The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-05-23
VIEWS YAKIMA wITn VAvOR.
How the Yakima Country Impressed
aud Captured u New
JeFSeyite.

The following is from the Monmouth,
New Jersey, DemOerai:
According to your request to hear some
thing from me in regard to this great part
Of the west, ] will endeavor to give you
some points regarding this valley, the
first place we stopped at and where l
shall most probably locate. North Yak.
ina is located in the Yakima valley,
which lies between the north and south
passes Of the Cascade range Of mountains.
To the south Mount Adams and to the
north Mount Rainier lift their snow-clad
peaks, the latter being the highest peak
in Washington, l4,444 feet above the
level Of the sea.
The climate Of this and the surrounding
valleys is peculiar. 1t is 4 dry climate.
No rain falls in summer nor does any
snow Of any amount fall in winter. In
the spring there are a few refreshing
showers but no very copiOus rainfall:
The mild chinook wind that blows up the
Columbia river from the ocean, enters the
Yakima valley and keeps out the chilling
currents from the north that would other
wise prevail there.
The natural features Of the country
seem particularly calculated to secure a
mild and eouable climate, the mountain
spurs on the north serving as protection
4 a
situated as to draw the warm winds from
the tropical ocean currents through them.
There are scarcely a dozen days in the
year when the sun does not shine.
Since our arrival we have had the Their
mometer up to so degrees. but the cool
mountain breezes seem to temper the
fierce rays Of old Sol, and you do not real
lie that il Is summer weather.
The scarcity Of rain renders it necessary
that all the crops shouli be raised by
means Of irrigation. To the New Jersey
farmers this would seem to be a great
trouble and expense, but It is not 70.
Perfect irrigation may be obtained 20 cas-
iIy, and kept under such complete con.
troll at all times, that It is deemed better
than the natural rainfall Of any region.
It places under the farmers control that
which in the best naturally watered sec
tons is entirely beyond it. The descent
Of the streams through the small valleys
is no rapid that it is easy to lead bitches
Of water from them through the soft soil
to irrigate as large tracts as may be de-
sired. The main bitches are easily dug,
and, when these are done, all the farmer
has to do when he desires to let water on
his fields is to run burrows through his
fields from the main bitches. This IL
known as the trickling system. When
there is sufficient moisture on the land a
few minutes work with hoe shuts of the
streams and the crops grow on without
danger Of damage from either drought or
food. In future letter will give you a
description Of the Aowage system Of irri-
CATION as practiced by the Mckee Com
pany, who have over 5000 acres Of land
under cultivation.
This valley seems capable Of growing
almost every kind Of farm prodacts-
wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, buckwheat,
etc. All grow well. Corn especially is a
very successful crop. One Of the most
valuable crops is hons, Of which there is
q large acreage. Yakima hops have the
sanitation of hainO thu largest and ineat