Morning Oregonian., January 01, 1902, FIRST SECTION, Page 8, Image 8

THE MORNING OKEGOMAN, WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 1, 1902.
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IN SOUTHERN
Region Comprising Over Half
the Valley of the Columbia
ALL of Eastern, Southern and South
western Washington borders upon
or Is drained by the Columbia Riv
er and Its tributaries or is con
tiguous to them, and properly be
longs In the Columbia River Val
ley. The greater part of this district,
which comprises far more than half the
area of the State of "Washington, Is In
Portland's trade field. This section of
"Washington is developing very rapidly,
both in agriculture and manufactures,
and its prospects are exceedingly bright.
Clark County, Just across the Columbia
from Multnomah County and, one might
eay, from Portland, is forging to the front
faster than ever before. Within the past
year it has been given direct railroad
communication with the outside world.
Southern Washington is a region of vast
resources and the time is not far distant
when practical use will be made of its
many advantages.
ASOTIN COUNTY.
Systematic Irrigation nan Opened a
Larsc Fruit District.
Among the first in the alphabetical or
der of counties of Washington will be
found Asotin, but from her organization
up to about 1897, to the chagrin of her
people, Asotin was counted among the
least in point of lmnortance. That this
lack of Importance was not due in the
slightest measure to the lack of fertility
cf her soil, of the commercial value of
her magnificent forests of pine, the un
known yet certain value of her mineral
drpoFits, nor the healthfulnes3 of her cli
mate, her people well knew. It was be
cause of the Inaccessibility of Asotin
County to the thousands of homeseekcrs
that deterred the progress with which
other, counties of the West, with less
promising resources, were blessed. Prior
to that year, but few people found, the
almost hidden trail that' led by a circui
tous route from the main traveled roads
of the Northern Pacific and the Great
Northern or the O. R. & N. to Asotin's
northern border. In 1S38 the Lewlston
branch of the Northern Pacific was ex
tended to that city, situated in Idaho
and at the northeast corner of this coun
ty. Asfis usual In such railroad exten
sions, the Northern Pacific people exten
sively advertised throughout the East the
many alluring possibilities of the grand
country tributary to this new branch, and
the' result thereof marked the most im
portant epoch in Asotin County's history.
From that time onward her progress has
been both substantial and rapid.
Seventeen years ago. with less than
1000 inhabitants, and with only about GOO
square miles of territory, Asotin was
detached from Garfield County and is now
the most southeasterly county of the
state. At no time prior to 183G did the
population exceed 2000. Today It is over
5000, most of the Increase coming In the
past two years. Farming and stockrals
ing were. In the early days, the principal
occupations. Besides the lncrearc in these -industries
has since been added lumbering
and fruitralslng, with the certainty of
extensive mining operations In the near
future. Lands that heretofore were left
vacant for the want of good roads have
been rapidly settled up by the most desir
able class of settlers who are today build
ing up hemes with still room for many
more. Three saw mills, two of them
erected during the past Summer, are
Tapldly converting into all kinds of lum
ber the stately pines that grow upon her
mountains and higher altitudes, their en
tire output being used by her own people,
i,fsther with many thousands of dollars
worth that Is yearly shipped In from the
coast.
Result of Systematic Irrigation.
The tide that recently set in toward
Eastern Washington is adding fresh ex
hilaration to this county's growth. The
possibilities here presented to new resi
dents for fruitgrowing would alone ac
complish this. Farseelng men of large
capital long ago realized the great oppor
tunities in this dlrectlo'n with the advent
of transportation facilities with the best
markets. Our lowlands, unsulted to grain
raising on account of lack of moisture,
will, when irrigated, produce abundant
crops of all kinds of fruit, from peaches
to the hardiest of other varieties. Even
almonds, English walnuts, peanuts and
sweet potatoes can be grown here to per
fection. The first and grandest experiment In Ir
rigation on a large scale dates back to
1S96. A level tract of about 3G00 acres, ly
ing In the northeast corner of the county
and directly opposite Lewlston a body ot
land that was at that time covered with
sage brush and considered worthless with
out water Is today a veritable garden ot
beauty, thanks to the Lewlston Water
& Power Company. This district has
been appropriately called Vineland. Its
soil is of a volcanic-alluvial formation and
exceedingly fertile when irrigated, as It
now is, by a canal 18 miles long that taps
Asotin Creelc This great -enterprise alone
cost over 5100,000. So forcibly did Vineland
appeal to those In search cf profitable in
vestments and pleasant home locations In
a warm and healthful climate that nearly
every small tract into which It was divid
ed has ben purchased by the 1500 people
now residing there. The products of last
year from trees from three to four years
old returned handsome profits, amply ful
filling the earlier predictions of its most
ardentv supporters. A magnificent stee:
arch bridge, costing $110,000. now spans
the Snake River and connects the two
states at this point, and a pipe line sys
tem, at a cost of $40,000, affording a 200
foot pressure, now supplies the town of
Clarkston with pure water. This same
company has recently filed a water right
on Grand Ronde River, for the purpose ot
generating electric power for manufactur
ing and lighting purposes In Clarkston.
