The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-05-23
THE VALUE OF SCENERY

l1L lALlE VI OliANbtA
How many of as have ever thought
of what the hills. the easeading streams
and the sunset glow on the mountain
tops may be worth to US in dollars and
cents? We have looked upon them and
wondered and our visiting trends have
looked and praised in glowing terms
our little valley, the most beautiful IN
the world, but we have never thoght
very much of the economic features OF
the scenery. Yet they are wonderful
asset. Some one has suggested that
they sare worth more than our apple
crop.
We would disagree with this unqual-
flied statement. However, it may be
that in days to come, in decade or
two, the scenic asset of the Hood
River valley may bring IN greater re-
turn than we will ever get for the ap-
pie crop. Take the two together, and
we Of the Hood River valley should
consider ourselves particularly fortun-
ate.
In some of the communities Of the
continent of Europe scenery is the
chief asset and the display Of the seen
cry to tourists is the chief and most
profitable industry. The willy citizens
Of those countries have realized the
value of their industry and every ac-
eommodation has been provided for the
comfort of the tourist. The greater
number of these tourists is composed
of Americans, men who have strug-
gled with the ups and downs of the
world and who in spending their for
tunes and reaping the rewards Of their
labors desire the best there is to be
bad. The hotel men of Switzerland
and the governments of those countries
are giving it to them in the best Of APP
pointed hotels and in roads. the climax
of the road builders art. The nations
that have it have come to know and
count the money value of their seen
cry. They have built boulevards in
order that those of the world who are
able, may take themselves to the
scenic spots with the least trouble.
So great has been the outpouring of
American dollars into the treasures
and Golfers of European nations for the
privilege of enjoying the scenery
aboad that the thinking citizens of this
counry have been caused to sit up and
take notice. The money has been
spent abroad by the millions. 1t has
lead to an organized "See America
First" movement.
But before the "See America First"
meets with the success that
it should. the American scenery must
be brought In closer touch with those
who are able to look at it. Roads
must be built to the lakes and noun
tain bases of the west. 1t costs money
to build roads, but when we think of
the money that we will draw, instead
Of having it pour into the hands Of the
people of foreign countries, shouldn't
we consider that they are worth a
pretty good price2 The western noun
tains of America can exhibit more
wonderful scenic displays than any
part of Europe. 1t has been kind of
a fashion to say: ''l'm going abroad, 4"
but this will not last. The master
hotel builder is already at work and
the road builder is busy. The most
beautiful regions have scarcely been
tapped. The road around the base of
Mount Hood and up the Columbia river
will open up to Portlanders the awe
inspiring scenery of Oregon's wonder
ful peak. 1t will not be many years
until men will be finding it very |
profitable undertaking to entertain the
visitors to the Hood River valley.
But the greatest asset that the Hood |
River valley has is that of its desira-
bility for home location. Men don't
like to make their homes where they
can carry on no work. Here they can
raise orchards. This has been found
to be one of the most profitable of
rural avocations.