HOOD RIVEB-WHITE SALMON RIVER AREA. 13 



the old town of Wliite Salmon originated as small settlements near 

 the steamer landings where freight was received and shipped, and 

 became the social and commercial centers of these two valleys. For 

 years there was scarcely any increase in the size of these villages, and 

 but little increase in the rural population, and when the railroad was 

 constructed down the south bank of the Columbia River, Hood River 

 was a %dllage with a population of less than 300, 



In the Hood River Valley the first attempts at producing what 

 might be called a cash crop were made in the early eighties, when 

 strawbeiTies were grown on the west side of the valley and irrigated 

 by a canal constructed by the farmers. This was practically the only 

 agricultural product sliipped from the valley for many years, and the 

 early growers, realizing the need for cooperation and systematic mar- 

 keting, organized what was known as the Fruit Growers' Union, and, 

 although the crops of the valley have increased and varied in charac- 

 ter from time to time, some form of sliipping association has existed 

 from that time to the present. Different kinds of deciduous fruits 

 were planted by the early settlers for home use, but it was not until 

 late in the eighties that commercial orchards were established. 

 About this time one orchard was set out on the west side of the valley 

 and two on the east side, though many at that time doubted the feasi- 

 bility of growmg fruits on an extensive scale. 



In the White Salmon Valley, the earUest settlement was well up 

 the White Salmon River, toward Trout Lake, where stock raising 

 was made the principal industry. Owing to the elevation, the grow- 

 ing of grasses and alfalfa to be fed to stock and dairy cattle is still the 

 leading type of agriculture. 



Besides the isolation of these valleys, which was one of the principal 

 features in retardmg their development, the fact that practically the 

 entire area of cultivable land was covered with a dense forest hindered 

 progress. The early farmuig was confined to areas where there was 

 little or no timber. The earliest clearings were around the site of the 

 settlers' cabins. As there was no special need for the cultivation of 

 large fields, the clearing of these small tracts was the only work done 

 for many years toward removing the forest. As the population 

 increased and markets became available, the timber was rapidly 

 removed from the more level lands in both valleys, until, m the Hood 

 River VaUey at least, the area of forested land in the valley flat is at 

 present very small. As the demand for land increased, the high 

 prices asked for the valley land forced newcomers to the slopes of the 

 mountains and mto the upper Hood River Valley, and the clearing 

 of these lands is still in progress. 



In the Wliite Salmon River Valley, owing to the lack of adequate 

 transportation, the settlement and development has proceeded very 

 slowly. From the first settlement, in the vicinity of Trout Lake, the 



