The Sunday Oregonian, Portland, OR., July 25, 1915, section 1, page 10
Includes photographs and an illustration.
UNDERWOOD DISTRICT IS RIVAL OF BAR LE DUC
Berries Ripen Earlier and More Profusely Than Elsewhere in Mid-Columbia –
Irrigation Not Needed Because of Streams Underground
HOOD RIVER, Or., July 24 – (Special) – “It should be called the Bar le Duc of
America”; such was the comment of a much-traveled woman on coming to the
Underwood district of the mid-Columbia region. Only a short time before viewing
the currant and gooseberry tracts in the fruit section of Southeastern Skamania
County, Washington, the visitor had traveled along the Ornain River, in France.
She had seen the famous Bar le Duc jellies prepared for the world’s epicures,
and it gone over the berry and currant fields of the Valley of the Meuse.
And though the Underwood district is one of the
youngest of the Northwest's fruit districts, it is becoming well known for the
especially fine quality of its berries. The Underwood housewife never lacks for
fine jellies with which to tempt the appetites of guests. The housewives of the
neighboring cities have learned to call for currants and gooseberries from
Underwood, and the returns from the berry tracts, although now limited, bring a
handsome profit to the growers.
District Primarily For Apples
As are the other fruit districts of the Underwood community, Underwood is
primarily an Apple district. In the past seven or eight years hundreds of acres
have been claimed from the forests and set to commercial varieties. Shipments
of high-grade fruit and carload lots are now being made each season. But on
account of the topography of the country, it has been found that the small
fruits demanding warm sunshine can be grown better in Underwood than in the
adjoining districts. The region slopes gently back to the range of mountains
that extends in a spur down from Mount Adams, and thus a southern exposure.
Underwood strawberries are always ripe before those of Hood River, and on
account of the uniform warm days and a protection from the strong west wind that
is cut off by the Underwood Mountain rising at the west of the district, melons
grow well here. Some of the Underwood farmers have even grown fine quality
casaba melons. This warmth tends to produce also an excellent peach, and the
growers have found it profitable to plant peach fillers between their apple
trees.
The Underwood district is located between the mouths of
the White Salmon and the Little White Salmon rivers. Irrigation, because of the
many streams of water found but a short distance under the surface of the earth,
is not found necessary. The water, apparently of glacial source, may be found
in generous quantities at a depth of but four or five feet. Many of the farmers
have dug to these subterranean streams and made excavations for milkhouses.
Underwood Develops Quickly
Because of the healthful climate conditions and the appeal to the home-seeker
who wishes a scenic environment, Underwood has developed quickly, its new
residents for the most part having formerly lived in some of the Northwestern
cities. Numerous former Seattle people reside there, and others are developing
orchards, to which they expect to retire later. A score or more of former
Portland residents are located there now, raising apples, peaches, gooseberries
and currants.
Handsome, rustic bungalow homes rear themselves along
every highway. The region is adapted to most all the flowering shrubs and
plants, and many fine gardens may be seen. The woodlands that have been saved
from the forests are all filled with the glorious wildflowers that are so
attractive from early Spring until late Fall, when the dogwood tree, in Spring a
gorgeous mass of white bloom, takes on a coat of deep red. In Fall, too, the
hills, which in springtime show the perfume-laden blooms of mock orange, are
covered with a golden coat of vine maple.
Farmers Satisfied With Lot
In no other fruit district is found more contentment than among the fruit
farmers of the Underwood district. They have profited by the small area and
have developed the community and co-operative spirit in every phase of their
daily life. Naturally, as one would expect, they have organized a fruitgrowers’
union to dispose to the best advantage of their apples and small fruits. This
selling machine is now jointly allied with that of White Salmon, the neighboring
Washington district. The Underwood residents have organized along effective
co-operative plans for school purposes, for road building and for the
construction of an edifice in which the members of the Underwood Union Chapel
Association may worship.
This religious organization, duly incorporated, is
unique. Realizing that they all were so divided into the different
denominations that it would be impossible for anyone to erect or maintain a
church, the union plan was effectively developed. Practically every family is
affiliated with the organization. It makes no difference to what religious
views the member conforms, he is welcome to worship at the recently-constructed
little church, built of logs and located in a bit of virgin forest in the midst
of the happy people. In fact, one may be a member of the organization without
professing any religion.
Good Roads Abound
For the past year the Underwood people have been interested in better roads more
than in any other one question. Their supervisors have been busy grading and
grading the highways connecting their own neighborhoods, and with the assistance
of state aid, trunk lines have been constructed through to adjoining districts.
Formerly the road leading down into the valley of the Little White Salmon from
the Underwood Heights was of such a grade as to be a terror to motorists. The
steep grade has been eliminated, and it is now possible to travel down to
Stevenson, the county seat of Skamania County, with comfort.
The Underwood people are clamoring to be connected with
the outside world. It is their dream to have a scenic boulevard along the North
Bank of the Columbia, a rival of the great Columbia Highway that is now being
built on the southern bank.