The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-04-19

surmountable. II has been truly sale
that he Is benefsctor OF the human race
who makes two blades Of grass to grow
where only one grew before; who trans.
forms a desert into q garden, and who
furnishes an abundant supply OF waite,
to lands which have been too thirsty 10
be productive for hundreds and perhaps
thousands OF years. Such man is Capt.
Fred r. Reed and such men are his asso.
ciates, DIR. VanMarter and others, whom
we this day delight TO honor. These
gentlemen have accomplished the diff.
cult task, at an expense OF 10000, Of
furnishing an ample supply OF water for
this townsite and its vicinity 10 the ex-
tent OF some three thousand acres. There
by making them available for beautiful
homes and at the same time making
them productive OF an immense variety OF
fruits and vegetables, grains, grasses.
trees and flowers-all contributing to the
convenience and enjoyment; the comfort
and support of mankind. Having direct
railroad communication with both east
and west residents OF this locality will be
able to ship TO all parts Of the world.
Who can tell how many toiling miners in
the businesses OF the Rocky mountains
may not be refreshed and strengthened
by the fruits and other products Of the
gardens and orchards OF this vicinity, and
may invoke the blessings Of heaven upon
Capt. Reed and the other promoters OF
this enterprise?
As transportation facilities improve so
our communication with the outside and
the whole world will become more con-
A fa q ha 4
have been considered lunatic who had
prophesied that hay would be shipped
from the Yakima valley to England and
France, yet We saw this done at profit,
only last year. II hay can be shipped
easily may fruits and vegetables be sent
when properly prepared for shipment? ?
When first settled here I hauled the
lumber for my house, some Of ii IS and
some OF 1t 50 miles. | purchased the
hardware, windows and doors in Port
land, my shingles in Idaho, whence they
were forwarded by rail TO Ainsworth,
thence hauled by wagon about 40 miles,
to this place. Now almost everything re-
quired for home can be purchased on
the ground at reasonable prices. All the
conveniences Of life and most OF its lux
uries can be had here at reasonable prices.
What may be accomplished here with a
supply Of water can easily be learned by
seeing what has already been done few
miles up this valley. A few days ago l
saw q most beautiful orchard OF 20 900
trees. The ground in which they are
growing all in an excellent state OF Guilt
walton, looking like q vast garden, and
10000 or 1900 peach trees in bloom.
This is only q sample OF what may be
done here and in the surrounding coun-
try. Mr.. Reed and his associates have
made these lands available for similar
cultivation. There is hardly a locality
in the wide world within the limits OF the
temperate zone, where greater variety
of grains, fruits, vegetables, grasses. flow
ers and products OF the soil OF every de-
scription can be more successfully cult
waited. am sure, therefore, that where
there is, as here, a combination OF eli
mate, soil and production made available
for the creation OF happy homes by the
genius and industry Of Captain Reed and
mis- associates, that you will join most
heartily with me in defeating this irri-
eating enterprise to the uses and purposes
for which it is intended, and in wishing
that it may be an everlasting monument
Of that genius and enterprise and that II
may furnish to thousands of happy
homes an abundant supply of water as
long as grass grows and water runs"
ADDRESS OF W. L. JONES, ESQ.
The people Of Prosser and OF Yakima
county are to be congratulated upon the
completion of this great enterprise. 1t is
not simply the completion Of a great me-
chanical enterprise-this is not all the
significance to be attached to it-but it is
one more step in the. development OF an
irrigation system that is destined to make
Yakims county the Paradise Of the world.
The contamination Of this great enterprise
means the establishment of great num-
Der of happy homes filled with comfort,
peace, plenty and prosperity. In ancient
lines the most honored was he who
gained victories in war. That age has
passed away and to-day the men most
honored are those who carry out enter
prises for the benefit of their fellowmen.
such is the work that these men have
wrought. Theirs is bloodless victory, a
triumph OF mind over matter. North
Yakima unites with Prosser in honoring
these men for the great work they have
accomplished, for this work, though a
direct benefit to Prosser, is also q great
benefit to the whole county.
While this system Is departure in the
line OF irrigation, the great irrigation en-.
terprises Of the past having been con-
Quoted upon the gravity system, no one
can examine the works here, see the ire
sistible force with which those monstrous
wheels move without variation and the
nexhaustible supply of water and water
power, and have any fears as to its stabil-
lty and permanency.
For unknown ages the waters OF the
Yakima river have been rushing down
God'E eternal reservoirs to the broad Co
lumbia, unused and undisturbed save by
the boulders in its pathway or by the lap
pings Of the jackrabbit, coyote and the
cayuse of the red man. Finally the west
ward march OF empire reached this valley.
When the iron horse passed through the
rolling tide OF emigration passed by our
sage-brush plains as worthless, to the
land OF weeping skies and evergreens.
Many Of them are now coming back. A few
Of the more ventursome settled along the
banks OF our streams and soon discovered
the wonderful productiveness of our soil
when we'll watered. Soon bitches, small
20 be sure, were taken out and water car
ried to outlying lands and it was shown
that our soil, instead of being poor and
unproductive, is the most fertile on the
lace of the globe. Within the last ten
years irrigation has developed wonder
iully in our county. Thousands OF acres
have been brought under the magic infiu-
ence Of water in the Mckee, Selah, Nat
cheez, Abtanum, Sunnyside and along
the Yakima river below this place, and
to-day is celebrated the completion OF one
more step in this great system of progress
and development.
Great honor is due the gentlemen who
have carried this work to completion.
The people Of Prosser owe to them spe-
cial debt of gratitude. 1t has been &C.
complished in the face OF great obstacles
and during q time Of great financial de-
preston through the indomitable deter
nination and untiring energy of Fred r.