The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-08-01
NEW TRACT
SHOWS PROGRESS
ORCHARDS THRIVE WEST OF DEE
New Irrigation Ditch Covers $500 Acres
-GeOwth of district Noted by
Lost Lake Campers

OF the Hood River valley lying between
the main stream and the West Fork Of
Hood River he is made to realize that
the development of the community.
despite the proportions it has reached
in the Lower Valley and the advance
ments made in the Upper Valley, has
just begun. In sthis district broad
eXpanse of logged off land. where the
Oregon Lumber Co. has finished its Op-
GRAFTON, meets the eye. To pass
through the region, where thousands |
of blacktOpped stumps dot the land and |
where eharred bits of refuse logs, over
grown by the weeds and bushes that
have sprung up since the frs were
felled for their lumber, the traveller
is depressed by the desolation that now
prevails. However, the axe and grub
hoe Of the land clearer have already
made inroads on the eastern portion of
the fertile area and orchards just ready
to come into bearing are thriving on
the ridge that rises just west of the
| big lumber mills at Dee.
One of the prettiest and most well
kept pear orchards of the valley is that
of Cash" Jones, of Portland, who
has a tract of 20 acres set to this fruit
in the cleared portion of this district.
The rtees have been allowed to bear
this year for the first time. Nj. NJ.
Hill has a handsome tract of 10 acres
here set to apples. Another beautiful
orchard is that of Chas. T. Early.
/ Numerous other tracts have been
cleared and set and will soon come into
bearing. Several new homes rise al
ready in the very midst of the logged
off tract. Antoine Flint has home
here. Mr.. Flint, who is clearing his
land for an orchard, was unfortunate
enough to lose his home by fire last
fall. However. he Immediately rebuilt
a neat residence.
The district soil is a deep red shot,
which has been found SO excellent for
fruit. 1t reaches from the verge OF
the gorge of the main river to the
ridge surmounting what is known as
Sandy Flat, on the West Fork. Twenty
| five hundred acres of fertile soil avail
the advance of the apple industry il
the valley. The community is wei
watered, the Dee Power q Irrigation
| Co. having completed this summer al
irrigation project covering the area o
II tillable soil. The Hume takes its water
from the West Fork of the Hood rive
above the point where the Lake Branc
II flows into that stream and from sma
II streams tributary to the West Fork
II 1t has an ample supply for the distri'
Ill and is finished piece of work fro
II the standpoint of an enigneer. III
II big ditch follows the range of hills
II the south of the district for some mile
II For a great portion of the distanc
II along the river the water is carried b
II open board fume.
II The progress of the district IS note
II every summer by the scores of loca
II residents who pass through 1t to tn
II alluring camping grounds on the Lax
II Branch, West Fork and Lost Lake
/ This district with its acre after acre o
Il untouched forests, its clear trou
II streams where the camper may ENJOY
/ the hottest summer, day in an inviting
| Iy cool retreat, is becoming more ant
more famed to those who like to spent
the summer vacation "out in the
woods" Campers have visited the re
gion ever since there has been Hoot
River valley, having gone there t
hunt the bear and wildcats. which are
to be found there in some numbers to
day, and to take the trout from the
streams that TEEN with them. Some
Hood River families have camped OF
the West Fork and the Lake Brancf
for the last seven years. They declare
that the haunts of the district nav,
woven a kind of charm around them
and that the impulse to return, wheT
the days become warm in the city ar'
irresistible.
W. j. Baker and family have VISITED
the region for many years. For the
past three summers they have pitchet
| their tents at the confluence of the
Lake Branch and the West Fork on
point of land that cannot be surpassed
! for the beauty of the foliage of th'
trees and the view that is had Of thu
cascading waters of the two streams
!, 1t is there in the summer months tina
/ they have entertained their friends
/ who have had the fortunate pleasur
of visiting Camp Mlnnehaha, as the
have come to call the place. Fror
their experience in camping they hav
reduced the method of vacation to
science and trip to their summer
home, for they live at the camp 70
/ months at a time, is well worth tn
Il time of any one, who expects to spen
II a vacation camping in TIE woods.