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The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., June 18, 1910, page 8

BINGEN
(Observer)

It is extraordinary how the greeneyed monster, jealousy, will blind some people to all sense and honesty and justice. The more mentioned of Bingen in a dispatch to our metropolitan dailies seems to throw some of our neighbors on the mountainside into a spasm. The dispatch sent to the various papers was absolutely true in every particular.
(Note. -- This dispatch was in relation to a recent berry shipment sent out from Bingen.)
But let us grant that these berries were shipped from White Salmon station, where is White Salmon station? It is on the townsite of Bingen, therefore the berries shipped from White Salmon station were shipped from Bingen. The town of White Salmon hasn't any real railway at present, hence the only way a shipment can be made from White Salmon, is by freight teams. In this particular case, the locality in which the berries were grown, cuts no figure, they were hauled to Bingen and shipped from Bingen. No one supposes for a moment that the seven car-loads of berries were grown within the townsite of the Bingen or White Salmon, and the country that is tributary to one town is also tributary to the other.
The Oregonian editor is undoubtedly well versed in the geography of this section and aimed to give credit where credit was too, no more and no less. The quoted item which heads these remarks was entirely uncalled for, and only goes to show that no method is too small to be adopted, if by it, Bingen can be injured or wiped off the map. The people of Bingen have nothing against White Salmon, except sorrow for the jealous and unfair tactics employed by a few of its citizens to injure our town. We have made propositions to them that would have been of benefit in both places but were politely snubbed, so we are working alone on our own lines and will one day win out. In the language of one of the White Salmon Bingen haters, made to the editor of this paper personally, "We are here by God Sir; and by Gods sir we intend to stay."
For the second time the State Railway Commission has rendered a decision in the case of Bingen vs. the S.P. & S., in which Bingen asked that the company be compelled to recognize its rights as a station on its line. The decision is the same as rendered last June. Bingen has been laboring against great disadvantages for the last two years, its name being stolen from it and that of another town substituted, and recognition in any way wahtever refused it by the railroad company, although every rural post office within a distance of 40 miles was noticed in the time cards except Bingen.
This decision is rendered on the evidence that was given at hearing held on April 8th, 1910, when White Salmon came down here in force, with every dray, wagon, automobile, and carriage that could be pressed into service, belonging to White Salmon or in from the country, all labeled "White Salmon," accompanied by a brass band, lined up along the depot by a platform to greet the Railroad Commission. They could have been about one object, which was to endeavor to impress the Commissioners with the mighty importance of White Salmon and the insignificance of Bingen. The Commission, however, allowed nothing to thwart them; patiently listened to all the evidence given, and have rendered a decision that is no more than just.
It is reported by a correspondent that the railway will not obey the order, but will appeal to a higher court. Whether the correspondent is in the confidence of the company or not, to warrant such a statement is problematical, but the only effect it would have would be to delay matters, as Bingen's basis of complaint was discrimination, plainly proved, the law plainly stating "that no one railroad company shall discriminate between any towns or places, etc." Mr. H.M. Adams stated at the hearing in the presence of 200 people that the company would abide by the decision of the company and that under no circumstances would they carry two names.
One of the best investments that could be made at the present time in this section, is a box factory. A large amount of money is being sent from here for fruit boxes which ought to be kept at home. The increase in the shipment of strawberries alone this year over that of last year, shows the necessity of having a box factory right at home to supply the home demand, which is liable to assume huge proportions in a couple of years. We have so far shipped comparatively few apples, but by the way of new orchards have been started in the last year or two, with new trees that will furnish fruit for shipment this year, it is not at all unlikely that there will be a shortage this year. When the flood of apples come, it will be a flood that will be astonishing to everyone. A man or men who will put in a box factory will be in on the ground floor of a lucrative business. If he will add to it sash and door machinery he will have a business that will pay from the start and a year round. An ice plant, a packing house and cold storage, are all needed as adjuncts, and must come, for a couple of years at the outside, Bingen will be one of the greatest fruit shipping points in the state.