The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-05-09
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ARTHUR D. MOE. Publisher.
Subscription, s1.5O Per Year.
THE FESTIVAL

Inc noOu hifti hpPiC bic7oth
Festival has been a success. Although
the faces Of the men who had arranged
the plans of the occasion were almost
as gloomy as the weather on Friday,
when the valley was overhung with
clouds and showers threatened, Provi-
dence and Mother Nature cleared the
skies Of the dark draperies on Satur-
day and cheered the spiiits of hosts
and visitors alike. The sun shone
brightly on the two white tops Of
Mount Hood and Mount Adams and
with smiles and bandshakes and talks
the people Of the three Columbia cities,
Portland, Hood River and The Dalles
got together and imbued each other
with ideas the effect Of which will not
soon wear away.
Never has the Apple City enter
tanned so many people at one time.
The event has surpassed the expecta-
tions of those who suggested the plan
at a monthly meeting of the CONNER
eial club about two months ago. The
Blossom Festival germinated from
thought sprung by J. II. Heilbronner.
S. Benson, the retired lumberman of
Portland. had just made the offer of
the donation of $40, 900 toward the con-
struction of the Portland Hood River
road. Lets celebrate our blossom
season with a festival, said Mr.. He'll
bronner, and invite MIR Benson here
to be our guest of honor. " The other
members of the commercial body seized
on his remarks with eagerness and
within week the plans for the eele-
bration had been worked out.
The success of the Apple Blossom
carnival has been mainly due to the CO.
operation of all citizens with the clubs
efforts. The men and women Of all the
communities took an active interest.
The automobile owners have willingly
donated the use Of their cars for the
entertainment of their guests. The
members of the women's religious or
CARNATIONS have lent their aid in the
preparation of food for the hungry
guests, their appetites whetted by the
rides through the bracing atmosphere
and over roads from which the eye |
feasted upon scenic grandeur. Much
credit is to be given to the 0-.W. r. &
NJ Co. and the Mount Hood railroad, |
neither of which left unturned any
effort that might make successful and
enjoyable the excursion of visitors.
Probably because of the fact
that Mr.. Benson's donation was
the real cause of the blossom festival
and that IL will result in a closer draw
ing together of the two counties, Multi
nomah and Hood River. the Portland
Hood River road seemed uppermost in
the minds of the greater number of
those who delivered addresses at the
banquet given by the local commercial
organization to the members of the !
Portland Commercial club Saturday |
night The man of Portland told the
man of Hood River of the wonderful
of travel the road would
open to him and the Hood River man
related the benefit aud pleasures it
would give the residents of his home
valley. With an exchange of thoughts
each realized the great mutual advan-
tage to be derived from the completion
of the scenic wagon and automobile
highway.
There was a feeling expressed, and |
deeply felt, of regret that Mr.. Benson |
was unable to be present and catch the |
spirit of enthusiasm that his generos-
ity has aroused. Indications are fav- |
orable now for completion of pass
able wagon road from Hood River to |
the Mutnomah county line within a
years time. with the little hole
bored between the two cities" as il
was expressed by Samuel Hill in a
speech to Hood River citizens Friday
afternoon, ''it will be but few short
months until those who travel the
route will use every effort and aid and
demand one OF the best constructed
highways in the country.
Much of the success of the banquet
of Saturday night is due to the men
and women who furnished thessongs
and music for the occasion The short
and direct addresses of those who made
speeches. interspersed with this enter
tainment, made the three hours in the
Odd Fellows hall seem very short.
The automobiles of the valley are to
be congratulated on the way they
handled the overflow crowd of the
Portland Press club Sunday. Their
prompt responses were highly appreci-
ated by the committee in charge of the
Press club picnic and by the visitors.
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