This town forms a part of Vineland and
is destined at no distant day to be a cen
ter of commercial and manufacturing im
portance. .Hights of way and depot
grounds are now owned there by the
Northern Pacific and O.'R. & N. systems,
the extension of whose lines into Asotin
County Is bi c the logical outcome of the
present somewhat complex railroad situa
tion in this part of the West.
Another Large Tract to Be Opened.
Still another Irrigation enterprise Is un
der way and bidding fair to meet with
flattering success. In a beautifully sit
uated section of country, known locally as
the Forks of the Asotin, lies a flat of
fertile land, from six to ten feet in depth.
Three thousand acres of this flat have re
cently been purchased and a company
with ample capital is now pushing to
completion an Irrigation canal that taps
George Creek, a branch of the Asotin. It
is expected that the land will be placed
on the market early in the Spring. This
new district will afford excellent oppor
tunities to men of small means, who wish
to embark in fruitralslng, poultry, dairy
ing or hogs. Alfalfa grows luxuriantly
in this locality, and a small tract, say,
of five acres, will furnish abundant forage
for as many hogs and cows as one family
will find time to attend to. With Irriga
tion it is safo to say the finest apples and
pears the West produces will come from
this new district in a few years. Fruits
of this kind, as Is well known, do better
and are of superior quality when grown
in a colder climate. Moreover, injurious
insects that are so har to eradicate in a
"
WASHINGTON
the Area of a Great State in
and Tributary to Portland.
warmer climate are of little annoyance to
orchardlsts when the Winter's frosts are
sufficient to keep them down. Cherries,
prunes, plums and all kinds of berries
may also be raised in large quantities.
Being only three miles from the timber,
fuel will be but a small item of expense.
Grazing lands He all about the district,
making stockralslng a profitable adjunct.
It Is safe to predict that here also In a
very few years hundreds of happy, con
tented homes will be located, surrounded
by the best of moral and intellectual ip
fluences, with schools and churches and
a flourishing town that will be the trading
center for a large expanse of fertile land
that reaches back In gentle ascent toward
an undeveloped country to the west. The
temperature of this new district is about
10 degrees cooler than that of Vineland.
In the immediate neighborhood of this
latest district to be reclaimed are thou
sands of acres of the most fertile lands
upon which in favorable seasons large
crops of grain have been raised, but
owing to the uncertainty of the rainfall
have been abandoned by their former
owners. They now He, unused save for
grazing, waiting for the capitalist to re
claim them. Abundance of water that
yearly finds its way to the ocean from our
mountain streams can, at a comparatively
small cost, be stored for Summer
use and made to convert this waste into
a landscape of beauty and profit. That
It will be done and soon is certain. The
excellent fruits our county Is producing,
our close proximity to the best fruit mar
kets In the United States, and many other
advantageous reasons vcomblne to make
conjectures of this kind no Idle dream.
Mining: Properties Bonded.
The mineral resources of Asotin County
also deserve more attention than can be
given In this limited article. For years
extensive, deposits of copper, carrying
good values in gold and silver, have been
known to exist above the mouth of the
Grand Ronde Rlycr, but lack of capital to
push development work kept the real
knowledge of their worth from the world.
Now, however, several good claims have
been bonded by capitalists, and develop
ment Is being rapidly pushed. Besides
these Important discoveries Asotin County
can boast of large bodies of coal In the
Grand Ronde country, and mountains of
lime, granite and marble on the Snake
River.
An article on this county would be In
complete without mention of its county
seat, viz., the town of Asotin. It Is situ
ated at the junction of Asotin Creek and
Snake River, the deep canyons through
which these streams run thus placing it in
the only natural doorway to a wide ex
panse of country. Its older Inhabitants
have seen Its population more than double
In the past five years, while today not au
empty dwelling Is to be found in Its lim
its. The power plant of the Lewlston
Electric Light Company is located here on
Asotin Creek, and a large flour mill find
sufficient patronage to keep it running
steadily. This town also makes an Ideal
home spot. With good schools and church
es, and an enterprising class of merchants
and citizens, its rapid and permanent
growth are among the assurances that are
in store for Asotin County generally.
Viewed from the standpoint of compari
son, Asotin County has nothing to fear In
inviting the closest Inspection of Intend
ing settlers. In this connection It Is with
no vain boasting that her people refer to
the Lewlston Interstate Fair, held In
Clarkston In 1900 and 1901, where 23.000 peo
ple each year viewed the wonderful prod
ucts ot her soil and that won the major
ity of the premiums for fruit, cereals and
vegetables, in competition with many of
the counties of Washington and Idaho.
Both years Asotin also won the premium
for best general county exhibit in compe
tition with Nez Perces County, Idaho. Our
fruits have also repeatedly taken first
prizes at Spokane and other exhibitions.
CHARLES S. FLORENCE.
Asotin.
GARFIELD COUNTY.
In Some Years the Wheat Crop Has
Averaged ?300 Per Capita.
With a good climate, productive soil .and
fair market facilities, Garfield County
offers to the Industrious homeseeker with
a small amount of capital, opportunities
probably unsurpassed by any other county
In Washington, or any region of the Pa
cific Coast. Climatic conditions are es
pecially favorable to agricultural pursuits,
owing partly to the extended period suit
able lor farm work during both Fall and
Spring seasons. The harvest season Is
also very favorable, as there is but little
rainfall In July and August. Much of
the soil being a light alluvium, it is
easily worked and In prime condition at
any time of the Fall. Winter or Spring
during the absence of freezing weather.
