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The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., July 9, 1903, page 4

ISSUE BOOKLET ON HOOD RIVER LANDS

An attractive little booklet entitled "Hood River and White Salmon Apple and Strawberry Lands," has just come from the press of E.R. Bradley, for the real estate firm of Geo. D. Culbertson & company. The booklet is neatly gotten up, is a compliment to the printer and a stroke of enterprise for Mr. Culbertson, who was assisted in the work by Captain J.P. Shaw. On the front cover is a typical strawberry farm scene, while Mount Hood decorates the back cover. The following descriptions of Hood River and its products are given:
Certain peculiarities of soil and climate found in this locality, produce a class of fruit which for striking beauty, matchless flavor and keeping qualities is unrivaled on this continent, and renowned almost by the world over. It is shipped to many states of the North and Middle West, to Europe, Alaska, and is now finding its way to the Orient; commanding, wherever sold, from 20 to 60 percent better prices than fruit of the same kind grown elsewhere on the continent. Apples are certain as a crop and yield from $300 to $500 per acre. Strawberries are a regular product, the demand always exceeding the supply, with prices continuing good year after year, the annual crop bringing the grower $150 to $300 per acre. Ten acres in fruit culture will yield greater results in a single crop than the average quarter-section farm elsewhere. Other fruits do well also. Clover and alfalfa will yield three crops each year, paying $50 to $75 per acre. Onions, potatoes and many other vegetables produce profitable crops under irrigation.
Fifty thousand acres of firstclass fruit land -- unimproved -- in the Hood River valley and adjacent country, will furnish homes if 20 acres each to 2,500 families.
The climate of this mountainous section of Oregon is unsurpassed, being free from excesses of temperature, wept, foggy or dry conditions. No cyclones, blizzards, or heavy wind storms ever occur. It is the ideal spot on the Pacific coast for an all-the-year comfortable and prosperous home.
Hood river it is a picturesquely situated little city of 1,400 inhabitants nestled along the south bank of the mighty Columbia river, 66 miles east of Portland, on the line of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation company, at a point on the west bank of the Hood river where the water of that turbulent stream flow into the Columbia.
Hood river, taking its name from Mount Hood, flows from icy caves under that mountain, 27 miles south, and presents a perpetual source of wonder and beauty from its source to where it mingles its crystal waters with those of the Columbia, and together flow peacefully on to the sea. The city is regularly laid out, has broad streets that are lined with oak trees -- a species of that tree growth peculiar to the Pacific coast -- with their spreading branches and under whose ample and inviting foliage restful moments may be enjoyed on a summer's day.
At the south, and leading to a plateau, where hundreds of acres of the famous Hood River strawberries are grown, is a rise of 200 feet. Fringed along the sides of the hill facing the town are groves of oak and small pines, and hidden among them are some of our beautiful homes.
To the north, and in the state of Washington, Mount Adams, crowned with perpetual snow, stands out in bold relief, rearing its hoary head heavenward, 12,240 feet, and just at the foot of our little city on the north, its waters flowing westward, is the broad expanse of the Columbia river with its busy mart of stream and sail passing in panoramic view before the observer.
Dwellings with well kept lawns fill up the resident part of the city. Churches, well built and conveniently located, are a part of the moral force in the community; good buildings and well patronized schools; an opera house of ample size to accommodate the modern compliment of theater goers occupies a prominent corner. Nearly all classes of business and trades are represented, and occupy substantial blocks of brick and wood, including a modern canning and packing plant.
A weekly newspaper, the Hood River Glacier, a clean, newsy journal, furnishes the news to its patrons.
Hood River is the home of the pomologist. Here is where many of our strawberry and apple growers live, their berry fields and orchards bringing to them wealth and contentment. It is destined to be a much larger city in the prosperous years to come. Just now it needs a fruit preserving and extracting plant. It will support well a good rooming house, and invites capital to assist in building 25 miles of electric railroad, to traverse Hood River valley with the best of natural facilities such as power and material are found in abundance.