The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-30
THE MAGIC OF WATER
What Irrigation Is Doing for
the Yakima Country.
NO BUSINESS rRouslE THERE.


A visit to the Sunnyside district. below
North Yakima. impressed ne strongly
with the importance and vslae Of reclaim
ing the arid lands of the state visited
one farm under the Sunnysids canal
which will turn OF this year more than
s., 90 worth of products, more than two
thirds Of which is net profit On this farm
were eighty acres OF hops. sessnty-hve
acres Of corn. some wheat. oats and barley
and alfalfa. but no fruit. There wcre also
loo hogs. Il was refreshing TO meet . man
who had no occasion 20 talk about hard
times. The same air of prosperity spread
over the entire settlement OF the Yakima
valley. The hops had yielded well, as
they always do on those lands. and were
selling at 10 cents \ pound when l was
there. the last day OF September. All
crops except peaches had done well and
the people were cheerful and contented.
The condition OF the valley was reflected
in the town of North YAKIMA. where
houses for residence and business are in
great demand and several brick buildings
are going up. Instead Of stagnasion there
were the life and STIR of growing COM
muniEy. And yet 10 had been an
exceptionally inclement year A
late spring followed an unusually
cold winter. The summer had been
unusually cool. but no crop except peaches
had failed 10 yield the customary product.
The lice had done no injury to the hops.
an assurance that the climate OF the valley
is a sure protection against them. No pre-
vious season had afforded so conclusive
evidence that this hot dry climate viii not
permit them TO ravage the vines. A great
variety of crops have been cultivated with
unyarying success for more than twenty
years, and ii Is now settled beyond doubt
or apprehension that agriculture in its
most diversified forms may be prosecuted
with large profits by irrigation throughout
this great valley and afford support to a
dense population. While there are several
large ranches the tendency is, as it every
where is under irrigation, to small farms
and close settlement of the people. and
consequently improved social conditions.
Rural life is thus relieved of the loneliness
which so Expresses the women especially.
Neighbors are not located by the cheerful
smoke rising in distant horizon, but live
within call of each other. The density of
population makes the land more valuable
also, as IL is In the suburbs of a city. The
social as well as the economic outcome of
irrigation is attracting attention. as it
deserves to do; for the Southern California
settlements and other reclaimed wastes
give the assurance that the high social,
educational, religious and political advant-
ages OF the old New England town system
are TO beA repeated throughout arid
America
AZ the present time. and on account of
the general condition of this state and the
Union, look upon the Yakima valley as
the land of best and most immediate
promise for Us as state. It is on the rail-
road, which gives IL . good outlet to
markets east and west, and is capable of
supplying the great commercial, manu.
featuring and maritime interests on Puget
sound. the wheat belt of Eastern Wash
ington. and the mining districts of the
Northwest with the agricultural products
which are now obtained largely from dis
tant states. The reclamation and settle
ment of this valley and other irrigabie
sections of the state are matters of public
interest which should be made prominent
and encouraged at this time. Ii Is the
most available form of development we
now have. The Sunnyside canal is COM
pieted TO cover about IS 600 acres of choice
land. With forty acres for each family.
which is more than the average will
be. when the whole tract is occupied.
there is an opportunity under this canal
for more than 10. 900 people to engage in
diversified and intensive farming. This is
Immediately available, and besides there
are many other and large opportunities
for settlement under other canals and arte-
sian wells in the valley. moments re-
Fiction VIII show what such an addition
of self-supporting and money making peo-
pie would mean to all interests in the state
that it would stimulate all branches of
trade, increase the demand for lumber and
coal. and in a short time. by furnishing
meats. fruits, vegetables, butter and eggs,
result in keeping within the state the
money that now goes out of II for such
supplies. The state will not begin to &C
eumulate money until this and other por-
tons of II are developed so that it can be
In great measure self-supporting. As
soon as that point is in fair degree real
ixed our great resources of raw material.
such as lumber. coal and other minerals.
our maritime interests. including fisher
les. will yield US vast amounts of money
which will stay with rs as capital. Ii is a
time when the state should put its best
foot foremost. Public attention should be
directed by the press Of the state to the
most available opportunities for settle
ment. We should offer our strongest at
fractions to immigrants At this time
wide attention is turned to agri-
culture. The old abandoned farms
of New England are being recognized
by people who are crowded out of the
towns and cities The pressing question
with great numbers. after evsrv such
strain as the country has suffered this
year, Is that of home and daily food. and
then many return to the land the mother
earth. tor their living. IL IL this tendency
of population that concerted action should
be taken ia this state to turn hither. and
| cannot help regarding IL as a great
timely public advantage that so large an
area of Inviting land is open to settlement
in the Yakima valley.
II Yves not my intention in this writing
10 advertise any particular portion of this
valley. Ii Is all good 30 far as reclaimed,
and wherever water is supplied profitable
eTons are certain. The whole section is
very favoraaly situated with reference to
markets and transportation, and suscepti-
bic OF highly varied and profitable cultiva-
non. which will not exhaust, but rather
improve the land, 50 that it will be grow
ing better aud more valuable from year to
yeaF. Here the farmer may regulate the
grossh of his crops by control of the
wafer and IN a true sense be lord of his
sores. !ew or many. think 10 intellig
man coaid go through this VALLEY and see