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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1910)
&f you want tfic news, su6scri6c for tfic Hews. 0f you want printing, fiave us do it. ffie Hews Ceacls -.aH, nuuu wvm imwb VOLUME 6, NUMBER 10 HOOD RIVER, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1910 SUBSCRIPTION, $1.50 A YEAR Send Representative To Reminiscences of Express Rc-Modeled Waucoma Will Be "The Oregon Refitted, Refurnished and Enlarged With Seventy Additional Rooms New Hostelry Will Soon Give Patrons Superior Service Oppocc Lafean Box Bill Messenger In Early Days 99 Hood River Apple Growers' Union Dele gates Jos. A. Wilson to Goto Washington and Oppose Measure Before Lawmakers' Actinic aa the representative of the Hood Klver apple growera, Jotieph A, Wilson left here Saturday night for WaxhlnKton, I). ('., to add his ef fort to that of other Oregon repre sentatlves who aiv endeavoring to prevent the passage of the Lefean bill. The proportion to send a Hood Klver representative to Washington originated with the board of direc tors of the Mood River Apple Grow era' Union who believed that tbla dlatrlct could not afford to let a bill of thla character become a law with out opposition. While all the board are actively opposed to the bill, K. H. Shepard waa one of the moat ac tive In making arrangements ta send a representative from here, hlaefforta being furthered, In addltlou to inem ttera of the board, by I'. S. Davldaon A. I. Mason and C. Dethman. Al though Mr. Wilson goes oateualbly aa the representative of the union, he will seuk for all the growera In the valley and will meet In Washington and cooperate with A. M. Whistler of the Kogue Klver district and W.K. Newell, president of the state board of horticulture. By leaving here Saturday be should arrive la the ' pit ol city Thursday, In time to Join In the committee work agaluat the bill. It la Itelleved that If a compromise In regard to the size of the bos It la proposed to use can be effected that Pacific coast growera will not op pose most of the other provisions of the measure. Changing the size of the box la considered the moat Im portant feature that northwest growers have to contend against. Mr. Whistler, of the Oregon delega- W. N. WHITE & GO. OUT WITH HAMMER W. N. White & Co., a New York commission Arm, who la espousing the cause of the Lafean bill, writes a petrojolltan coast dully as follows: "Further to mind of last week on the Lafcau bill. 1 herewith enclose you some further arguments which I frust you will do nie the favor of prlntng In the same way as you Iirlnted arguments against the bill, call your attention to the enclosed manuscript catalogue from Liver pool. dite Jan. Jtjth. On page 3 you wl we Oregon Newtown Pip pins ei. ii "Bohemian"; It starts with the brand J. M. Brooks, Asb land. Ore , 4 tiers at 7 8 or In Ameri can money $1 50. Then you will see the prices of Mrs. C. P. Schooley 5-3 or 9135. ''Lot 4(1, the brand Famous Kogue Klver Apples, Geo. Daggett. Medford, 14(1 boxes sold at 4s or Otic a box. 'I call your attention to the state ment shown ou that manuscript cat alogue (count 11 2:1-27.) The mean ing of that la, four boxes have U-en counted out and the Inspectors In counting those boxes found In one box 11 damaged; In another 23 dam aged, another 23 and another27 dam aged apples. "Some others wero sold at 5a or $1.20. On page 4 of the catalogue you will And quite a numler of lota sold from 5 6. These are the Kogue Klver Fruit Growers Union, Medford, grown by Pave Duncan, and . so on and so on. "These figures are facts, speak for themselves. They net the grower back scarcely anything only a few cents per box. "There la some question that ha to m answered, because on pnge 4. goods by the - "Lusltanla," Ore gon goods, arriving Into Liverpool, two different steamers, both sailing at the worst prices Oregon fruit have ever realized on that market. It can not Ins the fault of the steamer. It Is plther the fault of the box or the fruit. Either the Oregun grower has hlpied fruH that he hail no right to, or he packed them n such a manner that they lieeame bruised or dam aged, or was It the fault of the box or something what was It? Per haps these gentlemen can answer themselves; I cannot. Hut If the goods were proerly packed and put In a proper box, they would have been sold for more than three times the amount." tlon, la stated to be much alive to the situation and to have gone to Washington primed with all the nec eseary data to appear before the congressional committees and make arguments against the passage of the Lafean bill In Its present form. Not long ago be was In Washington and made a demonstration of the