The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-07-12
Dee, Ore, March 10, 1917.

Dee, Ore. March 10, 1917.
My dear D: Your letter of last
January reached my r. F. d. mail
box few weeks ago, and was glad
to hear from you. Had you dropped
in, instead of the letter, you would
have found me in my "bungle Oh"
shack seated by a rousing firewOod
fire up in the Cascade mountains 1900
feet above sea level. with "a inches of
snow outside and mo enemy but win
ter and rough weather" as our old
friend of Stratford-on-AvOn wrote.
| am located, as you may recall, in
the famed Hood River valley, which
is on the Columbia river 65 miles east
of Portland. and is noted throughout
the United States for its apples and
strawberries, in the production of
which it claims to excel the world.
To the south of me about Is miles, and
plainly visible from my window, stands
Mount Hood in snOwcapped majesty,
lording it, like Fujiyama, over the sur
rounding country; and, to the north,
on the Washington side of the Colum-
bia, stands Mount Adams, only the up
per part of which is visible from my
place. To the east and west of this
valley lie the foot hills of the Cas-
cades, their slopes covered with stately
fir and cedar trees, which at present
have a mantle of snow. Within radi-
us of half mile from my ranch are
two mountain streams teeming with
trout. There is plenty of wild game
hereabouts, deer, bear, China pheas-
ants, and grouse. Bob cats and cou-
gars are occasionally shot by neigh
bors, and last summer could hear the
yelping of coyoytes on hillside across
the river where sheep were pastured.
In general way Hood River valley
is triangular in shape, 20 miles to a
side. the north side frontinglon the Co.
lumbia river and sloping back to
Mount Hood on the south. Probably
two-thirds of the valley are under cul-
tivation, the greater portion being
dedicated to fruit:growing. The other
one-third, approximately, is in stand
ing timber or logged. off land. Prac-
tically all the year round one can hear
the muffied boom of dynamite in this
vicinity, as land is being cleared and
stumps blown out. | could go into
much greater detail in describing the
situation here, but statistics are al
ways dry, and this will give you a
general idea of this location and activ-
tiles.
| have been here on my ranch nearly
one year now. l have ten acre tract,
all planted to apples, the trees now
eight years old and just coming into
bearing. harvested my first crop last
fall, and got approximately 400 packed
boxes, selling on an average in eastern
markets at So box. This yield should
increase now on from year to year.
The raising of apples in the North
west, as you may know, is based on
scientific principles-from the clearing
of the land to the final marketing.
One has much to learn of planting,
pruning, spraying, irrigating, picking
and packing, shipping and marketing
but it is all intensely interesting to
those who like this work. AS for my
self, after a years residence on my
ranch, | like the country, climate, and
work very much.
In considering location of this ma
ture, one must chiefly take into ac-
count climate soil, water, social ad-
vantages and transportation. Other
matters may be considered, such as
scenery, but one cannot grow apples
on scenery. The climate, for a north
ern altitude, is splendid. The nights
are cool throughout the summer, and !
have sleptiall this winter with my bed.
room windows partially open. 1t
never seems to get so hot in summer
or so cold in winter as in other north
ern states east of the Cascades. The
lowest | have seen the mercury this
winter was 10 above zero, and it did
not seem very cold at that.
The soil is known as volcanic ash
and "red shot," and is very rich. /
dug an 18-foot well last summer and
found solid red shot down to depth of
Ia feet. That is as deep as any apple
tree roots..are likely to 60. Strawber-
ries thrive, and are noted for their
firmness, flavor and shipping qualities.
An adjoining neighbor got two cuttings
of clover last summer, two tons to the
acre each time, or four tons to the
acre, which is rather large.
The water is the finest obtainable
anywhere, and is practically melted
snow from Mount Hood. The irriga-
tion systems are good, with abundant
water and cheap; irrigation is not al
ways necessary, but we'll to have
handy, particularly for the strawber.
ries. Social advantages excellent with
goood schools and churches dotting the
valley. A small railroad runs south
from Hood River town to a point al
the base of Mount Hood, and connects
with transcontinental systems along
the Columbia river. Steamers ply or
the river.
AS to scenery, it is no exaggeratior
to say it is one of the most beautiful
regions in the United States, if not ir
the world, this mid Columbia basin.
The Columbia River Highway has re.
Gently been completed and must be
seen to be appreciated. Like yourself,
and many others in the Philippines,
have travelled in Japan, Europe ano
other countries of scenic fame, but
this is a combination of the Alps,
Trossachs, Fujiyama and the. .Benguet
country.
You ask if there are any others here
from the Philippines, Perchsd on the