occtlver (Slacier.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 0, 1S93.
The Times - Mountaineer changed
owners on the first of the month and
Is now published as a full-fledged dem
ocratic paper. . It was purchased by
Mr. J. A Douthit of Prlneville, 6 thor
ough newspaper and business man.
This change gives The Dalles two
good newspapers of opposing political
proclivities, and both will live and
flourish better thau ever before. . Mr.
Douthit had looked carefully over the
newspaper field of Eastern Oregon,
and although offered some good bar
gains at other points, no place seemed
to offer the advantages of The Dalles.
The near completion of the locks at
the Cascades is causing a buoyant feel
ing among business men there, and by
the time the first boat comes up from
the lower river Hie town will boom.
Mr. John Micliell, the retiring editor
and proprietor, will take a much-needed
rest before he engages again in journal
ism or goes back to the law. He is
recognized as one of the best writers in
the state.
Our Hood Ri ver Fair. v
Editor Glacier: I desire through
; the columns of your paper to call the
attention of our people to the impor
tance of commencing at once to make
reparations for our coming fair. Let
every product of our orchards, fields
find gardens be saved that will add to
its excellence and greatness.
We should have on exhibition not
only our choicest of fruits, fresh, dried,
canned, preserved and in other forms,
irraxses and errulns from our fields, veg
etables from our gardens,-' samples of
timber from our forests, engravings
and pictures to ornament our hall, but
also articles of skilled workmanship,
the product or tue needle ana toe
loom. . , 1
We nfe assured of many visitors
from the country to the east of us,
who, tired of wool and grain raising,
are coming to , Hood River to see
what we can raise, with a view to se
curing homes among us. ,' -'
We especially iuvite our neighbor
ing communities, both in Oregon and
Washington, to send us the best they
Lave and we will see that their ex
hibits are properly placed and cared
for. Our first fair was a grand success
and Hood River gained great credit
among horticulturists and home-seekers.
Let us see to it that our exhibi
tion on October 4th and 6th shall be
yet more worthy of , our beautiful
valley. E. L. Smith, Supt.
TUe Farmers vs. The Merchants.
We give space this week to another
batch of letters on the question of the
farmers alleged grievance against the
merchants.. When we mildly sug
gested that our farmers should patron
ize our home stores, we did not think
of starting such a war of words and
display of literary talent as has since
been exhibited. But with this issue
we will close the discussion in the col
umns of the Glacier. If any wish to
continue the debate they have the
privilege of hiring a hall. As this
question was the cause of starting sev
eral to write for the paper who never
wrote before, we hope they will con
tinue to use our columns for tho dis
cussion of other subjects that will tend
more to the benefit of the community.
rirsi in me discussion louay we win
introduce "Free Trader:" . ,
Hood River, Sept. 2, 1895. Editor
Glacier: . In the : communication
signed by "Rancher" in. . your last is
sue, he says: "There are merchants in
Hood River who have told me they
would sell accounts against some of our
ranchers for 25 cents on the dollar; not
a few accounts, but they run into tens
of thousands of dollars." r
This is a far worse condition of af
fairs than I imagined, andgoes a long
way towards proving that the mer
chants of Hood River are doing busi
ness ou a pernicibns credit . system
which is the essential cause of my so
called "kick." . If the losses from these
bad debts fell on the merchants alone
it would not be so bud, but that is not
the case. It is doubtful if the combin
ed capital of the merchants of Hood
River amonts to $10,000, and a loss of
that amount would force them to close
their doors, but to outward appearance
at least, their capital is unimpaired.
Nor can we suppose that men will con
tinue , i business with such edds
against them. There can be no other
conclusion than that the profits come
from those customers who do pay;they
are the ones ivho bear the burden of
the losses, and to that extent pay
more than actual value for what they
purchase.
This is wrong. There are always
Borne who are ready to abuse and take
advantage of credit, and if the business
man is not shrewd enough to avoid
them, he should stand the losses, and
not his customers, even if he has to go
out of business. - "''' "
The . most prosperous community
must always be the one - that can get
its necessary supplies for a reason
able value; what is paid in excess of
that becomes a burdensome tax. Shall
We continue to fret under the burden
of our stale and county taxes and ig
nore this, this the most grievous tax
of all? -.. : ....'." '
To prove thut.Hood River is a good
market for our produce, "Rancher"
says the merchants buy our butter und
eggs from 20 to 50 per cent above the
Portland market. Will "Rancher" ex
plain then why a certain party who
has recently left Hood River in dis
gust after spending considerable time
and money in trying to start a poultry
business, was unable , to sell eggs in
Hood River at all for cash. The mer
chants only take such products in
trade or on account, and take no more
than they can use conveniently; they
give us iu exchange goods upon which
they realize their profits, and which
maybe from 20 to 50 per cent in
advance of Portland prices.
