The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-06-01
ORCHARDIST TELLS OF
FIRST IMPRESSIONS

mon cry, Back 10 the Iarm,, ana
left the desk where had been tied for
the last ten years. You are especially
interested in knowing if all the stories
about apple growing in Oregon are
true, and whether or not the literature
sent out by the various commercial
clubs, real estate firms and railroads
is too highly colored. You fear that
far off fields are green" and want
actual facts concerning the apple busi-
ness from one who has nothing to gain
by exaggeration. Well, here is my
story, and you can rest assured every
statement | make is true.
Too close confinement in the office
was telling on me, and the doctor
advised me to get into the open.
Farm life does not appeal to many
women, as the work is hard and lofg
but Gertrude readily agreed to make
the sacrifice for my sake, providing
we bought an apple orchard.
That much decided Eupon, we began
looking for a suitable location. Every
where in this state, and in Washing
ton, we were confronted with adver-
tisements telling of apple lands.
"Just as good as Hood River" or
''only blank miles from Hood River"
or "in Hood Rivers sister valley"
and we asked: Where is this Hood
River valley, which is the standard of
excellence in apple growing and by
which all other apple districts are
measured, and what is giving this
valley the high distinction it now
enjoys?
So one Sunday we dressed the kid
dies in their best and took the east
bound Oregon Railroad and Navigation
train out of Portland and after run
of two hours along the south bank of
the Columbia river reached the little
town of Hood River. There was
nothing extraordinary about the burg,
which various advertisements said had
a population of 5000, but which the
census man put down at nearly 5000.
Here we saw Indians in their gaily
colored blankets wheeling their pa
pooses in up-to-date go-carts. 1t was
berry picking time and the Indians
were helping harvest the crop, as they
do every year.
There were two main business
streets where some beautiful new
buildings in course of erection, notably
the one now occupied by The First
National bank, very reliable institu-
ton. Beyond and up the hillside were
scattered houses, but where, oh, where
were those famous orchards. We were
disappointed, but our real estate
agent, who was to pilot US around,
assured us the promised land lay Just
over the hill, so we took heart again.
And right here, in passing, it may
not be amiss to say word about the
irrepressible, irresistible real estate
agent. No doubt he is built along the
same lines, whether under sunny
southern skies, away back east, or
here on the Pacific coast, and it should
not be necessary to warn you against
him, yet let me say to you, beware
He will spot you the moment you get
off the train, follow you to your hotel,
listen to and interrupt any conversa-
tion you may be carrying on in the
hotel lobby, and finally follow you into
the dining room and seat himself at
your table. He will use gentle per-
suasion, hold out promises of big re-
turns and when all other arts known
to this class of men fail, he will try to
bulldoze you. So, | say, beware of the
man who tries to sell you apple land,
not for its real worth for growing
apples, but as a speculation who
states in his advertisements that
values will double in two or three
years, and assures you confidentially
that you can unload on an easterner
at a handsome profit To be sure
there is a grain of truth in all his rep
reservations, but only a grain, so |
repeat the warning that you investi-
gate well.
To return to our trip. After break
fast the auto was brought around and
we started for the "Iand flowing with
milk and honey" and | might add with
apples. We crossed Hood river, then
climbed the hill to the east of the
town, winding in and out until we
rounded a curve that brought US to the
top. Ye gods, what a view The en-
tire valley was spread out beneath US
and it seemed like one vast orchard,
with miles upon miles of trees. Away
down beneath us was the river, a wild
mountain stream, and over all like
mighty giant sentinels standing guard,
one at either end of the valley, was
Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.
You remember the Bible story of
the great temptation how his satanic
majesty took the Lord up into the high
mountain and showed him the king
doms of the earth. Now, | don't mean
to infer that the real estate agent was
like unto the tempter nor that the
other character was duplicated, but as
| feasted my eyes upon that beautiful
valley, the story came to my mind and
| felt great wave Of temptation
surge over me-to be master over part
of this land, if only few acres. And
ever, as the auto started, did we turn
for one more look upon that WOndrous
scene.
Upon closer view, we were now in
the famous East Side district, where
the oldest and best orchards are To-
Gated, and we got better impression
of what care and thought and hard
work the Orchardist bestowed upon
his orchard. The trees were pruned
into perfect symmetry, each like unto
the other; and, as one looked down
the long rows, not tree was out of
line; there was no litter Of any kind
strewn about, no big cIods of earth,
but by careful cultivation the ground
was worked into a finely pulverized
dust. The impression received was
that of absolute cleanliness and tidi-
ness.
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 desirabilty as a
money maker and a home site. The
auto now crossed fuckers bridge and
returned to Hood River through the