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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 1904)
TIIE OREGON. DAILY JOURNAL. PORTLAND, FRIDAY EVENING, ..AUGUST 5, 1004. HOP CROP IS THE KING OF OREGON Weather Improves Outlook in Willamette Valley f arid Immense Yield Predicted-Picking ; ' "- ; Arrangements Being Hade; v 1. . J 'bl . TJ . 1 Cef m i i II a 8m . aWL, a - 1 s-af- t I r r-m S - iii 111 a : CJ WUlUm X, Clarke.) . ' (Special Owraspoadeat of Te ioernaL) Qerval. Or., Auk. 8. Hop picking in . Oregon will be In vogue soon after Sep . tember 10 not before. - : Owing to late rain the crop hu lm ' proved wonderfully .and where . few - weeke go a light cropajtas anticipated . the opposite la now the outlook. Weather conditions have added fully 10 per cent to the crop. - , j .. -'.' ; Thle condition hits not caused the crop ',. to mature any earlier but to the ooo- . trary. The bur Is .now forming and Is . more numerous. It will be .-what Is termed a 'top crop" and It Is thought ' that the bur will be small and llgllt that Idea' now remains to ixconi a fact, v A personal .visit to numerous yards - situated at Gervals, ' Mount Angel. ' Monitor and Marquam Induce tbe. belief , that the yards inspected ,, will produce a normal crop, say four- bales per acre. :- on an estimated acreage of about 18,90 in the state, not Including new yards. Mew yards haVlng suffered moet from the dry season, and In many oases will produce little or nothing. . - Oreroa in the Teed.' Under favorable conditions Oregon Is the hop producing section of tbe United States today. It was not until 1180 that the production of bops acquired tn Ore gon any standing aa a commercial oom ' modlty. It is true that a few vines were bearing as early as 18(0, but not to. any large extent was the cultivation carried on. The past 15 years has demonstrated the adaptability of Oregon soil to tho growth of the bop vine. ' Tbe first efforts at extensive , hop ' (rowing were made at Puyellup, Waah Ington, In 1868 when John -V. Meeker et out half an acre. He dried the hops In an attlo and obtained 18 pounds which he readily sold at 85o per pound. Later yards were planted at Butte . Ttlle In Marlon county, and from this - email beginning has emanated the vast acreage that now covers the Willamette valley easily reaching 11,000 acres. Many Bnte Field.- The early history of the culture of hops In Oregon tell only of sucoess In the business and up to - quite recant years an average of IS cents per pound was obtained aa an average price gross to the producer. As a eonuequenoe of : these high prices many were Induced to - go Into the business, party to diversify their farming work. . , It was a steady phenomenal growth until 1885. when a crop equaling 100,000 bales was produced in Oregon, as well aa a like proportion In other hop-growing countries and the grower was facing an . Immense surplus and was only able to ob tain I cent to 8 cent offers for all grad This caused many to go out of business with a loss and many acres were plowed upland thousands-of acres were allowed to go uncared for and the total yield - In lr Wa almost' ha -of the year previous. .' - , , , During this tfane there? hat been some phenomenal Jrlc "yearsy especially - It . jbsj, wnen prices went sxy nign ana it la related that Hon. Ralph Oeer had 8,000 pounds for which he refused 11. IS per pound, holding out for 11.81 per pound.. He finally sold the crop for It . -cents per pound and the mortgage on blm line farm was never paid. .. The same year a 80-bale lot was sold In California for 11.07 H per .pound. These are' the highest offers and prices ever paid on this coast for hops, and it la doubtful If it will ever be repeated. ' Outranks Other States. , Bo much for the ancient history of this crop that means so much for the prosperity of one state and employs - such a vast array of workers and dis tributes wealth to the rich and poor alike. Oregon outranks both Washing ton and California in' acreage, yield and quality, with the single exception, of Sonoma county, California, which leads the world in quality. It is history that Wisconsin at one time produced 800,000 balsa. None worth speaking of . is grown there now. New York, once a large produoer, bow ' grows less each year. Washington Is decreasing her yield right along. Ore - gon is forging ahead and while Madison tcounty, New York, was once the largest . hop-producing county in the worM, now 'Marlon county, Oregon, holds that title. Oregon produces annually one-half the hope grown 1n the United States and there Is no telling the limits one state will obtain. The facts have been demonstrated Ithat Oregon can grow hops at less cost. 'in the bale, than any other known sec tion. In Europe, even with cheap labor, ;lt. costs It cents per pound to raise hops and put them in the bale. In .New JorX state. It costs about 18 cents per pound to accomplish the aame re sult. -Here in. Oregon Jops can ne pre tduced for I cents. In some Instances even- a trifle less. Why Is this possible? 