It is absurd for "Rancher" to say we
do not want the merchants to handle
our fruit, provided they would pay us
a reasonable value for it. The intri
cacies and I us and outs of fruit unions
are beyond the comprehension of most
of us. We farmers ought not engage
in that which requires the skill and ex
perience of a business man to cope
with successfully. Give us a live busi
ness man who will pay us a fair price
for our fruit and we will gladly deal
with him.
"Rancher" also says: "A country
near a good town is worth a great deal
more than it is without a town, or
worse, a dead one." I say yes, most
certainly, every farmer can agree to
that. A good town is better than no
town, and a dead town is worse than
no town. Therefore I say, let every
farmer do what he can towards mak
ing a good towii of Hood River. ' We
can all help to throw off the wrong
burden now imposed upon us and the
reputation of Hood River will be none
the worse. A bad reputation comes
more from submitting to an evil than
from the getting rid of it. V , , .
. ' Free Trader.
In- this letter you have the two
sides to the controversy look on this
picture and then on that yon pay
your money and take your choice:
Hood River, Sept. 4. 1895. Editor
Glacier: As everybody seems to be
inclined to lay all of their troubles on
some one else, I hope it will do no
harm for me to add my mite to the
general discussion. Both sides are do
ing' fully as much grumbling us the
case requires, but it does not appear to
have occurred .to anybody that we are
all in the same boat, without half the
prospect for clear sailing ahead that
many would have us believe. ;
'The merchants complain that most
of the cash the farmers get hold of is
sent out of the valley for goods. This
is unquestionably the truth of the
matter, and little wonder. A few tin
cans spread out on their shelves repre
sent nine-tenths of the merchandise in
town. I huve tried for seven years to
buy a vest Juat a common, every day
waistcoat, made of either duck or
broadcloth) in Hood River and have
not been able to find one on sale at any
price.' 1 have tried even longer to buy
a duck coat and have never been able
to get but one; this I got from E. L.
Smith nine years ago. To get a pair
of blue overalls, it is necessary to run
to every store in town, and if you
finally find a pair that is not over a
yard too long you are informed that
you can "turn 'em up.". Now if the
farmer cannot even get his sackcloth
at home is it any wonder that he sends
away bis money. If he has to give a
special order for the commonest cloth
ing and wait two or three weeks, be
generally takes the matter in his own
hands and orders for himself. Please
remember that I am not finding fault.
If the merchants won't or can't keep
a stock of goods, that is their business.
If the farmer sends away his cash for
stuff that is not offered for sale here,
that is his business. :.
The fault-finding farmer has . not
near the cause for complaint that he
thinks he has. He goes about the
world whiuing because he cannot get
credit. He usually whines with his
mouth full of tobacco. If he had an
holiest hair in his hide he would want
but little or no credit from anybody.
He generally has less stuff thau the
luw allows, and with him, credit is
simply another word for give. If he
wants charity he had better apply to
the county, instead of applying to
private Individuals who have their
own bills to pay and battles to fight.
Occasionally, complaints against the
merchants come from farmers who are
niore prosperous. If there is so much
money in merchandising, why in the
name of common sense don't they sell
their farms and go into the business.
It is a free country and no one will re
strain them from getting rich in this
way, nor from wearing purple and fine
linen every day. The average farmer
knows nothing about the cares of a
business life. He goes to town , with
his mealy June apples, his addled eggs
and white butter and thinks that all
the merchunt has to do is to receive
them at the highest market price and
pay over the cash or goods. If he is
sure there are millions iu it let him
try it. ..
I do not imagine unything can be
said that will , cause people to cease
growling. It seems to be a safety
valve for wasted opportunities and the
results of general bad management.
If people were compelled to shut up
altogether I believe many of them
would burst. "; FARMER.