The "open Winters" is the rule here, and
farmers have been known- to plow and
seed in every month of the Winter sea
son. The soil is perfectly adapted to the
raising of wheat, barley, oats, fruits,
berries, and almost every kind of vege
table grown In this latitude. Vegetables
attain a prodigious size and the yield of
cereals is phenomenally large. Speaking
of the physical condition of this country,
topographers have referred to It as "roll
ing," but It Is safer to characterize It as
being hilly. In the higher altitudes the
soil is better adapted to grain and the
hardier fruits and vegetables. Along the
creek bottoms and low lands the more
tender varieties are successfully grown.
Sweet potatoes are raised on the Sucker
River Valley; but it must be admitted
that they are not so sweet or of as fine
flavor as those shipped frdm Southern
points. Apricots, quinces' and nectarines
are also grown, and some years the yield
is abundant.
The winter season generally brings to
this country one or two "cold snaps,"
winch last from three days to two weeks.
The mercury will drop to zero, some
times a few degreen below. The cold snap
Is broken by the warm coast or "Chi
nook" wind, which finds Its way from the
Pacific Ocean across the Cascade Moun
tains, sweeping away snow and Ice and
frequently sucking from the ground every
particle of frost along Its pathway. After
the chlnook has prevailed three to four
days farm work may be resumed any
where In the lower altitudes.
Remarkable Yields of Grain.
Tho remarkable yields of ail kinds often
recorded of vegetables and cereals In this
region sometimes are doubted by the East
ern reader. Here -are a few statements,
the reliability of which may be estab
lished beyond the shadow of a doubt:
From 25 acres Dan McRae, whose post
oitice address is Pomeroy, cut and threshed
1523 bushels of Little Club wheat, an av
erage of 61 bushels. Oscar Long, whose
postoflice address Is Pomeroy, threshed
from his 100-acre field of White Winter
barley an average of 80 bushels. Mt F.
Gose, whose postoflice address is Pom
eroy, threshed from a SOO-acre tract In
Club wheat 13,500 bushels, or an average
of 45 bushels. T. C. Frye, of Marengo,
raised half a dozen squashes which aver
aged 71 pounds. A. M. Hayes, of May
view, pulled from a little less than one
eighth of an acre 110 bushels of onions.
John Q. Fltzslmmons, of Pomeroy, dug
from one-tenth of an acre 120 bushels of
Early Rose potatoes. Hundreds of other
yields nearly, if not quite, as good as
those mentioned above could be. cited.
The yields in fruits and garden trufck are
correspondingly large. 8trawberrlefe are
ripe In the gardens along the creeks at
this writing, November 12. The early crop
came in about May 20. Home-grown to
matoes are stiU for sale by dealers in th
town of Pomeroy. These Items will serve
to give the reader some- Idea of the capa
bilities of our soil and climate, and the
possibilities attendant upon better meth
ods of farming than are now in practice.
The boundary of Garfield County on tho
northeast, north and northwest Is Snake
River. The lands lying along and near
this watercourse are admirably adapted to
the growth of fruits, berries and vegeta
bles. The climate Is Ideal, and there is an
inexhaustible supply of water for irrigat
ing purposes. The southern part of the
county embraces a large tract of the Blue
Mountains, which rises to an elevation of
over J.0O0 feet above ther level of the Snako
River. This portion affords an abundant
supply of timber for the country below,
besides excellent Summer range for
horses, cattle and sheep.
The area of the county Is 725 square
miles. Its population Is about 4000. The
assessed valuation is nearly $2,000,000, and
indebtedness about $16,000. There are sub
stantial improvements in the way of good
roads, properly constructed bridges, and a
new county courthouse and jail, which
cost J20.00!).
The prices of farm lands range from $5
per acre for the poorest up to 523 per acre
for the best. Little vacant or "Govern
ment" land of any value is to be found, in
tho county.
Native grass affords splendid pasture for
stock, and the raising of good cattle,
horses and sheep Is, and always will be,
one of the chief Industries of the county.
Creeks and innumerable springs scattered
here and. there throughout the county af-
X
. .
I ; IRRIGATED FARMS IX THE YAKIMA VALLEY, tVASHIXGTOjr.
ford an abundance of good water for all
purposes.
The main watercourses, aside from
Snako River, are the Alpawa, Pataha and
Tukanon Creeks, which have their origin
in the Blue Mountains and flow north and
west Into Snake River.
But little work has as yet been done In
mining; There has befcui one attempt to
develop a gold-bearing quartz ledge In the
Blue Mountains, and men have made what
Is called "good Winter wages" washing
the gold from the sand and the bars of
Snake River. A high grade of granite
building-stone is found In various locali
ties. Ample Transportation Facilities.
The Snake River being navigable, af
fords good transportation facilities along
Its course. A branch of the O. R. & N.
Railway taps the center of the county,
thus affording adequate market facilities
for produce.
No other institutions are more worthy
of a place In this article than our excel
lent public schools. In tho county there
are 39 districts, maintaining good schools.
The people generally display a commend
able Interest In educational work. Wages
of teachers will average $45 per month,
and the school districts arc mostly free
from debt.
Pomeroy Is the county seat, and the only
town of any Importance In the county. It
Is situated on the Pataha Creek, at the
terminus of the O. R. & N. branch line.