'In the first place, Europe and New York are obliged to fertilise extensively eacn year as well as to fight vermin and -weather conditions. Thle Is not ths situation in Oregon and Weshlngton. Our soil is deep, rich and. virgin; It hae rot yet had to be brought up to tilth by artificial methods. While this Is so; yei it does seem jfoily for our planters to vie with each lother to see how cheaply they can pro Iduce this crop. , To an onlooker, this eemes to be the situation when growers ' enter into, pernicious contracts -at figures hovering about 10 cents per, pound, which, Is nothing more than an .average jrioe. ' " ' "'V ' ' " Uplands ant lowlaad. -' In this state there is two hop-growing sections and they are denominated up lands and lowlands.. The lowlands pro duce heavily and carry much foliage liable to pests and ripen a trifle lata ' The uplands do not have near .the yield, knor the foliage, nor so liable to vermin nd ripen earlier. v The average yield per acer, when the oreage Is considered, amounts to about 00 pounds per acre. It ! -certain that Oregon haa 26,000 acres and an average yield under favorable clrcumstanoes would be 100.000 to 110,000 bales of hops, estimating each bale at 100 pounds. All of this will not be choice, but range down quite a few. degrees. The quality terms in vogue by deal ers are: . Strictly choice, choice, choice prime, prime,' common prime, medium, nd each one means J net what its name Implies. . . - , . Sandy stiver Bottoms. : The soil best adapted to the growth of ths hop vine Is the low sandy rlrer .bottoms, dry rolling sandy uplands, oak grub lands and our black prairie lands. The season being favorable to an eaay harvest of the crop then the bottom lands are beat. When vaflable ellmatlo conditions pre vail, then the rich upland are beet. The liability to mold causes this distinction. An early harvest of the crop Is very fteslrable, and this la not so possible in the bottom lands owing to heavy foliage and rank growth. - Every section produoe a slightly dlf ferent grade of hops, differing only in color. This, Is not due to drying, al though sulphertng may bring the color nearly the aame', but mother earth alone la responsible.' . --; V Susceptible to Oare. No crop la so susceptible to oare and cultivation as la the hop. When properly carea xor the soli will produce enorm ously, and as It cornea from the root annually, does not have to be annually planted, only cared xor ana produces ao- ooraingiy. , ,. ',-- . Kg Mm tow IHcklng. Pickers will be better, paid this year than formerly. It would mot be surpris ing to see here a sate of (4c per box ef nine bushels prevailing.-. Why? , Simply because times are prosperous and those who engage, In this work don't-have to pick .hope unless price are remunerat Iva Then, again, hops will sell higher tnan usual, especially slnoe there are so few contracts compared with former years against the crop. r This season growers may not Ilka the 4 ldea-of paying from 4 So to iOo per box. yet it muatte paid, else the crop wUl.go unpicxeo. Hop picking Is an enjoyable outing in addition to the financial aspect of the ease. We find whole families that make enough in a few weeks from hop picking to keep them in good shape during- the winter, i Aa a; rule the hop farmer does much toward making the picker feel "at home" while on his premises, and it la not ln- rrequenuy the caae that potatoes and like vegetables are supplied freely to pickers, and many of them maintain neat and comfortable living quart era . Pickers are already being enaaa-ed and it la possible that there will be all tne help necessary to harveet the crop. A ywer ttatlatloa. Oregon baa 2S.000 acres In cultivation te hope. An everase yield car acre. based on actual results, divided by ac tual acreage, la loo pounds or there- aoouia per acre. It cost 11,260,00 to gather and cure tne crop or Oregon hone In 1108. . - The crop of hops In Oregon in ; 1801 netted the producers . 88.600.000. At 26 cents per pound, an sore will proauce. ixua. ana already this season's crop, on the poles, has been sold at 2100 per acre.- . . . r From' 24,000 to 26,000 people are em ployed to garner the Oregon hop crop each year. . It takes IS days to harvest the Ore gon hop crop and 1.000.000 pounds' are cured daily on an average. . - The hop crop is the uncrowned king oi me wiuametie valley. In this article the writer lia deavored to treat the subject in a gen eral manner that will Interest, and all attempt to explain details are purposely omitted.,'- Aa to- cultivation, cost of planting put s yard, ooat of rarnerlnr. best way to manage and cure the crop, iM ior iuiure articiea Should 2ffot Appear. Statistics as to the' status of- the crop since I860 are obtainable, and while of Interest, should not appear In aa ar ticle or una character. .While passing throuah ths asxteu tural building at . St. ' Louts. Mo., re cently, the writer was attracted by the uispiay or a large orewery concern and a sample of hops which, upon Inquiry, we were informed were Bavarian nana Rubbing a sample between our hands and taxing the professional whiff, we were tola -that they were the very best and Imported for use of this especial orewery.