The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-12-03
HOOD RIVER
CHANCE CITED
PUBLICITY NECESSITY SAYS WRITER
Leroy Armstrong Calls Attention to 0p-
POrtunity Offered Valley by Taking
Advantage Of Expositions
(By Leroy Armstrong;

hoOu hlNef county mas tnie IN COM
mon with the warning nations Of
Europe: Both must do some things in
self defense. Over there, no matter
how much a nation may want peace, il
must protect itself. Its present life
and its future existence demands q big
measure Of sacrifce-one that laws its
strong demand on every person equal
ly. Here, especially in this year of
Pacific expositions, Hood River county
people must arrest the attention of the
tourist thousands-or be counted a
back number. a has-been, the stick of
once very brilliant rocket, the form
erly spectacular exploiter who has shot
his wad.
II is matter of self defense for US
this year. The California carnivals,
partly because they are worthy, partly
because there is nowhere else to go,
will call mighty host of we'll to do
people from the country east of us,
from every city and county of every
state. They are going to California,
and are going TO see whatever inter-
ests them on the way. They are COM
ing in comfortable style, for they have
the money. They are the prosperous
people who know a good thing when
they see il, but they have to be shown.
They are good enough TO be added to
our own population, for they are Of
the most desirable citizenship the na-
tion knows.
Some years ago they heard about
Hood River. The fame of this valley
was known to all informed, discrimi-
mating Americans. In these past two
seasons, while our people have been
adjusting themselves to new condi-
tions, while Great Nature has been
establishing bearing orchards where
forest and rock had been, the discrim-
mating Americans have heard less of
Hood River, but have not forgotten.
Remind them anew. press our invita-
tion upon them. and they would as soon
mis- Hood River as the Golden Gate.
But we have to tell them. We must
reach their attention. We must cause
them to make Hood River q sure port
of call. We must impress them that
here exists the sort of condition which
invites their kind--,the best place beck
ohing the best people. And, as in
Europe. 1t is the bounden duty, the
just obligation of every citizen, 80 it
too closely affects the future prosper
ity of all our people for any one to de-
cline his proporionate share.
There is development adage to the
effect that town better be on the line
of live railroad that at the end Of
dead one. But so long as the Columbia
river flows ''unvexed to the sea-"
Hood River will never be on a dead
Zine. Much of the transcontinental
auto travel will be by way of Seattle
and Portland TO San Francisco; but
thousands of those parties will come
up the Colubmia river highway to see
Hood River. Ii should be our task to
increase that number to the greatest
possible limit. There is no danger of
deceiving them. In all this round
world they will find no scenery more
splendid. AT the end Of no road, dead
or alive, will they lind so desirable q
region as the Hood River valley.
They will gain memory, enriching
ther lives. Some of them will make
investments here. and improvements
here, and good homes here.
A great many other auto parties will
come down the whole of the Columbia
valley, preferring that to the longer
northern route. We should enlist as
many recruits as possible to that vel
come army of invasion. They will
form probable element OF the sea-
sons commerce In the valley. Out of
their number we will keep some as cit
izens. to their lasting benefit as well
as our own.
But the very much greater number
of tourists-to- the-coast will come by
rail. 1t will be a good business for
Hood River people to tell them before
they buy their tickets the wisdom Of
stopping over here. Put the matter
before them in much printed matter.
Tell the truth attractively through
such mediums as reach the eyes and
appeal to the reason of the best citi-
zenship in the east. Assure them that
Hood River county property is better
now than ever before; that
the valley is vastly more beautiful and
residence here immeasurably more de-
sirable. For Hood River stands ready
to make good every one of those prop
ositions.
In plain terms, the people of the
east, likely to visit Californis's expo
sitions in the summer of 1916, should
be urged by all the solicitation that
can summon, TO visit Hood
River valley. Make it definite part
Of their plan. Impress it as one thing
they must not forego. They will come
# we ask them. And their coming will
be mighty profitable tor all of US.
And let every citizen, in proportion to
MS ability, share in the cost of that
IL is the community's affair.
And the members of our community
are far too just to desire escape from
heir equitable share of duty which,
when discharged, brings universal ben
,fits.
No county ever had such an oppor-
unity to reap harvest. And the cost
If the reaping-as its ultimate profits
SHOULD be shared by all.