The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 26, 1916, page 1

WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE TROUT LAKE VALLEY--
RESULT OF PIONEERS' LABORS

Paper Read before the Neighborhood Club Recently when the Subject Considered was on the History of Trout Lake.

     Surely this is a subject that could bring to the surface one's best thoughts. And one regrets that our best thoughts can not be put into words, any more than the depth of the ocean can be penetrated by the human eye.
     But really, the history of Trout Lake Valley, or any other valley, can not be told with tongue or pen, and be appreciated. To know of the history of any country one must have lived and felt it, It's joys, it's sorrows, it's tears, it's laughter. Feeling its independence and pride in subduing. Every new country has many histories, all depending on how shades and colors are reflected on the life of each individual. This history is simply the gleanings from casual conversations with the old sellers still remaining here. You will find them here today on their old homesteads past the age of youth, contented, well to do, surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
     The first settler we know about it was P. Stoller, who came in 1883. C. H. Pearson, Mr. Stodderman, Mr. Kentenberg and Mr. Bentz came in 1883. J. Aerni, Sr., and C.H. Pearson came in 1886. Coate Bros. and Chris Guler came in 1887.
     All the settlers who came prior to 1883 came from Gilmer over the trail through Bear Valley.
     The present road to Husum was put through in 1883, that is, through the heavy timber in the lower end of the valley, connecting it with the open timber in the upper end of the valley where in those days road making it did not seem necessary. Six miles of the road through the heavy timber was put in by and at the expense of R.D. Cameron, who was a strong factor in every kind of improvement of that day, and C.A. Pearson and J. Peterson helped build this road.
     Wages at this time varied from 50¢ to $1.00, payable in trade. To P. Stoller is given the credit of bringing in the first mowing and sewing machines, by pack horse over the trial. It is said he brought his stove in over the same trial by tying a pole on each side and two members of his family carrying it.
     In early days there were no bridges, the creeks were forded. The roads were narrow and required some skill to get along after dark without biting some of the stumps. Often the intelligence of the beast was relied upon, and possibly not always without an accident.
     The butter and ice cave, that are now the source of a good deal of interest to sightseers, were in the early days of much benefit to the settlers. Butter was packed in barrels and stored away in these caves until they had a chance to send it to Hood River or The Dalles, where it brought from 15 to 20 cents.
     Ice from the ice cave was taken for home use. C. Guler tells of taking it outside and selling it. And it is a matter of history of that people came up from below for ice from this cave.
     To Joshua Aerni is given the credit of first discovering the Lava Cave, in the year in 1888, and he was probably the first to go down with the aid of a rope, Jack Schmid and a Mr. Bentz were with him.
     It requires but little imagination to weave romance and poetry round the strange, wild, interesting country, so far from the civilized world. The log house with its homely comforts. The snow, the silent stars and the rushing water. All the outside world silent except for the noise of wild things and the ceaseless complaining murmur of the pines; soft, low, perpetual, like something afar off, yet like something near. A language unknown yet enjoyed and understood by educated and uneducated alike. What is there in this inheritance of man that this all appeals to?
     Beef sold for from $15 to $16 dollars per head. Cayuses from $5 to $20, usually payable in labor.
     Oats and rye were raised for hay. Some was cut in round the trees, some at Peterson's Prairie.
     As may be supposed under these conditions, stock was turned out as early as possible and not in prime and beef condition.
     The first school was held in a building on the corner near where C. Guler now lives. The next, on land known as the Stewart ranch. The next, at M. Billing's corner. The next move was to the present location. Prior to the present building all were of logs. Some are in good condition now, and in use. The first school was opened in 1887, taught by a Miss Stevens, with five scholars, only one being able to speak English. It is said that this one acted as interpreter most of the time.
     The teacher's pay was from $25 up and at one time boarded round in the old fashioned way.
     The first post office was kept by C.A. Pearson, followed by Stodderman, Guler and Moore. The very early settlers got their mail from Husum. C. H. Pearson tells of being without any for six weeks, and of making the trip to Husum on snow shoes after it. Mail service was first established by way of Gilmer and was carried on horse back. The settlers hired a man to go after the mail once a week. Later the government let contracts for one, two and three years. Among the mail carriers can be mentioned the names of Stodderman, Eter, Aerni, Guler, Moore and Wyers.
     Naturally there were not much in the way of amusement or society at the first, as we learn that one winter the only settlers here were C. A. Pearson, P. Stoller and Mr. Stodderman. But at an early date the people commenced to visit and we are told that they were very socialable. Parties and dances were held where an accordeon furnished the music. Those who have become Westernized, will not smile at these gatherings for we know they furnished more pleasure than the best seat under a leading star.
     Game was very plentiful in these days.
     In about the year 1885 attention was given to the matter of irrigation. In 1887 Mr. Stodderman experimented by irrigating his garden. In 1888 the Coate Ditch was built, and that established the merits of the system, and other ditch building immediately followed; namely, the Dutch Ditch Company, the Pearson, Peterson and Stodderman Ditch Company, Trout Lake Ditch Company, the Troutlake Irrigation and Power Company and The Duncan ditch.
     The valley advanced rapidly from this time, increasing the acreage and herds. We will take a period of thirteen years, from 1902 to 1915:Up to the year 1902 the farmers made and marketed independent of each other. Two things then became apparent: that our valley was adapted by nature to dairying, owing to its white clover pastures, and red clover hay. To meet demands of the market a uniform high grade of butter must be furnished at a minimum cost. That could be done only through a well managed creamery. That ours has been well managed, and been a wonderful value to the valley, we think is proven by the following comparative figures: The creamery commenced operations in 1902, bringing to the valley only about $150.00 a month, but has increased steadily until the income is now about $1850.00 a month.