- The Individual In charge even went so rar aa to say that they were an ex- ceptlonat kind that was raised : from vines especially planted each year, and that they had to be replanted every year. i As the hop vine comes annually and our . informant was apparently not posted on hop growing, we passed on to near otner hot-air stories. Many breweries in the United State Import continental hoes and brew choice Deer ior favored and rich customers. A certain brewer in Portland. It la re lated, was once ahowlng an up-country dealer through hla -establishment, and the dealer was a hopgrower. Mr. Breweryroan took him into his store room to ahow him a few bales of "lm ported hops," Just received. The head brewerman was then taking out some bops from one of these "imported bales' and while so doing came across i printed card, which, upon examination, bore the 'aforeeald dealer - grower's name, and the wealthy brewer found out that that "imported" bale of hops had left Oregon- and had been rebaled and rebranded and returned aa the genuine impgrim Kino. It la- also related that dealer nowa day insist on havtng "no cards" in bales purchased. It was formerly a practice among growers to have cards printed bearing their name and address. This was before "dealers were so sctlve end growers had to seek the buyer. .Now all this Is changed, and the dealer seek the grower, 'and seeks him often and earnestly. ' All Walks of life. . ' Hop picking brings together an un usual' lot of people and they come from all walks of life, not altogether for the money they can obtain; but on account of the healthfulness and the experience to be had. During the picking season fun and pleasure rule supreme. There Is. the hop-house dance to which no formality Inure. Then there la visiting among neighboring campers and hopyarda. Candy pulling and all other olassee of amusement, to say nothing of visiting the villages and towns on one pretext -or another. It' a Jolly, good-natured orowd from start td finish and the best of feeling and humor prevails, and ac cident are turned Into mirth, and during the long winter months form the topio for entertaining ears around tne, home hearthstone. Other state may have their cotton gathering, the corn husking bees, and their winter sports, yet we in Oregon long to live from one hop picking eeason to another and write In our diary "H. P., A. D. 1604." Nor is the children overlooked: the are in evidence and are decidedly In the majority. Thar is no easier, pieaaenter or more healthy occupation to be found than that of hop picking arid the outing Incident thereto. Schedule of Steamer T. J. Potter. The seaside steamer T. J.. Potter will leave Portland,- Ash street dock, for Astoria, and Ilwaco a follow: . August 6. Baturday, 1 p. m. ' Oet transportation and berth tickets at O. R. at N. ticket office. Third and Washington streets, .. , ' . i :- I I I iv frn s-l . ; V Lor v a n VaVJl V - A M U II Vr U r . H J, M X-I VYayV MM If I I W saaaaaw JW ST 1 " v " 1 ..... mmm Mil : and -.' IS NOT PROBABLE at rmsszsTT Tarzms zs iroi sttt- navLwr xakkostt akovov oo z.urBiA mxTzm x.oo sn to tm svma Tn svoczss or avt ob- OAaTTSATIOaT. At present the conditions do not ap pear favorable for the formation of a Columbia river Logger' association, and there is a variety of conflicting opinions among those Interested. '. Some of the loggers complain bitterly about the scaling; others . say that there Is no une of curtailing the output as long as the-Weyerhausers continue to put in million of feet dally, while still others oontend that they do not wsnt to be used as figureheads In the move to effect an organisation. Several of the loggers have expressed themselves a satisfied With present conditions. One lugger says tnst tne rortiana mlllmen have become familiar with the loss from vsrlous localities along the Columbia river and know Just what each will produce In tne matter of clear. A number of the smaller camp are still closed driwn waiting for the log market to look better, and some of the large one have reduced' their output. The Benson Logging . A Lumbering company hag started up J is ClaUkanle mam iB WM. Illl EVERY 1IITLE GIRL Who brought In a list of answers to the Puzzle. Pictures in our Furnishing Guessing Contest. In fact, we gaye every little girl a card wnlch was a ticket for our Grand Trolley Party. And we want all those little girls to be our guests' tomorrow afternoon. We have engaged twenty cars, so there we will be room for all.' Don't stay away on account of the crowd.