It Is the market center of the county and
commands almost the entire trade of the
people. Its shipment of grain annually Is
greater than that of any other point In
the state. It has a population of 1000. In
July, 1900, the business portion of the town
was swept away by fire. Today there Is
brick frontage on Main street of 750 feet.
The town has a first-class fire protection
system, and a gravity water system for
Irrigating purposes. There are four gen
eral merchandise stores, a flour mill and
other business houses to correspond. Thero
are. six different church denominations,
and live pastors are regularly employed.
The people are Justly proud of their pub
lic school, which ranks second to none In
the state. The building Is a fine two
story brick, centrally located. Ten teach
ers are employed to Instruct the 400 pupils
now enrolled. The assessed valuation or
the town Is 5170.945. Tho tax levy for 1901
Is only seven mills, and the city Is free
from debt. There arc many beautiful res
idences, and residence sites Innumerable
yet to be Improved.
There have been years when the wheat
crop of Garfield County would net to Its
people $300 per capita; livestock and fruit.
5100 per capita; a total profit of 5100 from
these three Items for every man, woman
and child In tho county.
No boom phrases or "glittering general
ities" havo ever been indulged in to catch
the unwary or bring disappointment to the
Investor. It is not likely that many
opportunities exist here whereby things
may bo grabbed that will Increase In val
ue ten-fold In a fortnight. But If you
want to m.ake a comfortable home by
honest toll, we say come and live with us.
PETER M'CLUNG.
Pomeroy.
WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Land Cultivated for 40. Years, Yet
Fertilizers Arc Tfot Used.
Situated between tho Snake River, on
the north, the Bluo Mountains on the
cast, Oregon on the south, and the Co
lumbia River on the west. Is one of the
richest agricultural regions on earth. The
greater part of this area Is the political
division of the State of Washington called
Walla Walla County. Tho county con
tains SH.500 acres. Of this area all but
4S.915 acres have been taken under the
different land laws. Most of the remain
der la of an inferior character. The
census returns give the county 18.SS0 In
habitants. The Assessor returns a total
valuation of property, or taxation, on
a basis of about one-third the real value
of $$.909.147.. On this valuation the tax
levy, for 1901, is 95 cents of each 5100, for
state purposes, and 5 cents on each 5100
for all county purposes.
The surface of Walla Walla County Is a
rolling prairie, covered, generally, with
bunchgrass. Many streams head In the
Blue Mountains and course through Walia
Walla County to the Columbia. Their
banks carry a growth of cottqnwood,
birch, alder and kindred woods". Tho
streams have a heavy fall, and their
waters are, or can be, used to supply
power for mills and factories. The soil
Is composed of materials which make it
the best wheat land In the world. It Is
of such enormous depth that It Is In
exhaustible. In Its cultivation, which has
been going! on for over 40 years. It has
not been found necessary to resort to
fertilizers. Summer-fallowing and deep
plowing produce wonderful results. Tho
soil Is not all of one grade; it Is more
like breakfast bacon streaks of lean and
streaks of fat, but all good. The yield
of wheat varies from over 53 bushels to
tho acre, on thousands of acres near
the Blue Mountains, which have been
cultivated for more than 30 years, to
0 bushels to the acre on land near the
Columbia which has been cultivated half
as long. All wheat is grown without
irrigation. Wheit is the great staple,
the other grains, except corn, being
grown with equal success. The nights
are too cold for corn. Besides grains.
vast quantities of fruit are grown to per
fection. The fruits, which embrace all
the varieties common to the temperato
zone, are generally grown, on lands which
can be Irrigated, though much fine fruit
is grown on lands 'Which cannot bo Irri
gated. Vast quantities of superb veg
etables are shipped to the mining regions
of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon
tana. Large amounts of the fruits arc
shipped in refrigerator cars to Chicago,
New York and Intermedlato points, whlla
hundreds of tons are dried and packed
for shipment by the most approved meth
ods. During the fruit season of 1901 the
shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables
from Walla Walla aggregated over 730
carloads.
The climate of Walla Walla Js salu-
brlous. The United States Weather Bu
reau maintains a signal station at Walla
Walla. The offical .observer makes the
following abstract of his official records:
"The mean average temperature for 29
years was 53 degrees.
"The average annual rainfall for 29
years was 17.88 Inches.
"Tho average annual snowfall Is 28
Inches, unmelted. The prevailing winds
are from the south and are generally
warm. There never has been a blizzard
or cyclone since tho station was estab
lished. Average number of clear days
In 29 years, 135. Average number of part
ly cloudy days In 29 years, 14L Average
number of cloudy days In 29 years, S9.
Average number of rainy days in 29
years. 111."
Walla Walla Is tho name of the shire
town of Walla Walla County. It Is lo
cated on the southern edge of the county,
and a little over midway between Its
eastern and western boundaries. It Is
the oldest town In Eastern Washington,
its settlement dating from 1858. It Is
built on both sides of Mill Creek, a moun
tain stream of varying volume, and Is
laid out with broad streets, which are
lined with shade trees. It contained over
10.000 inhabitants when the Federal cen
sus was taken, and Is growing rapidly.