Products           1902               1915
Butter       $2,000.00      $22,000.00
Pork           $600.00         $2,000.00
Beef         $2,000.00         $7,000.00
Hay          $2,500.00       $12,000.00
              ------------     --------------
Total         $7,000.00       $43,000.00

     Up to the year 1908 there was no thresher in the valley and the people got along the best they could.
     In 1908 there were 5,349 bu. of grain threshed, in 1915 there were 18,847 bushels.
     One settler tells of that in 1902 his taxes were $17.00 against $107.00 in 1915.
     But the valley, like Paul Jones, has just commenced to advance. What we need is good roads, with good roads we would multiply our evaluations, and in proportion add to the value of our agricultural products.
     Add to that the value of two billion and a half of standing timber, cut into lumber, coal and mineral in the hills, and one can only imagine the effect it would have on our valley, district and county, for it is impossible to localized prosperity.
     As the farmer pays at least one-half the taxes, that alone should give him the right to manage the affairs in his own district, according to the spirit of the Constitution. The present road law that is holding this and much other country back was not made for or by the farmer, it ties his hands so he cannot tax himself for roads, yet he is taxed to build outside roads.
     From a wilderness in 1881 we have developed a valley with approximately 3000 acres of cleared land. And still the work goes on, clearing from 200 to 300 acres each year. We are making history fast, and perhaps when you and I are laid away our children will live to see the Trout Lake Valley all under cultivation, responding to the magic hand of man. Working in harmony with nature's resources; the water, the land, the sunshine, the brain, helping the willing earth yield an abundance of the substance of life.
     Perseverance, intelligence and work means success, and the old settlers have made a success of this valley. There are monuments built by their brain and hand that time and wars cannot efface. For the record tells us of the Pearson Ditch, the Coate Ditch and many other landmarks that will live when monuments now pointing to the skies have crumbled into dust. And the old settler made know, and feel proud, of the fact that it will be impossible to write the history of Trout Lake Valley without writing his name in it. We read of the works of great masters; painting pictures upon canvas, others composing music and song. And I ask you my friend, have you seen a picture of more pleasing to the eye than the one presented to your view when you come down our grade? Looking down our beautiful valley, dotted with homes and cultivated fields of waving grain of different hues. Grasses of different shades of green, the green of our river banks and the darker green of our mountain sides, all blended and harmonizing under the master hand of nature. Have you heard a sweeter song then the home song, the children's song, the song of the mower and the reaper, the endless song of the waters on their way into the sea? The rustling of the leaves on trees, the songs of the birds calling to their mates? I do not think you have. For this is a picture and song of nature, pulsating with life, with sound, and with color, and it cannot be surpassed by the brain or hand of man. It is a picture and song that responds to the novelist impulses of men.
     Then to the old settlers, who have come from a foreign and distant land, breaking home and kindred ties, co-mingling their blood in a new world, bringing into life of a new race, creating a higher standard of manhood and womanhood. They who have made this valley blossom like a rose, the abiding place of happy homes and contended people. In doing this they have done more than the great masters, for they have painted a living picture, written a living song, that will be sung by their children's children's children as the world rolls on. They have accomplished something and left behind them their "footprints on the sands of time."

C.M. CUTTING

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer