The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-29
GREAT STORM CENTER
Big Winds Rise at the Mouth
of the Columbia.
NOT ONLY wREcklNc SHIPS.
But Driving Warm Clouds Eastward,
Making Fertile transformation u
Crops in state Of Washington.

WASHINGTON CRY. July 2s.-As have
never seen any publication Of the observa-
tons of the special Senate committee on
the irrigation and reclamation of arid land,
so far as they relate to the state of Wash
ington alone. and as the subject is one of
material importance, have gathered to-
gether the results of the committees i'm
spection of the country and their remarks
thereon. which will undoubtedly be found
interesting:
Washington. east OF the Cascade mountains.
would be greatly benefited by irrigation. ana
larze areas OF it N ust be irrigated to produce
crops. 1t is, however. more favorapy situated
than any OF the other interior states on account
of the great opening in the Cascade mountains
through which the Columbia river flows The
mouth of the Columbia river is q great storm
center The western OF Chinook winds in win
ter focusing there, drive the clouds through
the Columbia river pass, and their contents are
precipitated when they strike the Bitter Root
mountains in Northern Idaho aud other eleva-
tons In Eastern Oregon and Western Montana
and Washington. In these localities farming
il successfully conducted without irrigation,
although in most places the practice would be
highly beneficial. There are large sections not
reached by sufficient rainfall, occasi ned by the
passage of clouds through the Columbia river
pass. These sections must be cultivated. II at
all, by irrigation. To what extent the Columbia
river and its tributaries may be utilized for
this purpose in Eastern Oregon and Washing
ton, Is not yet determined
Passing westward into Washington, the COM
mittee found an interesting field in the eastern
or sub-arid region Of the new state. The ex-
aminations near North Yakima offer abundant
proof Of the needs and advantages of irrigation
and of the great area that can be reclaimed
therein. Eilensburg, further west. showed by
positive demonstration in its fertile and ex-
tensively irrigated fields the value of efforts for
reclamation.
The state of Washington presents most inter
esting topographic and photographic features.
In entering the state by the Northern Pacific
of seeing the effect on an area well within the
arid region, Of the extensive lakes found in
Northwestern Montana and Northwestern
Washington, as also of a considerable section of
Northern Idaho. The regional aridity is sub
dned to . considerable degree. The extreme
eastern quarter or third OF Washington,
from north to south, may properly be
class ided ~ sub-humid. while the central por-
ton, clear TO the eastern foothills Of the Cas-
cades from III degrees to l2l degrees of west
longitude. or four degrees. will be found sec
ton in which the storage and distribution of
water, while not at all times and places therein
"a absolute necessity, will always nesd such
facilities and find them to greatly enhance its
land values and industrial progress
Entering midway Of the western boundary,
the Northern Pacific railroad gives the traveller
occasion for seeing the character of great area
almost wholly unreclaimed, which the mesa or
table-land of the Columbia river valley and its
great tributaries presents. The great plains of
the Columbia river, to the northwest of the
railroad. will probably require for their arabic
use IN extended series OF photographic works.
hac o1sfxx.
from many sources. One estimate was made Of
5000, 600 acres; another of II, 100000.
The Yakima valley offers 200 900 acres of bot
tom lands for reclamation, and at least million
more in available bench lands. The
rainfall of the region IL also suffi-
cieut to secure large area of sab-irri-
tains below the surface much OF the precipita-
ton and drainage that perc0lates into it Que
half of Eastern Washington needs storage and
full facilities of irrigation. The cost will range
fiom s. to IS per acre, and there may probably
be found an abundance of water for storage.
In the extreme southeastern section there is .
region already famous for It's fine fruits and veg
etables. in which the use of irrigation adds
enormously to the value Of the land. 1t 10 re-
gion, too, OF accessible and not very deep ar
tesian water.
The sundry civil bill. as amended by the
Senate, contains an appropriation of &c.,
COO to pay the salaries and expenses of q
commission to visit and negotiate with the
Indians on the Puyallup reservation for
portion of their lands. The secretary of
the interior says that the lands of this
reservation are very valuable. and pro-
vision should be made for disposing of
them for settlement, the interests of the
Indians, of course, being protected. Be-
fore such disposition can be made of the
surplus lands, however, commission will
have TO be appointed to make the neces-
sary treaties with the Indians.
Professor Dodge, statistician of the agri-
cultural department.. furnishes the follow
ing estimates showing the acreage and
condition of the crops in Washington:
Corn, acreage compared with last year, l01;
wheat, average condition of spring crop. SO; rye.
average condition of spring crop. 95; oats, aver
erage condition, 81; barley, average condition,
%; potatoes, acreage compared with last year,
l02-average condition, IS; beans, acreage COM
pared with last year, l0l-sverage condition, 80 /;
clover, average condition, "a; timothy, average
condition, 81; pasture. 30; apples, so; peaches
o.