The west shore., May 01, 1885, Page 135, Image 7

THE WEST SHORE.
135
BUILDING A TOWN.
LEQENDS tell us of the sudden springing up of cities
in the plain by the power of mapic art; how the good
genius of the lamp constructed in one night Aladdin's
wonderful castle; how stones have been oon verted into
houses, hills into castles and sticks and stumps into living
and breathing human beings and animals, by invoking
the aid of spirits of air, forest and water; but theso won
ders are related for the amusement of children. It has
been reserved for modern times to display in the magical
growth of the West transformations almost as startling
and wonderful as those produced by the powers of the
ring or lamp, whose relation was the delight and wondor
of our childhood. Gold is discovered in some wild and
hitherto uninhabited region, and lot almost in a night, a
bustling, busy town springs up in the wilderness. Cir
oumstances suddenly indioate the concentration of busi
ness and population at some new point in a rapidly set
tling region or along the route of an appio.iohing railroad,
and there is a rush of people, animals, wagons and goods
of all kinds, the saw and hammer are pliod with nervous
energy, and in a few days a full-fledged town of stores,
saloons, hotels, shops, offices and residences ap)ears
where before the only animate objects were the bounding
jack rabbit and the nimble coyote.
Three months ago the mingled tufts of bunch grass
and sage brush alone claimed possession of North Yakima,
and now a thriving town, with railroad depot and side
tracks, stores, residences, a church and even thousands of
shade trees, is to be seen. Only in the great West do
conditions exist which render such tilings oesibla Peo
pled with an intelligent, enterprising and active class,
constantly recruited from the lest blood, brawn and brain
of the East, it accomplishes feaU of industry and enter
prise that may well challenge the amazement of older
communities. The West is rapidly filling up with wide
awake, active and ambitious young men, who find here a
broader and more inviting field for the exhibition of their
powers and energy than is possible in the older and more
settled regions from which they oomo. The drones, the
cripples, the easily contented and those pant the era of
their greatest activity remain at home, while the younger
and more energetic, filled with ambition and a determina
tion to conquer success by unflagging effort, are crowding
into the newer West and daily accomplishing things that
may well make their old friends and neighbors open their
eyes with astonishment The most striking illustration
of this is the town whose growth, situation and proejiects
we are now considering. North Yakima is the latest
addition to the list of live Western towns, and in every
essential particular it excels all iU predecessors, present
ing many interesting features peculiar to itself.
For thirty years the Yakima country has been favor
ably known to the people of Oregon and Washington,
ami yet its remoteness from the great natural routes of
travel, combined with the fact thai pleuty of good land
was to be had better situated with reference to transporta
tion facilities and markets as they formerly txistod,
served to greatly retard iU settlement; and eveu now,
though containing many settlers and numerous business
enterprises of long standing, it is comparatively a new
oonntry, offering nil the fidvantr.ra and oppuriuuiiiw
sought by those who desire to become possessed of agri
cultural land or engage in varied and profitable mercan
tile and manufacturing enterprises. Though traversod
by hundreds of pilgrims seeking the Colvillo mines in
18f5, and hundreds more following the golden will-o'-the-wisp
into the Eraser River country in 1858, no actual set
tlement was made until lHlil, and it was eight years later
before the population was siifnoieut to warrant the organ
iwition of a county government During the past few
years, howevor, since it lccame evident that a railroad
through the heart of that region, connecting Fugnt Sound
with Eastern Washington, would certainly be constructed
in the near future, settlers have been pouring in, and
especially since work was actually begun by the Northern
Paoiflo have their numbers largely increased. At the
present rate it will not be long before all the most desir
able land will bo taken up or purchased and the wilder
ness completely transformed.
The region generally known as the " Yakima country "
extends from the Cascades eastward to the groat bend of
die Columbia, and from the Weuatchie south to the Sim
ooe Mountains, having an average diameter of ISO miles.
Through it, from northwest to southeast, runs the Yakima
River, receiving numerous important tributaries from
both sides, such as the Ahtanum, Wenas, Kittitas, Nat
dies, Topinish, Sates, etc. Topographically it presents
a series of hills, plateaus, low mountain ranges and long
stretches of valley lands along the various streams. The
hills and table lands are oovered with sage in part, and in
part with luxuriant bunch grass. They and the adjacent
valleys are famous as the grandest pasture lands of the
Northwest Coast No region of Oregon or Washington
has produced more or better cattle and horses. The beef
has a wido reputation, and horses reared there possess
great (towers of endurance. The timlxir of that region is
confined to the mountains, foothills and waterooursos.
It oomprises all the evergreen and soft wood varieties
natural to the Coast Oak groves are found here and
thore. The pines and firs grow to great sir and height
In places the tamarack ami oedar are of large growth.
The streams are usually margined with balm and alder.
In the foothills and mountains proper are found all
the precious metals, with iron and ooL l'laccr diggings
and quart mines are an interesting feature of the coun
try. Copper and ooal are among the products which in
the near future will contribute to the industries of the
Yakima Yalley. A great wealth of minerals exists within
the area dccriheL Recent developments indio'tto that
to establish ermanently a great mining camp in the Cla.
el-am District the completion of the Cascades Division of
the Northern Pacific and the enlistment of capital are
alone ueoessary. ' This great transcontinental road is lie
ing finished as rapidly as jiossible, and will reach the
rich mineral and ooal fields in few months. With that
result accomplished, the mining regions of the valley will
be easy of aooeas for prospectors aud capitalists.