The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-12-22
NATURE LOVERS PRO-
POSE OREGON CLUB

Suggested by Walter Prichard Eaton
who visited Hood River while on hi:
tour of Oregon wilds the past summer,
the Oregon Nature Lovers club is in
process of organization here. Promo
tion of the organization is in the hands
of G. K. Graves. Oak Grove orchardist
who was for several years secretary OF
the Minnesota Historical Society at
st. Paul. Mr.. Graves and MIR. Eaton
have been friends for many years, and
while the latter was here last summer,
Mr.. Graves discussed the proposed
club, which it is believed, will grow
into Northwestwide organization.
Mr.. Graves has just received letter
from Governor OlcOtt, who expresses
hearty endorsement of the plans, de-
claring that such a club will serve a
vital need in exploiting Oregon's s
natural scenic resources and in the
conservation of them.
Mr.. Graves has secured an option on
u acres overlooking the Columbia
gorge Just west of the city and adjoin-
ing grounds of the Columbia Gorge
hotel. The location has the advantage
of wonderful views up and down the
gorge. The hotel management has
promised the club the use Of the most
scenic portion of its own grounds. 1t
is proposed to erect on the grounds a
home to be used as headquaI ters for
the organizations activities.
The objects of the club are given by
Mr.. Graves as follows:
"The preservation land exploitation
of the natural beauties and wild life of
Oregon as found along Oregon high
ways and in the adjacent territory.
There is general agreement as to the
desirability of preserving these nat
ural beauties, both for the enjoyment
Of the people of our own state and for
the purpose of attracting touris is
from other states. When such a we'll
known eastern author and naturalist as
Dallas Lore Sharp writes that Oregon
is the most alluring land to the natur-
alist within the compass of our coasts,
it is quite evident that we have some
thing well worth our efforts in pre-
serving. There are two main lines of
endeavor to be followed One Of them
is educational in nature and the other
practical. The practical side of the
work will be taken care of by the new
lv organized Scenic Preservation Club
of Oregon. The Nature Lovers Club
will cooperate with the Scenic-Preser-
walton Association in its activities, but
will lay principal emphasis on the edu.
cational side of the work, with the
idea if the travelling public and owners
of property along the highways can
gradually be educated to perceive the
great desirability of preserving intact
and in its original wildness the scenery
of the state, Oregon in future years
will have more attractions to offer
tourists and homeseekers than other
states that have neglected this educa-
tional work. A large club, devoting
to this work the energies of an enthu-
siastic membership from all over the
state will constitute a permanent inhu-
enee for good in this direction.
Side by side with the work of pre-
serving these natural beauties should
go the work of exploiting them, or
getting the value and usefulness out
of them.
1t is proposed to maintain at the
club house a library filled with litera
ture and pictures that will tend to in
culcate in visitors desire to become
better acquainted with Oregon's scenic
attractions.
'"The reference value of such a IL
bfary," Mr.. Graves says, "because of
the collection of materials it will gath
er will make the club an information
center for all matters pertaining to
natural history and scenery of Oregon, |
and the helpful service it will render
tourists will result in many friends"
The bylaws call for the mainte-
nance of a natural history museum
where various forms of wild life, as
found in Oregon, and especially those |
found along the highways will be kept. |
This feature, it is expected, will at
tract many passing motor tourists. |
Occasional programs by lecturers of |
note and frequent campfire
sessions are called for in the plans of |
the club, when it is once launched and
the grounds equipped. 1t is also
planned to conduct field trips into the
surrounding wilds. where fore IS, river
gorges and the ice and lava caves of
the Mount Adams country might be
studied, Native shrubbery will be
on the grounds of the club,
and every effort will be made to at
tract the native wild fowls to nest
here. A highway information bureau
will be maintained.
1T is planned to make modest be-
ginning with a small two-room bunga-
low house, says Mr.. Graves, "but ul-
it is provided that an ideal
club house two stories in height be
This should be of con-
crete and basement, the latter to con-
tain layatories for convenience of the
public and club attendants. The struc-
would contain a general reception room
for the public with large fireplace.
It would open on a veranda. overlook.
ng the Columbia gorge.
The entrance from the Highway to
he club grounds should be given par
icular attention. If the gateway is
made sufficiently inviting, with appro-
)riate notices of the privileges that