The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-04-02
Argument for The Location Of the Agricultural College and
School Of Science at Yakima
THE LOCATION OF THE AeRIcuLrURALco COLLEGE


Washington must always be an agricultural State In
deed the Eastern portion must rely agriculture almost
entirely In this section, therefore, the Legislature has
wisely decided that the college shall be located. Certain
counties too have been thrown by the Legislature
they already have State institutions within their borders
This also wise decision provided that the remaining
counties offer advantages of fitness equal to any Of
the others 1t is wise provision distribute State insu-
tons, that particular section may have its possibly
superior claims overlooked for those Of its populous
and stronger rivals. The State like impartial Judge,
children akeand should so distribute her vors as to de-
vpe all sections and gain the greatest good the greatest
number.
The Commission named by the Governor is an admir-
able one and may be trusted to weigh well the conflicting
claims Of the rival Counties and Just and wise
conclusion. The Counties from which the choice will
doubtedly be made are Whitman, Lincoln, Adams and
Yakima; and Of these Yakima, for many reasons would
to be the best location the most centrandeed
is the connecting link between the East and West and its
County Seat the central point to mile between the two
divisions Of the State Its climate and soil noted for
their agricultural possibilities 1t is but stating known
truth to say that in no other County Of Washington
such wonderful variety Of products be shown. The
cereals fruits and vegetables produced in other Counties
here produced in yield large larger and in quality
good better Her peaches considered by the connos
Of the west superior in favor to those Of California
Her melons celebrated from Spokane the Straits
Her vineyards in their infancy but prom
Using Her tobacco is of undoubted excellence Her hops
have been preferred by the European market to any grown
the coast Her cotton raised experimentay in limited
quantities. has brought her farmers handsome offers and
inducements from the largest brokers Of New York engage
in the cultivation of that staple Her roots from beets to
potatoes unrivaled Her vines from grapes and pea
nuts to tomatoes are unequaled elsewhere in the State
While these facts which are in the knowledge of
many and be verified by all who choose to make careful
and candid inquiry great drawback hampers the agr
culturaist of this otherwise wonderfully favored County 1t
has, practically rain and must depend irrigation for
the production Of blade Of grass But herein lies
her strongest her unansweTabe claim for the Agricultural
College There many such colleges throughout the
country which located under ordinary farming condi
tons From these scientific methods applicable to ordinary
FARMING Al all he learned
school anywhere in the arid gatng belt Such college
located in Yakima County would benefit not only that
County but all similar districts in and in sister
States. 1t would acquire national and eventually an
European reputation. 1t would draw students from Idaho,
Montana, Utah. Colorado and California It would teach
the methods by which millions Of of the most pro-
ducve land this continent could be made the support Of
hundreds Of thousands of farmers It would do than
any other thing to build up, and that rapidly the popu
laton of State and increase her wealth It would
create wealth in the purest Of the expression It
would be clear gain because Ito hackneyed but very
expressive phrase it would teach the methods by which
he desert is made to blossom the rose" and by which
much can be produced from nothing.
And this not be achieved by private enterprise the
contract too large In Mckee Yakima County, the largest
and successful private experimental farm in the State
is located While its results have been extensive and
useful they have relatively the magnitude of the problem
left almost untouched the thousand questions Of scientific
farming under irrigation.
The only two known methods of irrigation by di-
Verng water from natural streams and by artesan wells
The first method is divided into three sub methodsanals
which distribute the water by gravtaton wheels which
raise the water from the natural below the land
be watered and irrigation pumps which convey the water
to higher levels All these methods in opera
ton Yakima and artesian well is under contract and
already down several hundred feet These experiments and
methods in use taken all together in other County
in the State and, far data at hand indicate in
other County in the United States.
And, since the institution to be located contempates
scientific education which shall 60 into the ground alone
for what will give the tler Of the SOIL but well for
the base and precious metals for coal and for building and
precious stone it proper call attention to the fact that
Yakima County has for its western boundary the summit Of
the Cascade range Of mountains range which has yielded
its of wealth all countries for ages has too
several spurs from the main range which have been shown
by ordinary unscenhc prospecting to abound in iron,
COAL gold silver and copper There have recently been
discovered large deposits Of onyx jasper and mossagae in
the County, between the Yakima and Columbia rivers.
There are, too, exhausess deposits Of mineral 6reproo
paint and the best known clay for making friedrich in the
world Operations looking to the teaching Of science it
bears upon the developing of the ea mineral stores
will be seen by the foregoing statement be conducted in
Yakima with far greater advantage than in any other County
in the State coming within the range of possibility consd
erng all requirements Of the institution. In fact the
Counties possible competitors from agricultural staud
point lay claim to these mineral requisites for
scientific education.
To summarize:
Less is known Of irrigation farming than Of farm
ing under ordinary conditions
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