The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-21

A Vast Area That Can he Made Fruit
ful by Water.

Iul by Water.
Waterville, Jan. Il, 1885.
To the Editor: The immigration conven-
ton recently held in the city OF Seattle
was convention OF education, and as such
was great success and promotive OF much
good Many y those attending had the
light OF truth thrown upon their ignorance
by the papers prepared by delegates. upon
the advantages OF the localities they repre-
scented, and read before that body. The
state or " ashington is so extensive an area
OF real estate, IS blessed with such varied
resources and possesses such a diversified
climate that he who lives at enc extrem-
ity knoweth not the inducements held out
to settlers in the other extremity thereof.
There Is no part or parcel OF the state that
Is not enjoying the most feiicitous sur
roundings, and few citizens there are OF
this commonwealth that fully reslize and
appreciate the boundless latent wealth that
nature has stored up within It's boundaries
and particularly is IL difficult for the peo-
pie OF the West side TO comprehend and
grasp the extent and productiveness or the
lands under cultivation, and the vastness
OF tracts yet remaining vacant IN Central
and Eastern Washington
This want OF knowledge as to the metes
and bounds of certain localities Of the state
was strikingly illustrated In a local item
that appeared in the columns OF the Post
article was headed big Irrigation
Scheme" and gave publicity TO the fact
that companies had been organized TO re-
claim by irrigation large tracts of land sit
uated between Wenatchee and Spokane
along the Great Northern road. AS
startling bit Of information the article stat
ed that "the plain stretching out in that
region comprises more than 10000 acres or
land" Aye. indeed IL does. The lands that
the promoters OF the project propose 10
bring under cultivation by the distribution
of water thereon are located in Douglas
county, includes the southern end or the
county as a matter of fact, ana the
plains stretching out in that region extend
from the Great Northern roadbed nifty
miles south and have breadth or the same
number of statute miles. embracing some
thing like 500. 600 acres, instead of PAL
try 100, 600. But an acre more or less can
ba readily overlooked il the information be
true, for great and pleasant news II VIII
be to the people Of Douglas county II the
proposition Is once started and carried out.
The territory that is to be reclaimed, ana
the balance OF the surrounding country IN
the vicinity, is, as it lays outdoors, one
utterly useless desert. It is absolutely
without a redeeming feature TO recommend
it TO the attention of the traveller. 1t Is
a vast solitude, covered with growth or
scrubby sage brush, the home of the coy
Ote and or the rattleSnake, seldom tT1-
versed or travelled over except by an occa-
sional cowboy, and he turns his horses
nose into its featureless expanse with
feeling of dread. In the spring scant veg
citation springs up to wither in brief pc
Rod for want OF moisture, and In few
spots there is just sufficient forage to give
stock plenty OF exercise, and that is soon
grazed off. However, in character the soil
IS much the same as that Of the Yakima
valley, where the INTRODUCTION or ife-glVlng
water has in a few years wrought such
wonderful changes, and the same results
would follow distribution or water on the
lands in question. In that event land that
could not now be given away would be-
come more valuable than that In any other
part OF the county. The climate is much
rilder on the desert than on the bench
lands making ii especially adapted TO the
growing of fruit, which, with so great an
area in orchard, would In a few years be-
come the leading industry CT Eastern
Washington
The hope prevails that the gentlemen who
have the enterprise in contemplation may
commence work at an early day and pros
per In their undertaking. If successful the
result will be far-reaching, and a general
benefit to the state at large. 1t would give
homes and profitable employment TO hum
dreds Of families, and add largely to the
assessable wealth of state and county. 1t
would be the means Of creating new indus
tries and the barren waste that Is now
without a single recommendation would be-
come one Of the most beautiful and attrac-
tive sections Of the entire state.
FRANK DALLAM.