The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-02-07
CsmmHnitatial.


To THE EDroR or THE HERALD:
You must. like all men who think more
or less. have been struck by the perpetual
struggle between good and evil There Is
no IdiSses Jdivs spirit in this antagOnism.
It's honest ION both siCles) and will last.
Why? Well, I suppose, because good
cannot cease to oppose evil, and because
the only good thing about evil is an I'M
deniable amount Of wicked nrit. am
led to the consideration Of this question
by findin; on my desk a map II "wash-
ington." The frat thing that catches my
eye rs gaze on this map Is q star stu
ated about the center Of the picturesque
production. Il looks like "the star Of
empire" II il in the center Of circle,
and above It appears the mystic charac-
ters-"ELLESsBrRGH." A second glance
at the map shows me that the topography
Of our territory is widely different from
that usually given by authorities COM
monty considered reliable. I end open
country where, unless government sur
veys are worse than fallible. there Is
nothing but mountains for many and
many q mile. ] find several railroads
which have no existence outside Of this
work Of art. Other railroads are play
fully DETECTED fifty miles or more from
their course without any good or sufficient
reason. Stay-I notice that they all,
real and imaginary, seem attracted to-
wards the star in the center Of Washing
ton. Yes. there Is no doubt about Il.
All the railroads In the territory center in
''the star" Startling" you say. Well,
yes. But this must mean something.
These roads, in reality, do not run any
where near the Star" The star can cast
its cold light on little but mountains In
that quarter. II shines at the base Of the
Cascade range over the Kittitas valley,
the modern Come Of the Winds, )" where
the little town Of Ellensburgh crouches,
shivering, and multiplying her saloons 10
keep up the saloons.
Now, Mr.. Editor, what should bring all
those railroads thereG Is there any con-
ceivable reason why the whole territory
should bend and strain and dislocate
itself to do reverence to this favored spot
a. Il does on this map7 On turning this
matter and the map over, find that the
latter Is printed on paper which bears on
the reverse side the following legend:
JOHNSON HOUSE!
Jackson 4 Maloney, Pr0prietOFs,
EllensbuTg. Wash. Ter.
Now, I have been there; and though
cannot say with the inspired Watts that
II still would co." still, for my sins,
have been there, and can honestly o.
sure you that there is nothing whatever
about the johnson House 10 attract rail.
roads or railroad travel, at all events "a
the extent indicated on ths map.
When I was there they had q meeting
TO consider the advisability Of giving q
bonus to some reckless individual who
proposed experimenting In the growth Of
the harder kind Of fruit trees. There
were other burning questions brought up,
l remember. The question Of finding q
windmill that would stand the racket"
in that country; the suggestion Of q
municipal ordinance that the licenses
should DO regulated 20 that not more thar
fifty per cent. Of the buildings should b
used as sample 'hops, and 20 forth.
Well, a. I said, was there; and
know whereof l talk when I assure you
that however soulless corporations may
be, Eve railroads could not be found Tout
side Of the map) which would. even Iol