The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-12-06
FERTILE Land OF YAKIMA
A Country that Teens With All That
Makes Life a Blessing.
FOREIGN VOICES SING OUR PRAISE
An Interesting Account OF the Yak.
tma Reservation as Told by Mai.
Powell, Ex.director of the Geo
logical survey.

A Washington, ID. c., special to the
Chicago Record says: Major Powell, re-
Gently director OF the geological survey,
says that the Yakima valley, which is
about the center OF the state Of Wash
ington, is the best adapted for irrigation
and has the best and most convenient
water supply for such a purpose OF any
section of the United States. The chief
Falls, on the Northern Pacific railroad.
and the reservation of the Yakima In
dams occupies a considerable area, which
is now being allotted in severalty. When
the memb ers OF the tribe have each been
given farm the remainder will he
opened to sale and settlement. There
was considerable opposition to the appor-
tionment of the land, and it was not
without great delay and difficulty that
the Indians were persuaded TO consent to
it at first, because they were reluctant to
be thrown upon their own resources and
feared they might not be able to sustain
themselves if the supplies that had been
given them annually by the government
were withdrawn. Others, including the
richest and most influential men Of the
tribe, had control of large portions OF the
reservation as range for their cattle,
which they did not want to give up.
This reservation was held out in 1859
by treaty and is about l6 by "a miles in
size, irregular in shape and contains
about l,000,0 900 acres OF the best land in
the northwest, including about 100000
acres of fine timber in the western foot
hills of the Cascade mountains and about
240, 900 acres OF bottom land. When the
several tribes forming the Yakima nation
selected this reservation in 1859 they
knew well what they were about. No
where else Throughout. Washington and
Oregon can location be found combin-
ing the same advantages. Commencing
at the headwaters of the Ahtanum the
mountains sweep around in q half circle
on the west and south, their sides clothed
with an abundance OF excellent timber,
and give rise TO the Ahtanum. the Simcoe,
the Toppenish and the Satas. besides
numerous smaller streams, which, break
ing from the mountains. unite with those
in the main valley below. The valleys
are extremely fertile. while the hills be-
tween are covered with the finest grass.
As these streams deboueh from the noun
tains on the west and south their valleys
converge till, as they approach the Yaki-
ma river from the northeast they all unite
to form what is called the Lower Toppen-
ish range. Numerous branches leave the
main streams to the right and left, and
after course OF some miles again unite,
thus keeping the soil always moist, and
affording as fine farming land as there is
in the world. From the junction of the
Simcoe with the Toppenish magnificent
plateau OF land stretches away of to the
east and north for more than twenty-five
miles, making range for cattle and
horses which perhaps has no equal be-
tween the Rocky and Cascade mountains
Anything will grow there under irrigation
for the rainfall is scanty-every grain
and fruit and vegetable that is known tC
the temperate zone. The Indians have
about 10000 acres fenced in and undel
cultivation, and their farms average al
well as do those OF the white men whC
surround them. The land adjoining tn,
reservation has been pretty well taken mp
but the two races live in peace and pros
perity together.
Yakima is county OF small farms
The harvest is 80 certain and so prolific
under irrigation that forty, thirty, twent!
and even ten acres are deemed enough
for man to cultivate with one horse and
the assistance of bis family. There ar
some large farms, but they are not a
profitable in proportion to their area a
the smaller ones The Mckee ranch
which il one Of the largest. has 400