The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-11-06
Clipped Here and There

From Hood River, the apple center
of Oregon if not the universe, comes
continual word Of distress among
farmers and business men on account
of japanese ownership. 1t is shown
that wise men from the islands of the
sea are buying the choicest orchard
land in the Hood River valley, Great
ing a center of Oriental life and Gus
toms which must certainly lead to CON
dltions entirely out of keeping with
the prospects Of the richest section of
the state few years ago.
The Telegram saw the dangers to be
feared on account of the concentration
of japanese in the Hood River valley,
several years ago. In fact, this paper
was the first in Oregon to put out a
danger signal. 1t was not needed. On
/ the other hand certain business men of
Hood River took the dignife1 position
/ that the paper was knocking the dist
ret. At the same time farmers well
coined the yellow men because they
stood ready to buy land at fair prices
and pay for it. Nobody seemed to
realize the wisdom displayed by the
foreigners in selecting the land for
plrchase. Only the best was consid-
cred. and the men who controlled the
purchases had all the information that
could be gathered at the time.
1t was in 1915. four years ago. that
the Telegram sounded the alarm
against the purchase of land in Hood
River valley by japanese. To be eX-
act it was in October, 1915, when
three or four articles were published,
in which the problems of apple produc-
ton and marketing were discussed.
In the article printed October 9. the
following warning against Japanese
ownership was printed:
"The stranger landing at the depot
in Hood River must be struck with the
| yellow peril when he is approached
I by real japanese runner, decked
out with a cap bearing in gilt letters
the name of prominent hotel. A
japanese hotel runner would be new
in many Oregon towns, much less
would the innovation be expected in a
high class apple city. On inquiry it is
ascertained that the hotel runner is
one of about 500 Japanese who have
become fixtures in the valley. Japan
ese pick and pack strawberries and ap.
pies and pears; they clear land; they
cultivate and care for trees. Lately
they have been buying land, real apple
land, and they are rapidly becoming
owners of orchards. In ever district of
the valley japanese are getting title to
land and they are paving for it, too.
Thus far the white growers have con-
sidered the Japanese AS servants they
are soon to realize the change to land
lords. Something of the condition can
be gathered from the fact that one of
every 10 persons one meets in Hood
River county is a Japanese. And the
whole colony has come to stay within
less than 10 years.
1t is only just to the japanese to say
they are Of the most conservative type
Of land buyers. First as workers of
the soil. then as tenants, then as own
ers of the land, Japanese invade a
district and become permanent resi-.
dents. They do not hastily colonize
and speculate. They study every con-
idtions, and then develop markets.
There is no disposition among Japan
ese, either those with resources or
those without, to kite land values and
rob the newcomer. In this fact lies
much of the certainty of the success of
| ventures projected by the little yellow
men.
Hood River is not the only section of
| the Northwest that has or will have
the japanese problem to contend with
| and to solve. Two or three sections OF
the state of Washington have large
| colonies of japanese. In Oregon, other
sections are threatened with the same
1 peril that has been recognized. ever
| though too late, at Hood River. Port
i land Telegram.