
again in Hood river ready to take the
train to Parkdsle. the terminus Of the rail
road in the upper valley
AS we afterward learned, this road is
known In railroad circles as the Mount
Hood railway but is commonly called The
Polygamy Central" being owned and con
trolied by the MormOns. 1t is a little 60
as-you-please road. making stops at almost
every crossing The conductor is a genial
good fellow. liked by ALL and generally
has the Passengers helping him load ana
unload his freight Occasionally, the train
has to stop out in the country to let the
engine lay In supply OF wood or get up
steam or to give the conductor a chance
to chase stock off the track, but sooner or
later II reaches little lumber camp owned
by the same interests. Here a couple of
hours is spent In shunting cars. while the
passengers amuse themselves as best they
can Some ladies bring along their lunches
and fancy work and have a regular picnic.
others, less phiiosophic, cuss and fume al
the long walt in a hot lumber yard But
all things have an end and ParkdaIe ia al
last reached.
Many stories are told OF this railroad
uncomplimentary 20 its management. II
is said that a man wanted a hair cut and
a shave and there came a time when he
could wait no longer There being no
barber shop out in the country he was