Winchester bushel In the private of fice of Mr. Wllaou, secretary of agri culture, by having a box of Kogue Klver valley apples that won the first prize at Spokane brought in, and which when placed in a bushel basket filled It, heaped up. Where upon the official head of agriculture in the United States waived all ob jections to the cubic contenta of the northwest box. It la known that the commission men are using every means to get the Lafean bill enacted and It Is ! lleved that the presence of a strong delegation from the northwest will go a great way to defeating it or secure a satisfactory compromise. APPLE TRADE ISJXPANDING A recent report of Consul J. N. Mc Cunn showed that Glasgow receives about 400,000 barrels of apples from foreign countries each year. Of this amount the United States furnishes 150,000 barrels, while the balance comes from Canada. North Ameri can fruit Is preferred In Glasgow. The quality and regularity of the va rieties and sizes and the nature of the packages combine to bring this about. English apples are almost always put up In packages of some value, which are charged for by growers, necessitating either their return or paymeut for them. The Impossibility of producing a large supply of standard varieties and the deficiency of grading on the part of apples grown outside of North Amer ica also tend to make the American fruit preferable. The remarkable expansion of the apple trade In Glasgow is not only due to alargerconsunjptlon through out Scotland, but ulso to the fact that Glasgow supplies a large por tion of the north of Ireland and the north of England with large weekly shipments. Fruit is offered In Glas gow in a large baiaar market under municipal supervision. Belfast, In Ireland, consumes during the season about 3,000 barrels of apples per week and about one-third of them come from the United States. Some of the principle varieties marketed In Glasgow are Baldwins, Spltxenbergs, Northern Spys, Russets and Green ings. Hudson Klver Newtown Pip pins and Ben Davis are also used freely. Over 90 er cent of the apples In Belfast are a grade far Mow firsts. The fruit Is generally uncol ored, small and Immatured. Pro duce News. NEW BRICK BUILDING CORNER 4TH AND OAK Ground w!U soon be broken for a new brick building which J. Otten will erect on the corner of Oak and 4th streets. The plans for the build ing are In the hands of K. B. Bartlett architect, and call for a one story and basement structure which will be designed for an additional story later. The building will he built of brick with a cream colored pressed brick front. The frontage on Oak street will Is 50 feet with a length of NO feet on 4th street. The' work of dismantling the wooden buildings on the premises has been commenced and excavation, for the foundations wl o started, as sooti as they are removed. Nf Ighbor Trust Meet The Get Acquainted Neighbor Trust enjoyed nn unusually pleasant meet ing at Mr, liimr i eoncsd'iy even ing. The muslo wna excellent and the singing of a couple of solos by Mr. Wilbur was very fine. The other feature of the entertainment caused a riot of laughter nud hilarlousuess that spread the aides until they were almost capable of holding the sub stantial lunch served at the close of the exercises. The next meeting will be Friday night at the home of K. II. Hartwtg. By Capt. In November, 1WJ5, I was offered and accepted a position with the Wells Fargo Express Company as messenger, and was assigned to The Dalles-Walla Walla route. The posi tion was no sinecure. It was In the flood tide of the mining excitement In eastern Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia east of the Cascade mountains. Treasure ship ments were very heavy, the country waa overrun with bad men, going to and coming from the various mining districts, Walla-Walla, Baker City. Boise and Idaho cities, Owyhee and Lew Is ton, were filled to overflowing with cut-throats, gamblers and ban dits. Indeed so bad did these condi tions become that the mere law abid ing citizens of these parts were compelled to take matters la their own bands and purge their towns of these pests. A correspondent of the Oregonlao, from Boise, at that time gives an Idea of the situation at that place. He says, "I think I am safe In saying that not a day passes In this part of the territory without one or more men meeting a violent death." At that time Walla Walla waa a distrib uting point for all these places. The conditions were perhaps not quite as bad aa at Boise, but they were bad enough. While navigation waa open the express went by boat as far as Wallula and then thirty mites by stage to Walla Walla, but when Ice closed the river the overland trip bad to be