The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-07-17
MOSIER DISTRICT
SHOWS GROWTH
LARGE ORCHARDS BEGIN TO BEAR
Residents Of Community Of Handsome
Homes are Enthusiastic Boosters for
Columbia River Boulevard

al Ntit stdlloi VI mociCEt u tlplChl
country village set there on the bank
of the Columbia with its oak trees Civ
ing color TO the crag bound landscape
would never suspect, if he had not al
ready had some hint of the beauty Of
the orchard landscape he was going to
behold, that he would see another Mid
Columbia wonderland, where acre after
acre of symetrically planted young
orchards greet the eye on every hand.
But one has to cross the river Styx to
get to the Elysian fields, or the Alps to
get TO Italy, and so the station has to
be braved in order to see the Mosier
hills, dotted with homes as handsome
as any that can be found in the state
of Oregon.
The Mosier district is devoted alto
gether to tree fruits. II is true that
some of the growers have small tracts
set to strawberries and small quantities
of small vine fruits are grown, but
apples, cherries and prunes are the
chief products of Hood Rivers nearest
neighbor on the east. M0sier's prunes,
though in more limited way. are as
well known in the markets of the
United States as are Hood Rivers ap-
pies, and in the fall of the year one can
purchase the big luscious plums in Chi
cago, New York or any of the principal
markets of the country, where they are
shipped to be distributed to the smaller
places.
Fortunate is the visiting stranger
who is a friend of Jack McGregor,
Happy Jack" or MAC. the King of
Scotland" as they call him there. Mr..
McGregor knows everybody in Mosier
district. And then, matter of mere
Importance to the visiting man who
wants to see the community in a short
time, "Mac" has just purchased an
automobile. He is the pioneer car
owner of the little Mid-Columbia fruit
town. They tell the story there that
he bought the machine with his cherry
crop returns. He shipped three boxes
from his orchard, and the next day the
car was ordered.
Mr.. McGregor, as are all of the peo-
Pile of the Mosier district, city and
country folk alike, twelve hundred Of
them, are clamoring for the Portland
The Dalles highway. They don't say
Portland Hood River highway, as do
their neighDors further down the river:
for they want to see it extended on
through up the river. 81 would just
like to mix with your county court
down there for a moment, says Mr..
McGregor, "and I'll wager they would
be willing to keep those convicts re-
Gently offered by Governor West and
have them continue their work on what
will be the greatest highway, when it
is completed, in the United States. "
And then he grew more serious but
continued his criticism of the local
hoard of commissioners for having dis
continued the work on the highway.
I'VE people here are not taking as
much interest as we should. None of
us are. We ought to remain awake at
nights to think of means to hasten that
road. Why, if | had million dollars,
would build that highway, and make
one of the greatest monuments for my
self that man ever set up for himself. "
The Mosier district shipped 40 car
loads of apples last year. At the present
time approximately 5000 acres there
are set to apples, one thousand already
in bearing. The output of the district
will increase very fast now for the
younger orchards will be fast coming
into bearing. While the lack of water
prevents the growth of the small fruits
cultivated here as we'll as the raising
of cover crops, the Moser growers are
proud of their non-irrigated product,
which they say is superior in certain
quality respects. Fifteen thousand
crates of Mosier prunes were marketed
last year by the Mosier Fruit Growers
Association. r. d. Chatfeld, present
manager of the ASSOCIATION, says he
will market 10 carloads of cherries this
year. The fruit is finer this season
than ever and for the first time carload
shipments are being made. The fruit
is being shipped through the North
western Fruit Exchange. I'VE have
already had a small vinegar plant, a
private concern, established here, "
said MIR. Chatfield last week, and there
is talk now of cannery for the Gull
and low grade product. The cherry
crop was very prolific this year. Frank
Ginger having. shipped IL tons from l2O
trees.
In the last five years. according to
the estimates of the prominent grow
ers, $500, 900 have been expended in the
Mosier district in improvements. build
ings and land clearing. Nearly 500, 000
have been spent in the past year and a
half. Handsome homes have been built
there by the following people, most of
whom were former Portland business
men C. A. McCsrgar. Ed l.. Howe,
H. M. Scearce, 6. P. and G. A. Nor
den. j. P. Carroll. G. l.. Carroll, DR..
c. A. McCrum, Mark A. Mayer, c. L.
McKenna, w. H. Weber, Amos Root.
Lee Evans, +. +. Shogren, E. B. Ven
sci, Miss A. and M. Shogren. Ed f.
Reeves, c. J. Littlepage, r. H. Cum
Minis, Morton & Algesheimer, G. c.
lsom, r. d. Chatfield and DR.. David
Robinson.
Even though the residents of this
favored fruit district were able to look
at nothing else but their own tree Gov
cred hills, they might we'll be satisfied.
But from different of points in the
valley they are able to see some of the
| northwest's most scenic spots.
Glimpses are had of Mount Hood, while
the Columbia gorge is the daily specta'
Gle of the homes in portions of the val
ley. On Morden ridge, where Morder
brothers are developing tract of 20(
acres, sixty of which have been cleared
and planted, one of the most delightful
views in the whole northwest may b'
had. Here one may look down across
the Mosier hills and on beyond the Col
umbia, mere water ribbon at thi
distance, to the grain fields of Klicki
tat county, and every moment tn,
shadows of the distant landscape
where the folds of the hills at one mo
ment may be dark gray and then
shifting cloudlet moving away. touche
brown or vivid green in the sunlight
Messrs. Morden have a handsome bung
allow and the home is supplied wit
every convenience enjoyed by cit
dwellers.
Another handsome country residenc
is that of C. A. McCargsr. His buns