The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-28

To The Iasers If H,sshisgfoa: In coming
| AZ this tine before the people Of the terri
/ tory with our reasons for asking that this
! c;.y shall be made the capital, we have. of
! course TO present again some facts that are
| already familiar TO III who may read. It IS
| not necessary TO assume any mystery IN
| the matter, or 10 assume that our friends
! IL the territory are not already aware of
| The advantages presented by North Yak
| ina as 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: fer IL
nav he said, without fear of contradiction,
that the old settlers of Washington terri
| tory. now the state OF Washington, have
always cherished 3 feeling tia. sooner or
later the capital would be moved from
OLYMPIA To North Yakima. In this con-
nection we will call attention 20 statements
which fellow, showing our &c ntrai location
and the readiness with viii CHI this point
can he reached BY rail and the natural ad-
! vantaces which make il now and forever
hereafter the cen.-a, point of the state.
Nature has made here beautiful plain.
surrounded by spurs o. The Cascade mount
! ans. midway between the Cascades anu
the Columbia river and in the exact center
of state between east and west. Nature
has further provided great open valley
here, with fayors os climate and accessible
ity 10 he found nowhere else in the state.
In addition to what nature has done, irri-
CATION, aided by the hand of man, has
stepped in and heautified the city III a
manner to make IL remarkably attractive
To all who pass between the Mississippi val
lev and the Cascade range. Whatever may
be said in contradiction OF this. or for the
purpose of bringing forward other points,
will be easily set aside by personal exam
ination. In fact. so far as we have the
benefit of personal opinion. there Is no
otsfN yxo a a
yineing arguments. We have only 10 re-
mind our old friedds in the territory,
and 10 state 10 those who know
less of our locality. of these
important points in our favor. In addition
TO matters mentioned below IL detsil, there
are MANY points of interest which might he
elaborated. As 4 matter of fact We have to
the west of us, only twenty miles distant.
beautiful park, equal in every respect and
beauty. to the great Yellowstone park. Ii Is
known to the old settlers and those who
have visited it as the Tietan basin. Here
may 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 encroachment OF
man; in fact. this is the western-most bar
rier of civilization. On the other side OF
the mountains civilization again begins.
and the slope goes to the water S edge, leav
ing the wiidLess of animal nature ex-
hausted by the advancement of modern
progress.
The extent of this great Yakima valley is
not generally understood throughout the
state, since il includes eight valleys con-
vergiug at this point. Here irrigation has
done more than a. any point in the United
States, outside OF California and Colorado.
We have the most beautiful gardens on
every hand. with everything growing that
4 Al al
including corn, tobacco, sweet potatoes,
melons and fruits OF every kind.
Below are more definite statements of the
extent and pecuiiarities 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
III 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 is found to be
the exact center from east to west. and By
census it is found to be almost, if not
quite, the center OF population, and al
though somewhat south of the center geo.
graphically, by making reasonable al
lowance for the mountainous country in
the north to fill mp, it 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 a
strong one, the Typographical position of
North Yakima 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 town, on its left bank.
Immediately above the town the Natcheez
river empties into the Yakima, and the
lietan flows into the Natcheez about |
twelve miles above its confluence with the
Yakima; and about four miles below the
Town the Ahtanum river joins the Yakima |
Each OF these rivers leads to mountain |
passes the Natcheez To what is |
known as the Natcheez pass. the very |
best railroad route across the Cascades. |
anu twenty-elght miles shorter To Puget |
sound than the Stampede pass, through |
which the Northern Pacific finds its outlet |
to the coast The Tetan leads to the Cow |
htz and tispus passes by its north fork: /
aud by its south fork 10 the klickitat mass. |
the Ahtanum opens the way to the Klicki- /
tai pass through the sineoe gap. Thus bv 4
theSe various passes the way is open for 4
steer highways to various parts OF Puget
sound, the Columbia river, Vancouver and
trays harhor. The Yakima river leads
sne way 10 the Stampede pass, through the
Pacific railroad tmain Incl.
hy means OF the Northern Pacific rail
road North Yakima has now direct com-
hlanicatlon with Pasco, and by means of
me Northern Pacific, Oregon Railway a
SaVigation, and the Hunt systems. il has
communication with Dayton, Walla WaIIa
ana ali points south of the Snake river. and
also by the Northern Pacific with Spokane
ans. Coiiax and all points east of the Co |
iGihola TlSer. North Yakima has an avail |
pe tauroad route to Priests rapids, by way
81 the Mckee coulee, and thence THROUGH |
"atefSiiie, Davenport and the Biz Rerd !
country and ail points north and north
east ana southwark, across the Yakima
lIttiah reservation TO GolGendale. These
various passes. all available FOR railroad
routes, have all actually been surveyed
ana tested by the most competent en-
siheers on the coast and are actually exjst
ing, feasible levels through which railroads
WIZ III q lew years he buiit Thus il will be
seen that North Yakima is the natural
abroad center OF the future state IL will
pe borne IN mind that in the construction
~ =, railroads through mountainous regions
'Hs water course must be followed nm ono
slue ana down the other in crossing the
iahhes' ana 1t is equally true that when
oo once ascend the stream from the main |
pasIn or principal valley OF any watersbsd
va are tnen confined to that stream alone
80 - osstng The mountain ridge where IL
- Nurth Yakima is situated where all
e.. ss.4oularies OF great basin meet and |
she Is not confined To any ~ ther, g.
available railroad lines, but she has TIE a.
vantage OF them all, and no raiirosS co,,ia |
ever be constructed through anv of The
passes named and avoid 80 So - '~~