It Is the home of Whitman College and
many private schools, besides a flno
graded system of public schools. Churches
of most modern denominations occupy
comfortable structures. Two dally newr
papers, each with a creditable telegraphic
news service, and four weekly papers
furnish news and mind food for the peo
ple. A paid fire department protects the
property of the Inhabitants; a fine water
system, the property of the people, sup
plies the purest of spring water at reason
able charges. A complete modern sewer
system, with 23 miles of terra cotta mains,
was completed during 1901. The streets
are sprinkled, at public expense. A free
library Is maintained by a tax levy of
half a mill on the dollar. Two large hos
pitals, both private, afford shelter for the
sick. Adjoining the city Uncle Sam main
tains a garrison, known as Fort Walla
Walla, which Is at present occupied by
two batteries of artillery. The state
maintains a large prison near the city.
The United States Courts hold two terms
a year In the city. The streets are light
ed by electric lights and the public and
private buildings. Including many dwell
ings, are made brilliant at night with
gas and electricity. The cost of lighting
the streets, keeping them In repair, pro
tecting property from fire, -protecting the
people and their possessions from the as
saults of the criminal classes, laying the
dust by sprinkling, and the free library.
Is paid for by a tax of 51 23 on each
5100 of valuation, and the collection of
licenses, mostly from the sale of liquor.
Two railroads, operated In connection
with the Northern Pacific, Great North
ern and Union Pacific, take passengers
to and from Walla Walla on frequent
trains. A complete local and long-distance
telephone system Is In operation.
Two National and one state savings bank
carry over 52,000,000 of deposits and
furnish the people the means of business.
Three flour mills, equipped with the most
modern machinery, turn out 500 barrels
of flour each 24 hours. The largest man
ufacturing Industry Is an establishment
which occupies a number of large brick
buildings, filled with machinery operated
byclectrlclty, which turns out annually
75 Improved threshing machines, besides
doing an Immense amount of repairing
and the construction of other machin
ery. A complete foundry forms part of
the establishment. An extensive planing
mill and Bash and door factory Is operat
ed by steam. There are two large brick
breweries, a tannery, two cigar factories,
an ice-making plant, feed mills, a cream
er', and the usual assortment of small
factories found In modern cities.
Besides the shire town, Walla Walla
County contains the town of Waltsburg,
with 1200 Inhabitants, situated on tho
Touchet River, whose chief Industry is
the manufacture of flour by a modern
mill, which turns out 350 barrels per day.
Dixie, a place of a couple of hundred In
habitants on Dp- Creek, Is in the heart
of a flne agricultural region. Prescott,
a place of 500 Inhabitants, Is located on
the Touchet. the chief product being tho
output of a flouting mill of 300 barrels ca
pacity. Another flouring mill of 100 barrels
capacity Is Telng completed on the
Touchet near the crossing of the stream
by the Washington & Columbia River
Railroad, at a place called Riverside,
where a prosperous town will grow up.
Eureka Junction Is a small place with
country stores, blacksmith shops and ho
tel, where the branch of the Washington
& Columbia River Railroad starts up
EurekaFlat to Clyde, where a country
stcra is established. Wallula Junction Is
a railroad town at the junction of the
Northern Pacific and O. R. & "N. Co.
roads, which Is supplied with tho usual
hotels, shops and stores.
An establishment for the canning of
fruits and vegetables, and the making of
Jellies and jams, would find unlimited
material for its machinery and employes,
while its export market would be the
populous mining regions of Idaho, Wash
ington and Montana. Tho home market
is a rich field for first-class goods. There
is no canning establishment In Walla
Walla.
As the soil and climate of Walla Walla
are eminently adapted to the raising of
sugar beets, and as the water powers
convenient and abundant can be utilized
to drive electric machinery, a factory to
convert beets Into sugar would prove a
profitable Investment. Abundant ma
terial to supply a starch factory Is grown.
The thousands of. tons of straw which
are now annually burned should be con
verted Into paper. A soap factory would
pay. So would a shoe factory. P. B. J.
Walla Walla.
YAKIMA COUNTY.
In Xo Other Place in America Is
Agriculture So Profitable.
Nowhere is there a better illustration of
the wonderful prosperity tho North Pa
cific Coast Is enjoying than In the Yakima
Valley. Nowhere is It moro generaUy en
joyed by the people. Nowhero in tho
whole country, as we believe who live
here, can be found the evidences of more
substantial Improvement. Our prosperity
rests, we think, upon solid foundations
upon tho marvelous fertility of tho soil,
upon an Inexhaustible water supply, and
upon a demand for Yakima products that
Is never satisfied.
The Yakima Valley heads In tho Cas-1
cade Mountains north and cast of Mount
Rainier. It extends east and south
through part of Kittitas County, and
then In the same general direction across
Yakima County the largest county in the
state to the Columbia River, a distance
of approximately 100 miles. It varies in
width from two to thirty-five miles. That
portion of It which is in Yakima County
is all in the and region. The average an
nual rainfall Is seven Inches. In ajl this
territory not so much as a spear of grass
growswlthout Irrigation; yet so perfect
Is the water supply, so cheaply and eas
ily Is it put upon the land, that tho
Yakima Valley Is a vast garden spot so
uniformly and lavishly productive that
there Is probably no other spot In Amer
ica where agriculture Is so profitable, or
where the value of agricultural products
Is so great In proportion to the popula
tion. Certainly there Is none where vege
tation depends for moisture upon tho ca
prices of the elements.
