The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., May 14, 1908, page 5
UNDERWOOD NEEDS RAILROAD STATION
Myron S. Smith, the Underwood merchant, was in this city
Monday and said that there were good prospects that Underwood would at least
have a platform to load fruit on the North Bank trains, and that in fact
the train was already stopping to let off passengers at that place. He said
it was reported that a platform has been ordered built at Underwood and no
doubt provision would be made to load strawberries this year at that place.
The station at Hood, their nearest railroad station at
the present, is practically inaccessible to Underwood. There is no road to
the place and the only way to get there is to walk down the track for two
miles. It lies at the foot of the steep bluff and cannot be reached from
the top of the mountain above, while along the river there is no wagon road
to the place from Underwood.
The farmers are spending $600 on the new road up the
valley, which was built three years ago, and it is the best road out of the
White Salmon valley, being a water grade and much shorter than through White
Salmon, while saving a very heavy grade now existing on the White Salmon
road.
The railroad company now has a steam shovel at work just
west of Underwood taking out of boulders and rock, loading three train loads
a day, which is being taken to riprap the road just below Stevenson, opposite
Cascade Locks, and in a short time the rock being removed will make room
for a side track at Underwood, and there is no doubt the business which will
come to Underwood from the valley will make a side track and station absolutely
necessary at Underwood, or the business will be ferried across the river
to Hood River and loaded on the O.R. & N. trains, as it will be cheaper
to bring it here than take it to Bingen, as the location of the Hood station
is inaccessible from the White Salmon valley.
The Improvement Club at Underwood is holding enthusiastic
meetings twice a month, and doing much good. A local baseball association
has been formed, which is making amusement for the lovers of this sport.
Sunday a game was played at Husum, but the club met their second defeat for
the season, the Husum club being the victors. The White Salmon team was also
on hand to contest with the winner, and the Husum team won the second time.
The return game will be played at Underwood. A basket social and dance given
at Smith's hall Saturday evening, for the benefit of the club, netted $55.50
from the sale of baskets.
The work on the abutment of the bridge across White Salmon
is being finished this week, and ready for the heavy travel of the road.
The J.N. Teal, Capitol City and Dalles City boats are
now making regular stops at Underwood and will be able to take care of some
of the berry business which cannot be handled by the railroad.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer