The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-29
WATER IN YAKIMA.
Fred r. Reed Talks of Irriga-
ton and Politics.
HE WANTS NO OFFICE NOW
How bitches and Artesian Wells Are
Making the Plains Of Eastern
Washington Green.

Fred r. Reed. of North Yakima, one OF
the most energetic and successful men of
Eastern Washington, arrived at the North
ern hotel last night. Mr.. Reed, who has
been prominen; in Republican politics
and has had his popularity attested by
election to several responsible offices. has
been talked of somewhat as a candidate
Tor lieutenant governor. In speaking of
the matter. he said last evening: "Yes.
I've been mentioned as a candidate. and
III confess that I'm extremely graft
fed by the fact that the state
papers which have referred to the subject
have spoken of me kindly, and have
refralned from calling me the unpleasant
names sometimes bestowed on politicians.
I'll also acknowledge that l should very
much like to be lieutenant governor, or
something else equally honorable. L
should enjoy going back to my old home
in the East and saying: Sixteen years
ago 1 went out West with $40 in my
pocket, and now look at me, I'm lieu
tenant governor!
But the truth is that cannot now
afford to go into politics. I have not the
time this year to devote to the Office. Too
many other things are demanding my
attention and energy. and so my name is
not for a moment to be considered in con-
nection with the office. For the present
am in politics to help the Republican
party and friends in it.
my ambition today is to see Yakima
county take the place which for years
have been predicting that she would &C.
cupy.
mine years ago settled there, and
thought saw in the county such valley
as irrigation had made to blossom like the
rose near Salt Lake. In patches here and
there irrigation had been tried, and made
success. But l wanted. to see something
done on large scale. l talked of big irri-
CATION enterprises until people thought my
head had turned.
"The trouble was that we had no money
there. The few dollars we could raise
among ourselves were hardly drop in
the bucket, and so We had 4 hard time,
and years OF weary waiting. I've gone
about with good suit of clothes on my
back, hope i'll my heart, and stiff upper
lip, when hadn't two bits in my pocket.
"Well, the end of it all is that the hard.
uphill fight we've had in Yakima county
has been won. l stuck to that dry country;
through all the depression my faith never
wavered. and now we are on top. The
capitalists whom we needed have at last
recognized the chance to make money,
and now half dozen irrigation schemes,
involving the expenditure of over 81 ,000,-
600, are either we'll advanced or ready for
undertaking.
when those big bitches are dug and
artesian wells driven we shall have 500, 900
acres of land, as fertile as any the world
knows, ready for settlement.
isn't that worth fighting for? And
isn't the result splendid enough to make
man glad for the rest of his life?
That rich volcanic ash In our valley
needs only the touch of water to make it
bring forth more astoundingly than you
can believe till you see the growing crops.
"A farmer and his family can live COM
fortabiy on from ten to twenty five acres
indeed they cannot cultivate to adj
vantage very much more. But see what
population that will give US
do not mean to say that town lots are 60
ing to boom; but what / mean is that
Yakima will be one of the rich and popu-
lous farming districts of the United
States.
'And our mineral. too, as we shall show
you at the Tacoma exposition, is going to
surprise you ALL"