made. The route lay through a totally uninhabited country, ex cept the stations, thirty to forty miles apart, and at best required four days to make the one way trip. It waa a responsible position for a boy Just out of his teens, though I waa not wholly unprepared foreraer- gerclea, having been raised from early boyhood on the frontier and lacked a whole lot of being a tenderfoot. The Shot Qua Messenger The term "Shot Gun Messenger" came from the fact that all overland messengers were required to carry a double barrelled shot gun, furnished by the company. They were No. 10 bore, sawed off guns loaded with five shooter balls and a terrible weapon In cool hands, sure death at one hun dred yards, and no self-respecting bandit would think of taking any chances In frout of one, The rules re garding these guns were very strict. The seat by the driver was always reserved for the messenger, and he bad to carry bis gun across his lap, alwaya ready for Instant use; under no circumstances was he permitted to rlde'lnslde the coach, or covered wagon, or walk, but always keep a sharp lookout for trouble. Any In fraction of these rules meant instant discharge from the company's em ploy on arrival at destination. Oold Dust Was Legal Tender On my first trip down I found my self In charge of a large treasure ship ment, consisting of 1700 pounds of silver bullion lu leather bags, mostly If not all from the Baker couuty mills; then there were four treasure chests, weighing about 200 pounds each, the total value of all lelng about 1135,000. This, with one ex ception, was the largest amount that I ever knew of shipped at one time. T. II. Cann, the messenger running on alternate days, had taken treasure amounting to $150,000 the trip previous. Gold dust was then the legal tender of the land, coin of all description was scarce. Paper money was In evidence, but so depreciated In value and with the discount so variable that It was hard to handle,- Later, when lu the employ of the O. S. N. Co., I took In considerable amounts at 40 to 60 cents on the dollar. The o dicers of the boats frequently would Invest their month's wages In "green backs" and laid them, by (or a raise, atid netted, a neat sum 'hat way. The pr)ce of gold dust was na vari able aa the number of claims In the mines, ranging In value from I to 119 per ounce for Owyhee to $;'l for Kootenai or Sktmilkameen. All northern gold was good. I do not rememls'r ever having seen any Inter ior dust come from either Coeur d'Alene or British Columbia. I soon lHcame very expert In buying dust, and could generally locate, on sight. the very mine that a batch of dust came from. All kinds of adultera tions were used to deceive the buyer, sHlter Itetng the principal Ingredient, and on more than one occasion 1 H. C. Coe have watched the horror depicted on the face of an Innoceut trader on seeing his bogus dust melt away when I would test It with acid. I always dreaded to see Owyhee dust come out of the buckskin. It waa uch vile stuff; It was so mixed with lead and other combinations that It did not look like gold, and one never dared to give Its actual value for fear of getting bit; but the Sklrallka nieen and Kootenai product waa dust par-excellence; It waa coarse, washed flakes and runulng up Into nuggets or $5 to $10 each and abso lutely pure; more valuable than minted coin. Boise valley dust would range about fl4 to $15 per ounce, while Montana would go from $15 to $17. Considerable gold was washed out along the banks of the Columbia and Snake rivers by Chlnamem. This was called retorted dust because It was gathered In sluice boxes with qnlck silver, and afterward burned to get the quick silver out. Thla waa called "flour gold" on account of Its fineness, the only adulteration being the residuum from the burnt quicksilver and a small per cent of sand, easily detect ed with a magnifying glass but Im possible to eliminate. For many years large numbers of Chinamen were engaged In mining the river bars. The earlier and more favor able locations would yield as high aa five and six dollars per day to the man. The modus operandi waa by the rocker process, with riffles and quick silver; one man or more to shovel and one to rock and dip water. This duet was worth from $14 to $15 per ounce, and I always fouud the chinks, while wanting all that was coming to them, the sq ar es t traders that I had to deal with. ' The Old -Fashioned Stage Coach The thirty miles between Walla Walla and Wallula waa covered by Thomas & Ruckels old fashioned stage coaches drawn by six horses. They were calculated to seat sixteen persons, but I have often known them to come Into Wallula with twenty-two adults crowded Into and onto