The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-26
FOR THE CAPITAL:
NORTH YAKIMA.

I not necessary to assume any mystery IN
the matter. or TO assume that our friends
/ in the territory are not already aware of
/ the advantages presented BY North YAK
/ ina As a point for the capital These mat
/ tiers are very well understood. They are
! better understood BY the old settlers than
/ by those who have come In later; for 1t
/ may he said without fear OF contradiction,
| that the old settlers OF Washington terri
tory now the state of Washington, have
I always cherished feeling that sooner or
/ later the CAPITAL would be uoyea from
I OLYMPIA TO North Yakima. N this con-
I nection we will call attention 10 statements
/ which follow, showing our &c ntral location
/ and the readiness with which this point
I can be reached by rail and the natural aC-
vantages which make it now and forever
/ hereafter the central point of the state.
Nature has made here beautiful plain,
surrounded BY spars OF the Cascade mount
1 ans midway between the Cascades and
the Columbia river and IN the exact center
/ of state between east and west. Nature
has further provided great open valley
here, with favors OF climate and accessible
ity 10 he found nowhere else IN the state.
In addition 70 what nature has done, irri-
CATION. aided by the hand of man, has
stepped in and heautihed the city in
manner TO mske il remarkably attractive
to all who pass between the Mississippi val
ley and the Cascade range. Whatever may
be said in contradiction OF this, or for the
purpose of bringing forward other points,
viii be easily set aside by personal exam
/ ination. In fact. 80 far as We have the
benefit of personal opinion, there Is no
doubt nor reason Tor an attempt at con-
yinting arguments. We have only TO re-
mind our old iredds in the teri ory,
and 10 state to those who know
less of our locality, OF these
important points in our favor In addition
10 matters mentioned below in detail there
are many points OF interest which might be
elaborated. As matter OF fact We have to
the west of us, only twenty miles distant, a
beautiful park, equal in every respect and
beauty to the great Yellowstone park IL Il
known to the old settlers and those who
have visited ii as the Tietan basin. Here
NAV be found hot springs gushing from
the earth AT the foot OF cliffs. rising to the
height OF thousands of feet. beautiful
stretches of park with trees OF every kind.
and elk, dear, bear, and all that Is left of
animal nature from the encroacbment of
man in fact. this Is the western-mosr bar
rier of civilization. On the other side OF
the mountains civilization again begins.
and the slope goes Ia the water edge, leay-
ing the wiidLess Of animal nature ex-
hausted by the Arrangement OF modern
progress ..,.-s ~
The extent Of this great Yakima yai.ey is
not generally understood throughout the
state, since it includes eight saileys con-
III
done more than at any -Ro.pt ] 2, The lnlted
States, outside of California and Colorado.
We have the most beautiful gardens on
every hand. with everything growing that
may be cultivated in the temperate zone,
including corn, tobacco, sweet potatoes,
melons and fruits of every kind.
Below are more definite statements of the
extent and peculiarities of the valley with
its railroad connections and position as re-
CARDS the advantages for placing the capt.
tai here. There can be no reasonable doubt
in the minds of any who may carefully ex-
anime the matter OF the business OF our
claim.
For years the opinion has been general
that the permanent seat of government
would be located here The situation is
central; by measurement it j. found to be
the exact center from east to west and by
census it is found 10 be almost, if not
quite, the center of population, and al
though somewhat south of the center geo.
graphically, by making a reasonable al
lowance for the mountainous country in
the north TO fill mp, il will only place North
Yakima that much nearer the center of
population, thus making the location fair
one for all sections ana all directions in the
state. II Is obvious that while the argu-
ment founded on central location is
strong one. the typographical position of
North aklma furnishes stronger reasons
for the establishment of the capital here.
The town Is situated in the Yakima val
ley which is less than 200 miles in length.
Through this valley runs the Yakima
river, about 100 miles from the mouth of
which Is located the iosp, on its left bank.
immediately above the town the Natcfeez
river enipt.es into the Yakima, and the
lletan flows into the Natehees about |
twelve miles above It's confluence with the !
faMinas and about four miles below the |
town the Ahtanum river joins the Yakima. |
Each OF these rivers leads 10 mountain |
passes; the NatcheeZ to what is |
known as the Natoheez pass, the verv
best railroad route across the Cascades. |
and twenty-eight miles shorter 10 Puget |
SOUND than the Stampede pass, through |
which the Northern Pacific tinds its outlet I
TO the coast. The Tietan leads To the Cow |
alz and tispus passes by its north fork: |
anu by It's south fork 10 the Klickitat pass; /
TIE Ahtanum opens the way To the Klicki. |
tat pass through the Sincoe gap. Thus by |
1neSe various passes the way is open for |
steel highways TO various parts OF Puget /
sound, the Columbia river Vancouver and /
tray s harbor. The Yakima river leads I
the way To the Stampede pass, through tue /
former OF which now runs The Northern /
Pacific railroad (main iine).
by means OF the Northern Pacific rail
road North Yakima has now direct com
fhunicatlon with Pasco. and nv means of
the Northern Pacific, Oregon Railway d
navigation, and the Hunt systems, il has
communication with Dayton, Walia Walla
ana all points south OF the Snake river. and
also by the Northern Pacific with Spokane
ans toiiax and all points east Of The CO.
iuInpia river. North Yakima has an avail
ne railroad route To Priests rapids. hy way
~ the Mckee coulee. and thence through |
" alerFilIe. Davenport and the Big Bend |
oouhfy ana all points north and north |
east ana southwark. across the Yakima |
lhulah reservation to Goldendaie. These
various passes, all available for railroad
doItss, nave all actually been surveyed
aiu tested by the most competent en- !
gineers on the coast and are actnallv sxi.t-
.ug feasible levels through which railroads |
WIZ In few years he built. Thus il will he
seen that North Yakima is the natural
tailroad center of the future state. will
oe borne IN mind that in the construction
% raIroads through mountainous regions
sue water course must be followed up one
sI1e ana down the other in crossi = the
IaIseS' anu 1t Is equally true that when
YOU once ascend the stream from the main
. uasih or principal valley of any watershed
Z ou are then confined 10 that stream alone
-. -; 'S,.os the mountain ridge where il
.Lkes. North Yakima is situated where Ali
tue tributaries OF great basin meet and
sne - not confined 10 any of them Tor
asaiiaoie railroad lines, but she has the All.
saLtage OF them all. and no railroad eonId
yer oe constructed through any OF the
pass named and avoid the town
~, - ~ Is Well known railroad has been
sLhieaDuy projected from North Yakima 10
c+lr pia rlyer, which will connect the
~ vuitles OF clarke, klickitat, Cowlitz. pa
a., aiu 1sEiina with Douglas and the Big
are " No. no9 iy. and two corps of engineers