A few Illustrations from life may be
presented to substantiate this statement:
F. Walden, of ZUlah, last year took from
his 160-acre farm about 53000 worth of
products of various kinds, and sold them,
and now has on hand 5000 boxes of apples,
worth from 51 to 51 23 per box, which he
took from the orchard. G. S. Rankin,
of this city, raises on hl3 40-acre farm
hay, hops, apples, pears, prunes, etc.
This Is a highly improved farm, and has
cost 56000. Its net profits last year wero
over 54500. B. Sanford, of Toppcnlsh,
last season cleared 5S0OO off SO acres of
leased land, which he had in potatoes.
G. L. Allen, County Clerk, rents his hay
farm In the Sunnyslde for cash and real
izes 11 per cent, net, valuing the land at
51C0 per acre. It cost him much less
than 5100 an acre. The tenant has made
good money off the farm. Two acres of
watermelons on Nob Hill were sold last
Fall for 5370 cash, and the purchaser
picked the melons and hauled them to
town. A 10-acre tract adjoining the melon
patch was bought last Spring for $700,
and the purchaser has sold tho fruit crop
on It for nearly 53000. These are not Iso
lated cases. A hundred more like them
could be given. And they can be given
not only this year, but every year.
Such enormous profits In farming have
widely advertised the Yakima Valley, and
the consequence has been a rapid Increase
In the population. It Is not far from the
truth to say that the number of people
In the county has Increased at least one
third in the past three years. These big
returns, the Immigration, and the strong
demand for farm lands, have had their
natural result In the Increased prices of
lands. Farms that sold three years ago
for 550 to 560 per acre have sold since,
for 5109 and 5125, and many that arc high
ly Improved have brought as much as
5275. And even this Is not considered an
extravagant price for land that pays net
profits of 575 to 5100 per acre per season,
and In some Instances more.
Products of Yakima's Rich Farms.
Hay, hops, potatoes, fruit and livestock
are tho principal products of the Yakima
Valley, and each of these products Is tho
standard in the markets of the Sound and
Alaska, whence comes the demand for
everything the Yakima farmers can pro
duce, except the hops. The value of last
year's potato crop Is estimated by deal
ers to be 5600.000. The hop crop weighs
3,000,000 pounds, and at 10 cents a pound
Is worth 5300.000. The alfalfa crop is es
timated at 200.000 tons, worth more than
51,250.000. A train ot cars 100 miles long
would be necessary to transport this
single Yakima crop. There are 5000 acres
of bearing orchards in the county, apples,
pears, peaches and prunes predominat
ing. The value of this fruit cannot be
less than 5250.000. This makes no allow
ance for the green stuff shipped out by
express during the last six weeks of the
Summer to the Sound markets at the rate,
of $1000 to 51200 per day. Much of this
consisted of melons, green corn ard other
vegetables. Three, hundred thousand
sheep are owned by Yakima people, and
the mutton and wool products of these
flocks have transformed many poor men
into citizens of Independent means In the
past few years. About 15.000 cattle are
on Yakima farms. The dairy Industry,
though yet in Its infancy, has reached
such proportions that the butter output!
of the North. Yakima Creamery exceeds
any other In the state.
All the foregoing- flsures are based on
estimates, and may be somewhat Inac
curate, but as proof that they are not
far off, and to show that Yakima farm
ers $ro enjoying extraordinary prosper
ity, it may be mentioned that the de
posits of two National banks of North
Yakima exceed $1,100,000, a showing of ac
cumulations per capita that can be made
by but few Western towns. These fig
ures are given at a time, it "may be noted
in passing, when nearly all of the hay
and hop crops are still In the hands of
the growers.
Irrigated. Lands in Demand.
Immigration to Yakima County, which
began when the times improved four
years ago, has been steadily increasing,
and last year It was heavier than at any
other time in the history of the county.
Most of the newcomers have purchased
improved lands, though about 300 families
went in last year under the Sunnyslde
and Selah & Moxee canals, taking sage
brush lands at $35 an acre under the first
and at 560 under the second. The Selah
& Moxee lands were practically all sold
out at that price within three months
after the completion of the canal. The
Sunnyslde people have found It necessary
to extend their canal several miles In
order to supply the demands for their
land. In another year or two all the raw
land3 under the canals now constructed
will be sold, and then the process of de
velopment must be by subdivision of the
larger holdings. It Is believed that this
process will continue until the tillable
portions of Yakima County will have a
population at least five times as great
as they now have. Wherever the Irri
gated lands of the Yakima have been
skillfully worked up to their capacity of
production the results have been such as
to warrant the statement that a popula
tion of at least five times as great as
that now here might Hvo in the valley,
contented and prosperous to a high de
gree. Five and 10-acre farms, or gardens,
as they might better be termed, are now
supporting many families comfortably,
and in tho course of time a larger farm
than that will be a rarity.
