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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1889)
:p;i THE WEST SHORE. 0 TUB CITY OF ELLENSBUROa NE of the marvels of the present genorauou Krowth of that portion of the oonntry whicb is xn to lxHX)Uje tho slaW 01 nwuiuKu years ago it was thinly populated and almost on known territory, cut cfT from tho rent of the oountry, with which it had no railroad oonuoction whatever, aud now it ia soon to I a great state in our common uuion, populous, wealthy, and pouring many miles of railroad, which not ouly traverse its own territo ry, hut give connection by several routes with every portion of the country. To tell the story of iti growth ia to relate tho marvelous progrena of its towns, the springing up of commercial poiuta whore wealth and population have cluatered, and there can be found no Utter representative than the city of ElloDsburgb, the city which N-ara the aame relation to Central Washington that Hokaue does to tho extreme eaBt rrn jmrlion of the future state, aud Seattle and Taoo ma to the ritrrrae wetern. It baa aprnog np in leaa tbau three years from an almoat nnkoown trading h to a city of commanding imxrtauce, not by roa aim of ayndicate oxratioua or systematic booming, but liecame of iU oommaudiug osition at a commer cial poiut aud the great richueaa of tho resources of the region tributary to it, the development of which ia adding Ihousauda to the population of that aoction, and ruillioni of dollars to ita wealth. The mere buy ing aud filing of town lots and the erection of bus iuesa blocks far in advauce of Uie possible needs of the city is Dot the kind of growth Ellensbargh bu Imm'd enjoying. On the contrary, it has made its rap id and suUtautial advancement by eiteuding its trade into new and more distant fields, by establishing in dustries aud by promoting the growth of the oountry surrounding it Kllensburgh lies in Kittitas valley, very near the gegrapbiel eeuter of the territory, aud occupies a nl commanding ition with reft rence to the great natural route of communication between the t astern and western divisions. Its population will soon reach four thousand, all but a few hundred of whom have come within the pari three years, aud more than half within the mI jw. Its growth, however, has not Ixx-n merrly in popult;ou, but has Ucn equally gT(.K in 1-usineM, wralih, and suUtautial aud costly build ings for Ulb business and residence purjxises. Its prog mas Las Uen made in all line which lead to a cruiancnt and increiii)g prof.rity. The preseut t'usinras jx.rUon of the city occupies a dozen blocks, on which stand, or are in prxnvM of erection, a score of fine I rick buildings and one or two elegant ,Une structure. The cheap wooden buildiug. fint crated under the urgent premre of business iu the infancy j of the city are rapidly giving way to these more cost, ly, durable, ornamental and safe structures. During the year 1888 there were erected two hundred and thirty-one buildings in the city, at a total cost of half a million dollars, a record which will probably be largely surpassed in the operations of the current year. City improvement has kept paoe with private enterprise. The city is lighted by electricity and sup. plied with a complete system of water works and i good fire department Its streets are kept in good condition, Bnd there are many miles of excellent side walks. A franchise has been granted for a street rail, way, one and one-half miles of which must be com pleted within the first six months. The resources which have made Ellensburgh whit it is are but in the infancy of their development, and though the city now has a substantial base upon which to stand, it is nothing when compared with the factors which will contribute to its support in the near future. At this point are located the headquar ters of the Cascade division of the Northern Pacific, with all the usual division buildings, including a roundhouse, machine shops, operating headquarters, etc,, and the crews of twenty-three trains make this their headquarters. The railroad company disburses about f 10,000.00 a month in wages in Ellensburgh, the greater portion of which enters into the business of the town. As a shipping point, it is one of the most important on the line of that great transconti nental road, and its receipts of freight are also very great Water power in abundance can be had here at nominal cost for the prosecution of the numerous in dustries that could now be entered into profitably, si well as many others which will find favorable condi tions here a few years hence. The Yakima river runi through the valley but a short distance from the town and furnishes a large volume of water at all sea sons of the year. A large roller process flouring mill) with a daily capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels, is oxrated by power from water brought to the oity in a large ditch, whose capacity could be almost indefinite ly increased. Besides this, there are half a dozen other mills in the immediate vicinity of the city. There are, also, a foundry and maohine shop and two plan ing mills. Wool soouring could be carried on to ad vantage, as this is the shipping point for the clip of one hundred thousand sheep, and pure water can be had iu abundance. A woolen mill would find it a su perior location for the same reason, and because the the shipping facilities are so excellent Upon the adjacent ranges graze treat bands of cattle, thousand! of which are annually sent to market from this sta tion; and this suggests the practicability of meat packing establishments and Unnflriea. for the latter : of which tan bark can be easily procured in the moun- ,