And thisone is not anonymous: ;
: Hood RivEitJ. August 31. -1885:-
Editor Glacier: Where are we at, any
way, and what is tli? Glacier trying
to do by publishing such articles us
"Free Trader's," which was naturally
followed by "Rancher," ' as a reply,
seasoned with "Z's" nursery adver-j
tisement. What we want here is j
more people to settle up the .country
and assist those here In bringing
out and developing the resources of
our favored valley, also a cannery, a
large drier and fruit wherehouse, with
a cold storage room attached, situated
in Hood River town. Any one think
ing of coming here or going to any
other country, generally get a' few
copies of the paper or papers published
in the place they have in view. They
would come to the conclusion from
reading the Glacier that there are
one dozen ranchers and six merchants
here; the ranchers doing their trading
in Portland and The Dalles, the mer
chants buying their produce from
other sections; that the merchants
were grinding the rancher who traded
with theni into the ground and the
ranchers in turn trying to make the
grass grow in the streets of Hood
River. A condition that I am happy
to say does not exist. I can safely say
that I have bought more goods, and
paid for them, of the, merchants of
Hood River in the last five years ,than
"Free Trader" ever did; the merchants
in turn have bought less fruit and pro
duce of me than they have of him. The
reason being that I have a reputation
for my brand and pack of fruits, and
can sell it as well, or better, than the
merchants can a condition suiting both
of us. If the merchants should com
mence dealing in fruits to any extent,
I predict that in less than ninety days
the same kickers would cry: "Look at
them, they make a profit on what we
raise, and what we boy; they are grind
ing us into the ground." I would sug
dest that "Free Trader" attend to his
own' businets and some of . the rest of
Hood River's bright lights quit decry
ing the country and, especially, that
the Glacier quit publishing their
Jingle, to which the great majority
would say "umen." N C'. EvakS.
Jlelmont Notes.
While the area planted to straw
berries in this vicinity Is quite large,
yet the acreage will be fully doubled by
the plantings that will be made this
fall. The Hood River strawberry
having won such a splendid reputa
tion in the markets for its fine ship
ping and eating qualities, our farmers
find it one of the most profitable crops
they can grow. From $300 to $400 per
acre being the returns that the crop
yielded this past season. "
' The Belmont cornet band under the
leadership of Will l'senberg is rapidly
attaining a high degree of proficiency,
and will be able to furnish music at all
times for the various entertainments of
the valley. - v
: Belmont has become one of the most
popular summer resorts of the . valley,
nearly half of the families having sum
mer boarders from Portland and other
Willamette valley places. These tou
rists all praise and admire our beauti
ful scenery. , Their admiration being
especially aroused by the grand pano
rama made up by the tall peaks of Mt.
Hood and Mt. Adams; the one tower
up to the south, and the other to the
north, like giant sentinels doing guard
duty over our peaceful valley .supported
as they are by the mighsy range of the
rascad mountains to the west and
the grand old Mosier hills to the east,
A Fish Story in Two Chapters. .
CHAPTER II.
(Concluded from last week.) ,,
Hood River, August 14, 1894. My
Dear Gorhuin: I know ; it will be
difficult to convince you that the truth
and nothing but the truth am I about
to unfold regarding the salmon I tre
panned. Liars I have such a con
tempt for that I have ever before me
many of the classical poets, words con
demnatory of such baseness, as for In
stance, what says Dryden? , , . '
" Few are so wicked as to take delight
. : In crimes unprofitable," ''
" By how much better than my word I am, '
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes." ,
, Shakspenre.
And what South says: "It is abso
lutely and universally unlawful to lie
and falsify." I shall now proceed to
the rest of my experience; and oh for
sotne inspiration ; to ' direct my pen-'
worthy of the story! As Shakspeare
saj's, "Now, ye familiar spirits, help
me this once." ; . . . -
During my absence during the two
Saturdays I had rejoiced over the suc
cess of my experiment and wondered if
he would come near any stray fisher
man and get knocked on tho head.
This seemed to me the greatest danger,
and generally considered I had seen
the last of him, and that he was gone
beyond recovery. - Had I known as
much of him as I now do, I needn't
have worried over either point. It had
been a very hot week, and the instant
I saw. the West Fork pool, the water
being very whitish, I said, "Poor fish
ing today," and I hesitated whether
not to go home without trying it at all.
So sometimes are we so near fortune
and ignorantly, carelessly turn our;
back on it. We had cast a few times,
when a fish jumped clear out and Was
followed by several others, or the same, !
we could not decide which. It, or ;
they," always took a header pointing!
our way, as if examining us. No ques- !
tion at all but we were recognized, for j
socn my fish landed himself right at '
my feet. I knew him at once, for the
piece I had sewed on was there and
had turned almost milk white. Scratch
ing him awhile, at which he was
pleased as a puppy dog, I examined
liia patch and saw it was almost grown
together, excepting where the stitches
were; these I gently, cut and pulled
out, which he stood with but a mo
mentary shiver; and then finally liring
of him, turned his head toward the
deep water and endeavored to get rid
of liim, but he would not go.
We then began fishing, when finally
hooking a two-pound salmon, he
showed great excitement, going and
swimming round, coming to see what
I was doing and then looking at the
hooked fish again ; and when I got bim
landed, looking on with the greatest
attention. - Casting again, he dashed
out of sight, and immediately I felt one
tug after another, and knew the gen
eral cussedness of feelinsr I had two on
at once. I thought at first "Spotty,"
as we call him, had hooked himself;
but no, there he was behind, helping,
apparently, to chase them ashore. No
sooner had I landed them than off he
went to Ed, and the first thing a fine
24-pound fish had his hook. He had
often wished for a biir fellow, and he
got him after an infinite amount of
trouble. At the same time I was busy
with another big fellow that "Spotty"
had driven somehow to me. This con
tinued right on without a breathing
spell hardly; and onee we did not seem
quick enough to suit him, for in his
anxiety it seemed anger almost he
put his teeth in a fellow I was playing
and almost pulled him ashore. I was
angry at this, and taking a stick,struck
him a few times over the back. This
discipline was enough, for he never did
so again. When, after fish began to
get scarce, he disappeared for' awhile,
and he must have gone down below
the Forks into a pool below some ba
saltic rocks which we can not reach,
for we saw a swarm coming over the
riffle, with Spotty behind, and the
sport began as lively as ever. This
kept up all day; we were utterly ex
hausted and the fish crowded the
beach. I don't believe such a sight
was ever seen before or since (lie mirac
ulous catch of St. Peter's. I had come
to the conclusion long before evening
that the spirit of a retriever dog was in
Spotty; that the doctrine of the trans
migration of souls was the only ex-
Elanation possible, for he knew his
usiness too well to be explained in any
other way. Just think of such an in
teresting discovery the sensation, the
possibilities, the results it is beyond
calculation. But as this investigation
must be done leisurely and thought
fully, I must leave it for a future effort.
I may pay, however, there seems no
other hypothesis than in the premises
introduced in my last letter, and I shall
write my investigation on these lines.
That evening two wagon loads of
people from Lost lake, going home to
Hood River, passing, looked with per
fect amazement at the fish strewing
the beach. We loaded the wagons,
and hauling them to the town of Wi
nans, counted and weighed them on a
set of hay scales. There were, big and
little, 339 in all and weighed , 3.249
pounds. Such a sight was never seen
nor heard of till now; the town was in
an uproar of excitement. I donated to
the orphan asylum 250 pounds, to the
widows and poor another 200 pounds,
and fold the balance at 5 cents, netting
$139.95...: : . , ... -
.-, As you are well aware, Winans is de
pendent principally on its fishing re
sources, and its citizens having felt the
depression Avliich has prevailed of late,
though probably not so greatly as some
neighboring towns,' realized at once
the importance, the immensity of this
incident. A town meeting was called
immediately and was crowded to the
door. It was carried unanimously that
the event of so great importance to
them should be cele'iratpd with a ban
quet, procession and fireworks that
very night. A delegation of the prin
cipal merchants and bankers escorted
me down to the town hall, where the
banquet was spread. All the luxuries
of the season and the flowing howl
were unstinted. From the balcony of
the hotel adjoining we viewed the fire
works aifd the procession. This had
some; interesting features. The city,
young and old, seemed to have turned
out, making a procession of about 1
miles long. , The city is famed for its
music, and the many bands gave sweet
concord. The Free Masons, Red Men,
Ancient Order of Forks and Foresters
were in line. This very Ancient Order
of Forks is curious and worthy of re
mark. Their device or insignia is a
large fork, three prings about eight feet
long with a salmon impaled. - There
were 374 venerable old men (for only
men above 77 can be members), and
carrying the', fork and salmon ; At the
head a very ancient wooden trencher,
carried by ten nearer, . representing
the Devil's punch bowl, and for this
occasion it was filled with water in
which was carried Spotty, and so dense
was the crowd, filled with admiration
and curiosity, that Company C of the
Third regiment had to specially guard
it with fixed bayonets. That evening
I was serenaded by the famous band of
Winans, composed of 90 instruments.