The prosperity of the farmers and
stockralsers of the valley has been quick
ly reflected in the town of North Yakima,
which is the metropolis of the entire
region. More than 100 dwelling-houses
have gone up here in the past two years,
and although rents are high, there Is
still a demand which cannot be supplied,
apparently. The number of stores has
Increased rapidly, but last season saw
unprecedented activity In the building of
business houses. There arc now under
construction, or completed, within the
last four months, about $100,000 worth of
brick and stone blocks. The Odd Fel
lows are building a two-story brick 50x140
at a cost of $15,000; L. H. Clogg Is putting
up one 100x140 at a cost of $30,000. Alex
Miller and Dltter Bros, have finished
two others at a cost of 515,000 each. These
are on Yakima avenue. Half a dozen
others on the side streets have Just been;
finished. , They are cheaper buildings,
but are all creditable structures. Plans
arc being made nOw for several residences
which will be more costly than any now
standing In the city, and the number
of business houses to go up next season is
no less than have been pdt up last year.
North Yakima. W. W. ROBERTSON.
SKAMANIA COUNTY.
Portland Capital Opening Mlnci In
the Bald Mountain District.
Skamania County, with a frontage of
40 miles on the Columbia Rlvor, is what
Its namo Implies a wonderland, compris
ing within its borders Mount Adams and
Mounl at.Helens, the former 12,470 feet and
the latter 9750 feet high. It Is a vast
domain of varied resources, with a pop
ulation of IXC. The western portion is
adapted to agriculture, and many im
proved farms are to be found back ot
Cape? Horn, the output of which consists
principally of clover and timothy hay,
potatoes and livestock. In the many val
leys leading back from the Columbia Riv
er, farther to tho east, can also be found
prosperous farming communities, and es
pecially Is this so of tho Wind River Val
ley. In the extreme eastern portion of the
shire, between the Big and LIttIo White
Salmon Rivers, the county is adapted to
apples and small fruits, having a decided
ly drier climate. Here many strawberry
patches are returning annually handsome
profits to their owners, coming as they
do into the market 10 days earlier than
the famous Hood River berries across the
river.
Within the borders of this county are
primeval forests of cedar, pine, hemlock,
spruce and yellow and red fir, unmarred
by the ax or saw. Only a few mills are
In operation, the Oregon Lumber Com
pany leading, from whose five miles of
tlume a continual stream of lumber pours
into the Columbua River. The Storey &
Keeler Lumber Company will take the
principal part ot their logs from the Wind
River Valley, having just completed In
Wind River vast Improvements at an out
lay of thousands of dollars. This mill
will have a capacity of 60.000 feet. Near
Stevenson the Nelson Creek Company is
In operation with a daily output of 25.000
feet.
Gold, sliver, copper and coal exist In the
several districts In the county, with cop
per as the predominating metal. Three
thousand mining" claims are now of rec
ord. Theso mineral location? have been
made In the Bald Mountain, Copper Creek,
St. Helens, Lookout and Mount Adam3 min
ing districts. Jonathan Bourne, of Port
land, has 100 men employed at his m.nes
15 miles north of Washougal, In tho Bald
Mountain district. Large purchaes ot
state capital land have been made adjoin
ing too Last Chance and Skamania loca
tions, upon which thousands of dollars
worth of Improvements have been made;
shafts have been sunk and tunnels run
that are sufficient to prove the value of
these properties, and In consequence a
railroad from these mines to the Columbia
River will be built.
Thesh wheels at the Cascades, which
have been in operation fox. years, return
an annual profit to their owners. Thes
wheels, together with the other modes of
catching the royal chlnook salmon, fur
nish the major part of salmon consumed
at the Warren cannery.
Large tracts ot land still remain unsur
veyed In this county, awaiting settlement,
and happy and contented will be the man
who secures a home In this land of scenic
beauty and healthful climate, wheri.
when he grows old he may bathe In one
of the many fountains of youth (hot
springs) and become young again.
Stevenson. CHARLES H. MOOR.
WAHKIAKUM COUNTY.
LoETgrinsv Farming: and Fishing: Are
the Chief Industries.
Wahkiakum County. whlch stretches
along the northwest shore of the Colum
bia River for a dlstanco of some 30 miles.
Its western boundary distant some 15
miles from Capo Disappointment, while
nrrn of the smallest counties In the State
of Washington, boast3 of an early settle
ment, and Is today an important part of
the state. It has an area of 274 square
miles, and this territory is pretty well
divided Into timber and farming lands.
The population of Wahkiakum County by
the last census Is 2S19, divided among the
following- voting precincts: Eureka, 241;
Cathlamet, 669; Skamokawa, 542; Brook
field, 477; Crooked Creek, 96; Gray's River,
SOO; Seal River, 197; Deep River, 297. Tho
valuation of lands, including town lots,
exclusive of improvements, is $171,464; the
improvements on same, $92,722. The per
sonal property is valued at 51S1.4S2. Total
valuation of real and personal property
Is 5745.66S. The appropriated lands of tho
county amount to 172.S99 acres; tho un
appropriated lands to 6461 acres. Tho
vacant lands aro mostly timber lands.
Then there Is tho Three Tree military res
ervation, located just abovo Brookfleld,
of 646 acres.
Wahkiakum 13 represented in the Stato
Legislature by Hon. J. G. Megler, of
Brookfleld; and In tho House by Hon. W.
