The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-03-25
VALUES


If some one comes and tells me that
my neighbOrs house has been de.
stroyed by FIRE, should be very thank
ful that nothing worse is wrong with
mine than leaky roof. The grape
fruit grower, the orange grower and
the pineapple grower all have been
heard to complain of the disasters Of
this years fruit market. The cotton
man down in Dixie has cried that he
was ruined. Reports in newspapers
and trade journals would lead US TO be-
leve that they are really worse of
than the growers of apples. 1t is true
that we apple community residents are
covered by pretty leaky roofs this
year, yet instead of giving way to
means of despair, should we not be
thankful that we reside in a pioneer
apple district, one tried and proven,
where the soil is adapted to the raising
of product second to none.
Just here let It be said that we are
not voicinR these sentiments for the
purpose of raising false hopes nor to
southe ourselves temporarily as though
by administering an opiate. We be-
lieve in the apple industry in the Hood
River valley; for we think it will
'come back" Going arrogantly on
our way in former years, when We were
apparently looking at the horn of plenty
through a magnifying glass we allowed
our values to be inflated. Today we are
suffering from this speculative regime.
But now, while the pendulum is
swung back, while war talk, strin-
gent financial situation, a universally
large apple crop, no profit for the ap-
pie grower and no surplus spending
money to be paid the merchant, are
characteristics of prevailing conditions,
we are too prone to depreciate our val
ues too much. 1t was said of the
ancient Greeks that they owed their
prominence to their philosophy OF life.
They sturck happy medium and main
tanned it. We are too prone be too op-
timistic or pessimistic.
If il is worth anything at all as an
orchard, Hood River full bearing CON
mercial apple tracts ought to be worth
81, 600 an acre. and the younger tracts
graded in value accordingly. OF course,
there are some tracts in the Hood River
valley that cannot produce a profitable
income at a 81, 900 valuation, even with
apples at good price. 1t will be
found out and its value will seek the
proper level. But for good, proven
orchard tracts, keep faith with them.
We were told the other day of an old
lady getting along toward the age of
three score and ten, who has little
farm over on the other side of Mount
Hood. She had reverses in life, but
instead of giving up and asking a sane
tuary from the state, she went to work
on that tract, and is supporting herself,
planting each year a small garden,
raising her farm animals, and enjoying
dignifylng independence.
Fortunate ate we, born with the char
acteristics of that old lady. Reverses
make US work the harder. We look
more closely to see defects in our
methods, we stop the leaks of business
and go ahead and succeed in spite of
barriers. The orchardists of the Hood
River valley are finding themselves in
the face of adversity. They are seek
ing effective and yet inexpensive
methods of marketing. All possible
items of cost will be eliminated.
Diversified farming, of limited ma
ture is found to be of assistance to the
orchardist. who is learning how to cope
with difficult situations. We believe a
substantial reward awaits the local
orchardist who works hard and sticks to
the game in earnest. - -,