The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-07-27
)fcial Paper Of North Yakima.
RErRosPEc TIVE AND pREsEyr.
We have seen towns rapidly built and

RETROSPECT TIVE AND PRESENT.
We have seen towns rapidly built and
almost as rapidly die down. North Yak
ina was one Of these. The sharp chatter
Of the hammer and the monotonous hum
Of the saw was heard on every side in
1885. This vas sight years ago and
busy. but crude and unsubstantial town
was hastily thrown together. North Yak
ina Is to be great town, was the cry of
the property holders, but year later the
rush was over; the class that moves with
every fresh excitement was gone, bust
ness Jagged. reuts dropped. houses Of all
classes became vacant and with those who
remained every character Of relaxation
took possession OF them except faith.
This was founded on belief In the fertility
and productiveness Of the surrounding
country. A. few fruit trees, a patch Of
alfalfa, small fields of hops, scattering
gardens OF vegetables, clumps Of berries,
experiments with tobacco, sorghum.
sweet potatoes, sugar beets, peanuts, and
various other things were the basis for the
belief that there was something beyond
town boom, where everyone was trying to
consume his neighbor, or at least the
substance Of his neighbor. This was the
condition that directed attention to the
barren lands surrounding the town. At
first little was done, but as the belief
spread, by means Of demonstrated fact,
that there was not only a comfortable
living, but riches in the soil that then
produced nothing but sage brush or bunch
grass. urban inactivity gave way to the
breaking Of virgin ground, the building
OF artificial waterways for the purpose Of
irrigation, and the planting OF new acres
20 fruits, cereals. grasses, and miscellane-
Gus agricultural products.
With the new turned ground, with the
harvesting OF the grain. the cnring Of the
grasses. the baling Of the hops. the pick
ing Of the fruit and the marketing Of the
vegetables the vacant houses in North
Yakima began to be filled up. Prosperity
came hand in hand with production and
the merchants found their original stores
too small. and the insurance too large
Z for the heavy stocks Of goods required, so
substantial brick business blocks replaced
the original and hurriedly built structures
in which they hau done business. With
each recurring year larger areas Of the
country districts were brought under cul-
tivation and the city kept pace with the
march oil improvement until the present
year, when, notwithstanding, magniti-
cent system Of waterworks, electric lights.
telephone, and sewerage, substantial BUSH
mess blocks of brick, number Of which
are three stories In height, well graded
streets, miles and miles OF shade trees
and streams Of living waters on either
side OF the streets, the country has grown
beyond the city. There is not vacant
residence TO be had although upwards OF
seventy were built this year, and new
merchants are deferred from coming here
for there are no places in which to store
their goods.
While we, who live here, realize an
unusual duIlness due TO the season when
the farmer is detained on his farm as well
as to the general depression throughout
the country, this local business qnietude
cannot last long. With vast areas OF
new ground broken and brought under a
high state OF cultivation in the past two
or three years, and With magnificent
crops, even for country where there is
never an approach to failure, our pros
poets under ordinary agricultural condi-
tons would be exceedingly bright. But
while the stringent money market Of the
world affects all crops it lays its blight.
ing hand least heavy on the one to which
We have pinned our strongest faith--hops.
In this over-production and not hard
times has the greatest effect, aud whether
based on present prices or future prom
ises the returns on ths hop crop will he
adequate to place the Yakima country in
an enviable financial condition. II the
market for our fruit is not what we could
hope for; II the fodder crops are drug.
and the various other crops OF this coun-
try OF diversified products are OF slow sale
and low price we still will see prosper
GUS fall and with this prosperity build
INK growth Of the city which will he
forced in order to meet the demands Of
an increased POPULATION. In times past
the people Of North Yakima looked for
ward into the future years for a prosper
Gus agricultural town OF eight or ten
thousand Inhabitants. Now the rapid
development OF the surrounding country
and meagre estimates Of its wealth pro
ducing capabilities compel US to begin to
realize that when once our irrigation
plans are carried out and this broad
country is eheckerboard OF small and
highly cultivated farms. hop yards ana
orchards, that then North Yakima will
not have been plated on tcale
too extended for the requirements, but
win be compact and wealthy city with
a population that will have distanced
our earlier dreams.