HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
IT IS generally conceded, by those
whoso travels render their opinions
valuable, that the mountains of the
Pacific coast, from Alaska to Mexico, do
not hold in their embrace a more beau
tiful, salubrious and fertile valley than
that of Ilood river. No more delightful
or healthful place of residence could be
hoped for, and none where nature more
willingly lends her aid to the efforts of
man to surround himself with the beau
tics, luxuries and food products of the
vegetable world. The river is a stream
of pure mountain water, flowing north
ward from its fountain head amid the
melting snows and glaciers of Mt Hood,
and uniting with the Columbia about
midway between the cascades and the
dalles. Along its length, right through
the heart of the Cascade mountains, lies
a valley of remarkable beauty and fer
tility, one of the most charming, health
ful and enjoyable summer resorts of the
Pacific coast The mountains abound
in largo and small game, and the river
and iU associato streams are noted for
the excellence and abundance of their
trout Many an invalid has restored
his health, and many a man infirm with
ago has almost renewed the vigor of his
youth, by surrendering himself to the
full enjoyment of the pleasures the
mountains and streams afford, and by
breathing tho life-giving atmosphere.
Tho railroad crosses tho river near its
mouth, and a short distance above is the
charming littlo town of Hood river. It
is a thrifty village, whoso general ap
pearance is portrayed in the engravings
on pages 781 and 782. This is the ship
ping and supply point for the many
prosperous settlers in the valley, and
enjoys a good and increasing trade. The
valley is renowned for its fertility, for
the size and quality of its vegetables,
and the superior excellence of its fruits;
and in humidity is about midway be
tween the moisture of the Willamette
valley and the dryness of Eastern Ore
gon. Peaches are superior in flavor to
those of California. Soft shell almonds
are equal to the famous ones of Chili,
and apples are of such superior size and
flavor, that even the Willamette valley,
that famous land of " big red apples,"
has to take a back seat
Among the most beautiful homes in
Oregon is that of Dr. W. L. Adams, at
Hood River, which is the subject of one
of the engravings. The Doctor is an
old pioneer, having driven his own ox
team across the plains in 1848. After
nearly three years of travel, through
North, Central and South America, tak
ing in the Sandwich islands, he selected
Hood river valley as the most desirable
place for a home he had yet found. The
air is of such a crystal clearness that
Mount Hood, twenty-two miles south
west, and Mount Adams, forty miles to
the north, both glistening with eternal
snow, and both in plain view of the
house, appear as though they were only
a few miles distant
The Doctor's place is located at the
forks of four wagon roads, half a mile
vest of the railroad depot A beautiful
road smooth and slightly ascending,
ined with magnificent oaks and firs,
leads to it It contains three hundred
and twenty acres of excellent land, most
ly nndei fence, one hundred acres in