This band is curiovs, for it must be in
multiples of 9. Some old superstition,
1 believe, for as journeymen tailors can
only be members, they somehow have
concluded, absurdly, that it takes 9
tailors to make a man. But very fine
music sweet and harmonious, . does
this famous band discourse, and with
these sweet sounds sweetly haunting
me did, I retire to rest, after the most
exciting day of my life. : ..
I learn since last Saturday, from the
Winans Bo:mlet, a daily paper pub
lished there, that real estate is booming'
and prices advancing witli rapid strides.
As I have an addition to the town, the
addition of Glowerourem, it would
seem my fortunate kindness to Spotty
has met with, or is about to meet with,
a golden reward. ' .
I can promise you the greatest fish
ing in the world if you will but come
down. Probably when the water clears
up it may be still better, though it is
difficult to imagine how it can be im
proved on after what I have told you.
Trusting you will receive this com
munication in the same spirit in which
it is sent, and with kind regards to
yourself and Mrs. Gorhani, I remain
yours faithfully, C. G. Roberts.
P. S. In reflecting about the strange
conduct of Spotty during the proces
sion, while showing him to a fat old
woman who smelled badly of whisky,
when he bursted into a flood of tears,
f am almost sure the transmitted soul
in l.im can not be a dog, but possibly
that of a gentle disciple of Isaac Walton,
a brother fisher.'-;-It -would exp'ain .a
great deal, , - ; (.'. U. R.
FERGUSON & DAVIDSON,
-DEALERS IN
AG R ! CU LTURA L IM -P t EME N TS
And Vehicles of all kinds at tho very lowest prices.
; Studeliaker W agons and Buggies,
Ca,rito2D Clipper Plows
AND CULTIVATORS,
' ; ' -" ' I :: '".''' - - - -,'.' ' , . :, ". '--
Repairs for Wagons and Buggies on Hand.
It will pay you in cash to see us before ordering from Portland or elsewhere. We also have
in stock a full line of
IS sl s3s eta
Suitable for farmers and everybody's use. They are handy and cheap; Just the thing for
gathering fruil.
That bargain counter of I
SHOES AT WHOLESALE PRICES
. ''. - ' . ' ' -AT' ' ...'. .-,-.'. .''
S TO
Oxford Ties, - - $1.10
Men's shoes, - - - 1.10
Women's Shoes, -1.10
RADDLEfl AT COST and Handmade Hnrnesa na cheap aa thpy can he bmifrnt, In Oregon.
WE HAVE ADOPTED THE
And shall endeavor to merit custom by QUALITY as well as QUANTITY.
BICYCLES FRO!! $100 DOWN.
Ramblers, Ladies orG'ts, (clincher tire3) $100.00
Do you want a wheel? How does this proposition strike you? A bona
fide $G5 drop forged, tool steel and drawn, seamless steel tubing, big A, little a,
"A No. 1" ladies or gents, BICYCLE, "M. & W." (best in the world) tires, for
FIFTY DOLLARS! "3 v
Come and see us at the Drug Store.
WILLIAMS & BROSIUS,
All the best variety of Apples, Including Yakima, Onno, Arkansas Block, etc.. and all
other kinds ot nurxery gtock kept constantly on hand. Prices will be made satisfactory. Kuy
your trees at tho homo nursery and save expense and damasre. We are here to stay.
H. C BATE HAM, Columbia Nursery.
WEST
KEEP CONSTANTLY ON HAND -
Choice Fresh Meats,
Hams, Bacon, Lard,
And Ail Kinds of Game.
' . ALSO, DEALERS IN .
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
HOOD RTVER, - - - - - - - - - OREGON.
HANHA- &
DEALERS IN
Gren.er suL , , Meicliaiidise,
HOOD EIVES, OREGON".
AGENTS FOR-
BEST IN THE WORLD.
H 1 -i VrViWiri-niii
BeaULtif-u.! S -
SEND FOR CATALOGUE AND PRICES,
- Address, " ' ' .
MRS. SARAH K. WHITE, Principal.
BE -
Misses Shoes, $1.00
Boy's Shoes, - - - 9 5
Old Ladies' Comfort,1.35
BOS.,
WOLF ARB,
The Annie Wright Seminary.
TACOMA, WASHINGTON. 5
1834. Eleventh Year. 1894.
A Boarding School for Girls,
with Superior Advantages.
' Tbb IK8WT0TOIT ) MORAL I DivxLomiiit
. Gives CtmruL V . INTELLECTUAL J ' or tu
Atiektio to thb ) PHYSICAL ( Stsdmii. .
CLrroiTLrLcLIri - gfs.
1 IPCi'CS