The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-07-18

teen rich valleys, besides large area Of
fertile land and hilly timber land, and
also takes In q considerable portion Of
the broad plain Of the Columbia, The
main stream which drains this region is
the Yakima river, which takes It's rise in
the several small lakes near the very
crest Of the Cascades, and meanders
down the mountains and through the val
Ieys to the mighty Columbia. From
source 70 mouth the Yakima Is rapid
stream, having an average fall Of twenty
foet to the mile. II receives number Of
tributaries from both sides, all Of which
are Of inestimable benefit 10 the adjacent
country, furnishing irrigation for the
thrifty farms In the yalleJ. The descent
Of these streams Is 70 rapid that It Is easy
to lead bitches d water from them Though
the soft soil to iTTigate Is large tracts as
may be desired. The main bitches are
eAsily dug, and when these are done all
The farmer has to do wheu he desires TO
let the water on his delds. Ia to run fur.
rows from the main ditches, through the
tields. When there is sufficient moisture
on the land, = few minutes work with
the hoe shuts oG the stream and the crops
grow on without danger Of damage from
either drought or food. It Is better than
the rain direct from the clouds, for the
water goes Just where you want Il to 90,
and In such volume as u "a wanted.
UndeE this system the Yakima country Is
capable Of growing remarkable range Of
vegetable products. All the small grains
wheat, oats, barley. rye, buckWheat,
etc,-erow as we'll As in any part Of the
country. Corn and tobacco are grown to
perfection, and sorghum 10 an excellent
crop. Vegetables and root crops Of all
sorts yield abundantly. One IL the most
valuable crops is hops, Of which there Is
4 very large acreage. All the ordinary
fruits flourish, including the finest quail
ity Of peaches, pears, grapes and quinees,
which can be grown to complete satisfac-
tiou. InSshoEt, II IL the paradise Of the
AgriculturaliSt-a region whore be can
defy the elements and produce any crop
under the sun. Eastern farmers viii
read this and accuse me Of exaggsrHtion.
Let them come heFe and zee for them
selves. might Be able 70 exagEeFate in
writing Of this section, but doubt Il.
The word Yakima, an Indian name, IL
said to mean "a great suecOtash garden"
Whether this 10 the correct defination or
not, that Is almost what the Yakima
country amounts 10, after the soil has
been irrigated and tickled with the hoe.
TIE CLIMATE.
I have met many surprises In Wash
ingtoa. One Of these h what ] have
learned Of the climate. l hGve met per-
cons from Michigan and other eastern
states, who have been cured Of pulmonary
diseases by q short residence here. The
climate q this particular section seems
peculiar 10 Itself. It Is emphatically .
dry climate. No rain falls IN summeS,
nor does snow, In any considerable quan.
tity, fall In winter. The climate Il very
similar 70 that Of the south Of France.
The mild chinook wind that blows along
up the Columbia river from the ocean
enteFs the Yakima valley, and keeps out
the chilling currents from the north that
would otherwise prevail there In winter.
Spring comes In advance oi the calendar,
not several weeks behind Il. In FebFu-
aTy tie ground thswS and farming opera.
tIons have good start BY the end Of the
menth. There are scarcely dozen days
In the year when the sun does not shine.
In summer the heat IL not oppressive.
Tho lingering SHOWS and heavy frosts Of
the mountains near by, lend TO the
,bresaes q refreshing coolness; and then
tha. current from the ocean bEings health
and comfort. and makes the climate ct
al times delightiul.
STocE RAIsINo, MrSERALs, ETC.
The Yakima country IL also . splendid
grazing country, evidenced by the fact
that there are now pAstuFed On the bunch
ErasS ranges Of Yakima county alone
which by no means includes all the re-
zion known a. the Yakima country, nor
al that tributary to North Yakims-about
SSo,0OO shsep, IL. .OoO horses, and $50, 600
cattle. This Is superb grazing land, and
the slockmen dislike 10 give Il up. but,
when required BY settlers, Il viii BEL
found thst these bunch grass ranges are
splendid grain lands. Il is also rich in
minerals. Placer mining has bean car
ried on 10 some extent, and there are
quarts ledgeS near the Yakima which will
undoubtedly be worked when transporta-
ton facilities are better. The little pros.
pecting that has been done there . said
70 yield promising results In gold. Iron
b found In paying quantities in some SEC.
tons. Coal iS eveTywheFs found in abun'
dance, suGicient TO insure . supply for all
the manufacturing that can possibly
crowd into the Yakima country. Marble,
limestone. clay, ETC., are among the other
valuable mineral resources. These are q
yet practically undevelOped, but the
future win bring them 70 the front.
There are also many tracts Of heavily
timbsred lands Of hr, pine and cedar,
which only need The "Open sesame" Of
pluck and capital to make them veFitable
mines Of wealth.
TIIE vuTrxB,
He who runs may Fead'' thss there is sI
bright future IN stOrs for the metropolis
Of the Yakima country, surrounded BY q