them. The road during the summer waa fearfully dusty, and one could not recognise hla own brother after a trip over this road until a few buckets of Columbia river water bad been used. When winter had closed the river these coaches were considered too heavy for the overland route, and a light thorough braes eight passenger wagon was sultltuted, drawn by four horses. A roan named Haley ran a line of stages between Umatilla Landing and Boise City. They were of the eight passenger type but larger, I) old lug twelve people. Thomas and Kuckles ran a line from Walla Walla to Baker City. There waa also Du Kell'a fast freight line over the same ronte, owned by B. M. Du Rell & Co. These, with Innumerable eight, ten and twelve mule and horse teams, with dozens of pack trains thrown In, constituted the means of egress, and Ingress, to the great and grow ing country east of the Columbia river. (To b continued) DEMONSTRATION TRAIN TO BE HERE MARCH 31 The complete Itinerary of the dem onstration train that will be sent out over the Oregon division of the Ore gon Hallway & Navigation Company thla month was announced Thurs day In the Oregonlan. Thla train will lie the eighth oper ated by the company and promises to be the U'st equipped of any dem onstration train ever sent out over any railroad- With the Itinerary, the following announcement la being prepared for distribution among the communities to l visited by the train: "In conjunction with the Oregon Agricultural College and Experiment al Station, the O. K. A N. Company will, from March 21 to April 1, inclu sive, operate over Its lines serving Howl Klver, Wasco, Sherman, Gilli am, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wal lowa and Baker counties the most extensive farming demonstration train jet undertaken. "The purpose of the movement Is to encourage diversified aud Intensi fied farming through continuous aud scientific occupation of the soil and to further the Improvement of agrl- While not exactly new, Hood River will have substantially a new host lery in a few weeks with the comple tion of the remodelling and change of name of the Waucoma. The man agement of this greatly Improved and enlarged establishment have de cided to change the name' to the Hotel Oregon, which It believes will be more In keeping with the pro gressive town and state It la situated In, and make an eaaler name for guests to articulate and remember. The addition to the new hotel under the management of Cbas. Hall and E. C. Smith, which Is fast being completed will give it 70 additional rooms or about 100 In all. When the new establishment la ready for busi ness It will afford Hood River greatly Increased hotel accommodations with added luxury and convenience The whole building will cover a ground space of 84x100 feet. A vesti bule will be arranged at the main entrance on the corner of Cascade avenue and Second street leading Into a lobby that will be double the size of the old one. The lobby has been fitted with large plate glass windows and big open fireplace, and a barbershop will be connected with It on the Second street side. Lead ing from the lobby at the side pro vision has been madeforaconvenlent writing room that Insures privacy Special furniture consisting of heavy leather covered lounging chairs and settees, whtch were made for the ho tel, will be placed In the lobby. The dining room which will be en tered from the lobby on the Cascade avenue side, will be supplemented with a large grill room, separated from the main dining room by an arched colonnade. On this floor also a commodious sample rooui with an entrance from the outside has been arranged. The kitchen will be situated In the reur with two entrances, one each on Cascade avenue and Second street. The building will contain two stores each facing on the above named streets. Provision has been made for Installing an elevator when it Is deemed necessary. The second, third and fourth floors are devoted to guest rooms, arranged single or en-eulte. All rooms throughout will be provided with hot and cold water. Altogether there will be twenty rooms with private baths and two public baths on each floor. All the bed rooms will be lighted and venttllated from side windows and will be equipped with private telephones, electric lights and steam heat. On the fourth floor an Innovation will l.e a roof garden 30xS5 feet fitted with a colonnade along the parapet and exposed beam work above. Easy chairs and potted plants and flowers will lie placed here and guests will cultural conditions In the territory served. "The train will consist of a number of cars thoroughly equipped for the purpose of practical demonstration. "Iectures on nil branches of agri