- There will be anlce bag of candy, a pretty badge and a fine horn, for each little girl. X! brass" band will furnish music for you and you will have ajflneride. As a favor to us, we'll good while, to get started, so entrance as soon as you arrive pass out to the cars by the front door. Bring your ' ntr- iT i in cti BE AT 01R STORE TOMORROW AT 1:30 P. M. gggggggggggggggggl camp, after closing down for a few weeks, but its Bunker hill camp on the Washington side has been running con tinually. . - It L. Colvln of Marshland,' the larg est individual logger in that section,, and county commissioner of Columbia county. Is at the St. Charles hotel., Mr. Colvln stated that he was running his camp and found ths demand for logs good. He owns several thousand acres of the beat grade of yellow fir, and there Is a constant demand for this timber as 4t produces a large percentage of clears. Air. Colvln said: "There Is no difficulty In selling a high grade of logs at any time. I receive 87 per thousand for my logs, which Is likely all the market can stand at the present selling prices of lumber." In response to an Inqury, he eald: "The scaling by the mill le sat isfactory, and I hsve no complaint to make on that score. . The present con ditions ars hard on men who are cutting a, poor quality of logs, and I do not know what will become ' of some . of them." ( L. Saldren of the Deep RlverJLogg1ng company la taking things easy at his home in this city. He has been in the logging business on the Columbia river for 80 yeers,-andsald that during that period there hsd been Ave different time when loge dropped to bottom price. He as id: "For aome time past t havs been selling .to the Tongue Point Lumber company, near Astoria. However. I am again sending rafts to the Portland mills, and find a good demand at the present - prices, as the lumbermen are anxious td get good logs. Although I hsve Six donkey engines, the moat of them are now lying Idle. I am working a fore of only la men on aoooaos. of ask you to be on hand at come early. ; Please come at oujtprejiyeryjitt! BRING Y01R CARDS WITH the prevailing low prices pf logs. The loggers should curtail the output" O. E. Elliott, a popular Marshland logger, has gone Into bankruptry, his liabilities amounting to about $25,000. Unfortunate sawmill speculations Is given aa the cause of hla financial diffi culty, -John West, bookkeeper for the Ben son Logging Lumbering company, has returned from several weeks' stay at the Oreen river hot springs In Wash ington. James Muckle and family are' now camped on the Coweeman In Washing ton. - 8. Benson and family are camping on the Clatskanle, above the terminus of the logging railway. TWO BBOW1T X CIOVDBTBST. . (Journal pedal Service.) " Boulder. Col., Aug. 8. A sudden rush of water caused by a cloudburst over whelmed a camping party In Bummer gulch, near here, late yesterday after noon, resulting In two deaths. Mrs. Llna Chambers, of York, Neb., and the It-year-old daughter of Charles Renkes were swept away. Their bodies, badly bruised, were recovered late last nlaht. CASTOR I A tot Infantt and Children. ' fha Kind You Hata Always Bought Bears tb.6 BignAturt of Al For the little girls who handed In answers to our Quesslng . Contest last month. TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT 2 O'CLOCK IS OIWITEB 1:30 P. Al., sharp. It will Immediately to our Second cards with you. YOU RECEPTION FOR LOCAIi MiaXTS TXUVtVAB, WXU . BBTTZJtTAIST DZLXOATIOaTS 1ASS- nro txbouox na citt ex BOUTS TO OOBOXATB KTTSBTTBO X.ODOB wrxx. bb xzma obb sat. The lth triennial conclave of the Knights Templar will be held in Ban Francisco, September to 10. Portland Knlghta are making elaborate prepara tions to attend the conclave, and will leave September 8. The Portland dele gation will consist of between 80 and 80 Sir Knights and their ladles. There will be 80 ladles In the party. Other parts of Oregon will be largely represented at the conclave. There will be two cars of knight from eastern Oregon, one from Salem, and one from southern Oregon. ' The conclave will be one of the larg est that has ever been held. A number of Canadian officials will be present and an official representative will be sent from Knglsnd, besides lsrge delegations from all over the t'nlted eta tea. The Pittsburg lodge, conneded to. be one of the richest end laraest In the United Btates. has chartered a special train In which tn make the trip across the continent. It will consist of Six large Pullman sleepers, a 80-foot bag. Sage car, a 6-foot dining car and tout I take a - street ..1 ft - compartment cars. The dining car was built to order for the tourists. Ths party will go by the northern route, ar riving In Portland at 4:11 on the morn ing of August 81. They will remain in Portland until 4 o'clock in the after' noon.N during which time they will be entertained by . local knights. In ths afternoon they will be tendered, a trol ley party in special car a Ths party will breakfast and lunohcat the Portland hotel. In San Francisco they will be en tertained at the Palace hotel. 60 rooms having been engaged for the party. trorroBS bcbbt at kaookb. (Joersal Special gerrira)' Macomb. 111.. Aug. I. The Military Tract Press association, .' one of the oldest state editorial organisations In the country, held It annual summer -meeting here today, rspers on topics of interest to the editor snd th news paper worker were presented by Will Curtis of Kewanee, O. L Campbell of Knoxvllle. Miss R. Louise Fitch of Oalva. E. A. Bnlveley of Springfield and a number of others. 1L J Your Grocer is glad to moneyback Schilling's Best; it costs him nothing end trir 3 him good-will end ccr. . ,