"B. Starr, of Pillar Rock. The county of
ficers are: Auditor, Je&so Baker; County
Clerk, Link C. Burton: Treasurer, David
West; Sheriff, M. S. Hougan; Attorney,
J. C. McFadden: Assessor, J. S. Masten;
School Superintendent, D. R. Mcintosh;
Coroner, C. W. Bales. The County Com
missioners are: George P. Irving, Cath
lamet; John Carlson, Skamokawa; T. S.
Barr, Gray's River. Tho county offices
are located at Cathlamet, a pretty llttlai
village, located on one of the most sight-'
ly points on tho Lower Columbia, Thero
are two good general stores, a meat mar
ket, an excellent country hotel, the Co
lumbia, three saloons, etc. The Congre
gatlonallsts have a pretty church, a resi
dent pastor and a thriving society. Tho
sceret societies are well represented, thero
being lodges of the Maccabees, Woodmen,
Red Men and Order of Washington. Thero
are two excellent public halls. Thero Is
an excellent graded school, with an enroll
ment of 100 pupils; the school Is well
equipped, and has a library of 200 or more
volumes. The Cathlamet Gazette, a w ck
ly paper. Is well patronized, and Is doing
well. Four terms of court are held here
annually. Warren's cannery Is located
here, and during the fishing season is quite
a busy center. Somo 200 loggers are em
ployed In the various logging camps on
the Elokomln Creek, back of town, and
the output of theso camps this season will
approximate 23,000,000 feet.
Wahkiakum County has 22 school dis
tricts, employing as many teachers, who
take care of S52 pupils. The value of all
school property is $14,023. Tho average
rate of teacher's wages Is: Males. $16;
females $38 per month. The average
length of term of school taught the past
year was 6 months. The graded school
of Cathlamet taught 10 months last year,
and tho graded school at Skamokawa nlno
months. A number of the schools have
libraries, and all aro well equipped with
good apparatus.
LoRSincr, Farming: and Flshinir.
Wahkiakum County has no railway fa
cilities, but depends upon the various
steamboat lines for her transportation.
The O. R. & N. Co.. White Collar Lino
and Vancouver Transportation Companies
furnish dally passenger and freight boats
between this county, Portland and Astoria.
Then there are tho Vanguard and several
other small boats which connect Astoria
with this county. The mail facilities are
generally very satisfactory, there being
nine postoffices In the county, tho most
of which enjoy dally malls, and' some of
them havo a3 many as four malls each
day.
Logging and farming aro the chief indus
tries of tho county, closely followed by
the fishing business. Time was when tho
latter industry was paramount, but of lato
years It has declined very materially, nie
log cut of Wahkiakum County will ap
proximate 100.000,000 eet this year, nearly
'all of which were placed In tidewater as
fast as cut. The mountains back from
tho river are still covered with a dense
growth of fir,, spruce, hemlock, larch and
cedar timber, and It will be many years
before the last log shall havo been mar
keted from Wahkiakum.
The salmon pack for this county for 1901
was about 60.000 cases, divided among four
canneries. The pack of salt salmon will
run close to 500 barrels of 200 pounds each.
A large amount of fresh fish was also
shipped to Portland, and a still larger
amount la annually sold to canneries and
cold-storage firms In Astoria by Wahkia
kum County fishermen. During the fish
ing season some 500 of our people are em
ployed in fishing.
Skamokawa, named for one of tho In
dian chiefs living here some 35 years ago,
is a thriving little town. It has three o
the finest valleys on the Lower Columbia
River, and the amount of farm products
annually shipped from hero Is a surprise
to most people. The co-operative cream
ery manufactured djirlng the past season,
from April 1 to November 13. 49.716 pounds
cf butter, and the amount of butter
shipped by private parties amounted to
about one-fourth as much more. This
butter brings top-notch prices in Portland,
where most of it is sold. It is very sel
dom that grazing falls off In this section,
which makes the Skamokawa dairy ranches
very valuable. Skamokawa has- two good
general stores, one saloon, an excellent
hotel, The Skamokawa. a meat market,
two public halls, two Methodist Churches
and one Lutheran Church. The Macca
bees. Ladles of the Maccabees. Good
Templars, and the Order of Washington
havo lodges here. There is an excellent
graded school, a union high school, and in
the valleys five country schools. The
schools at Skamokawa are located In a
hand3ome building, one of the neatest
and best equipped on the Lower Columbia.
It has an organ and a growing library of
300 volumes. The Skamokawa Eagle, a
weekly paper, now In Its 11th year, Is
published here, and doing well. The Wil
lamette Pulp & Paper Company, of Ore
gon City. 13 at present engaged In building
a wagon road to connect the Middle Ska
mokawa Valley with the south fork of
Gray's River. The new road will be
about six miles long, and will open up a
new country back from the river, although
Ifs main purpose Js to enable the company
to reach their extensive timber holdings
In the north part of the county. The
company has 200.000.0CO feet of fine pulp
wood timber, and with this road they can
reach their logging camps easily with their
supplies. It Is estimated that the new road
will have cost the company over 53000
when completed. Skamokawa has one of
the finest sawmill sites on the river, which
Is now Idle. For a cargo mill It cannot
be equaled.
Brookfleld Is quite a fishing community,
and Is also at the mouth of Jim Crow
Creek, and also the road termini for
Crooked Creek, .quito an extensive farm-
irxtr ("flmmnnltv A mllx np trxm Ivnnlr
j Brookfleld is Flnke Eros.' stave mill, at
V