culture of special Interest to the farmer will be given by the faculty of the Oregon Agricultural College and Experiment Station of Corvallls. Among the subjects that will be dis cussed according to conditions In each locality may be mentioned the following: Poultry, dairying, horti culture, more and better livestock, chemistry of the soil, rotation of crops, conservation of moisture and general cultural methods." The train will leave Portland on the night of Sunday, March 20, and the first demonstration will le given on the Heppner branch of the road In Morrow county. The next day will he spent on the main line In Baker county and on Wedueeday and Thursday demonstrations will be given on the Joseph branch; Fri day on the Pilot Rock branch and Saturday the train will work back to Pendleton. Monday, March IN. will le devoted to the Mala line from Echo to Her mlston and Tuesday to the Condon branch, Wednesday to the Shanlko branch and Thursday, March 31, to the Main line betwecu The Dalles and flood Klver, arriving hereat 1:45 and remaining until 3:45 p. lu. have the benefit of quiet and a de lightful view of the river. The re modelllug of the hotel waa planned by K. B. Bartlett. who la also the supervising architect of the new First National Bank building. The American League The Hood Klver chapter of the American Woman's League met Fri day afternoon, March 4tb, and reor ganized, electing Mrs. J. W. KIgby president; Mrs. Annette Entrlcan, secretary, and Mr. L. F. Greluro, treasurer. The meeting waa one of great enthusiasm, twenty-five new members being added to the roll. This now makes a membership of 50. This is very gratifying from the fact that our local chapter house depends on the number of members, 150 mem bers securing a f 7,300, and 200 mem bers a f 10,000 chapter house. Port land Is qualifying for a f 10,000 chap, ter house, and the Hood River chap ter think they will not be outdone by Portland. Will our friends and neighbors Join ua In the conquest? Each chapter bouse Is handsomely furnished; equipped with a modern kitchen outfit complete of the latest design, a library, a woman's ex change and a beautiful concert grand phonograph made especially tor the league, costing $225, with selections of newest and best records. The au dience room is ample and two club rooms, connected by folding doora, can le opened. The furnishings con sist of fine rugs, strong handsome mission furniture; finishings, stained glass, kitchen equipment, lighting and heating fixtures, and each local chapter uses its house aa It pleases. Mr. E. G. Iewls, the founder, baa en dowed the league with two million dollars. The plan aud purpose of the league centers about the People's University Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, and Its allied educational institu tions in University City, Mo. These numberless courses of study are open to all members and their minor children free of any expense. There are no dues and when once a member it Is for life. Will you not all lend a band to add this great lever for the upbuilding and beautifying of a greater Hood River. Mrs. J. W. Klgby. local pres ident. HOTEL SHIPHERD NOW HOTEL DALLES Aa mentioned In these column heretofore, says The Dalles Optimist, the new hotel has been renamed and Is now known as the Hotel Dalles. The christening took place on Tues day night of this week, and waa one of the memorable eveuta of thla city. Indeed, It waa such an event as cannot le gone over In detail, can not be refered to by the names of the Individuals who made It possible, tor the reason that It was a sort of spontaneous affair, made possible by the splendid co-operation of all our citizens. The bare facts of the matter are aa follows: On Tuesday evening the Hotel Shlpherd opened under a new name, as given above, and the open ing was In the form of a banquet, something like a hundred and fifty guests being seated around the fes tive boards spread In the main din ing room. As to why the Hotel Shlpherd has ' tieen wiped off the slate, In name, and the Hotel Dalles (or The Dalle Hotel) has taken Its place Is a story which Is not necessary to relate. Suffice It to say that a nututierof our leading citizens decided that the ho tel should be named after the city, and the re-chrlsteulng took place on Tuesday evening. Upper Valley Land Sale W. II. Marshall sold during the past week 40 acres for Margaret White of Portland to K.K. MoGuffey. This Is part of the Allen Mai-rum property. Price $5oo. He also sold 20 acres for Henry Kles near Parkalc for $:1000 to Geo. A. Bruce, who re cently bought the Hart wig property. C. L. Morse returned fr.un Winona, Kan., Friday, where he was called by the Illness of his mother.