Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-24
YAKIMA VALLEY.
From the Goldensdale Gazette

What is commonly known as Yakima
Valley reaches up the Atahnum River
as well as along the south bank of the
Matches near its mouth, and from the
mouth of the Matches along the Yakima
to what is known as the gap next to the
reservation. and some ~ miles south
of the city of Yakima. On the south
side Of the valley the Atahnum is the
boundary of the valley, as we'll as the
boundary of the reservation. Indians
are on one side of the river and whites
ON the other, but unlike most instances
the whites have the best side. Tho At
ahnum is % miles long, that is from the
mountains where farming land begins.
Four miles of in one direction and six
miles in another We find sawmills that
are doing good business, selling all
the lumber they can cut. At the head
of the farming part of the valley we find
all tillable land owned and cultivated.
Hops do we'll in the highest part of
the valley. Below for some 8 miles tho
valley narrOws down nearly to the river,
and then commences to widen abruptly
again. Here We find a Catholic mission,
and now come to the part of the valley
whore We are fenced in on all sides; ON
the left by mountains and at the right
by rail and board fences. The soil il
mixture between rye grass and white
sage brush. As We 70 down the river
wo find farms increasing in number, as
we'll ~ improving in appearance, until
some twelve miles from Yakima City we
count eight gables on a fine appearing
two story dwelling house, painted and
finished of in city style. 1t is the home
of Mr.. Wiley. From here down the river
we SEQ at every look houses of greater
or less pretensions. Groves of trees
with grass plots are frequently seen and
mako one long to either 90 east or stop
right there. Orchards look we'll, and
in a few years Columbia River fruit
will not find SO ready market here as
now. Land along the river is
generally valued at $l5 TO
$50 per acre, but some will sell for
less. All of it seems to be decided prop
erty here ON the river, but above Mr..
Wiley's the valley widens into bench
Of sage brush land rather inclined to be
rolling and there we find some vacant
land, not much of it Government but
considerable railroad land. The farther
We 90 down the more level it becomes
and the more it widens until We come
to ths..Natches where We find il ten miles
wide at the toll bridge. From rear the
bridge there is large ditch taken out
whiDh runs to the city and furnishes
water for vast SCOPE of country. Other
bitches could be taken out of the Yaki-
ma and all of this lower valley easily
irrigated. The soil Is sage brush, but
not 90 strongly alkaline as some; water
il easily obtained for family use. should
there ever be railroad though here
this will one day be one of the richest
valleys ON the Pacific coast. Hops are
a success here where ever tried. Corn
grows we'll where there is water; but the
crop that promises to eventually be the
financial success of the valley is sugar
cane which grows here equal to that Of
any Southern State in quality and when
We arc we'll versed In its cultivation We
can raise az great quantities per acre.
Onions--well Of all the things you ever
saw this gravelly sage brush soil excels
in onions. We hear of such thing as
two, three and four hundred bushels per
acre, and these are from the size of an
ink bottle 10 the diameter Of eight and
ten inches. Potatoes must have water,
and not too much nor too little, or
they will either be too watcry or too
small. When the big cattle mon here
have to turn their attention to agricul-
tural pursuits then We will see Yakima
valley ono flourishjng farming COM
munity. Yakima City is situated in the
south eastern part Of the valley, one
and half miles from the gap. Il js
we'll vatered and ON level plain and its
citixsns are justly proud of it's scenery
which can here be made. Beautiful
lawns and flower gardens meet one on
Is