The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21
IRRIGATED LANDS
MAKE MANY FARMS.
Great Area In Eastern Washington
Has Been Watered by Canal.
and Artesian Wells.

Great Area in Eastern Washington
Has Been Watered by Canal.
and Artesian Wells.
There are in the state Of Washington
one million acres of the most fertile land
IN the world. that can be irrigated d, rea-
sonab.e expense. Two hundred and tifty
thousand acres of this are now under con-
sIructed canals, but perhaps not 10 exceed
10000 acres Of these lands are now under
cultivation These figures illustrate the
great possibilities Of irrigation develop
ment in our state.
The construction OF nearly all OF the
larger irrigation canals in Washington
was accomplished during the boom period
and the mistake was made OF asking ex-
orbitant prices for the lands made vaiu-
able by them. This retarded their devel-
opmeni. and one after another of the irri-
CATION companies went into the hands OF
receivers, on account of no. being able TO
pay the interest on their bonded debt.
The process Of reorganization has been
going on for several years past. and 1t is
believed that within a short time nearly
all Of the companies viii be reorsanized
The owners Of these properties have re-
allied the mistake that was made in put
ting high prices upon the lands. and have
learned that low prices and consequently
rapid settlement will yield more prositable
results. The Sunnys.de canal, in the
Yakima valley, which is the largest in the
state, watering 5000 acres of first-ciass
land. Is All illustration OF the change that
has taken place. These lands were for
merly sold at s55 an acre, but were re-
duced about six months ago to $50 per
acre. with the result that sales nave been
stimulated, new settlers are coming In,
and a dormant enterprise has taken on
new life and has most encouraging
future.
The Crops That Thrive.
The irr.gahie lands are located princi-
pally in the counties OF Kittilas, Yakima.
Franklin and Douglas. The soil Is a de-
composed lava Of great depth and mex
haustible fertility. The climate is mild
and the range OF products extensive
There are no better fruit lands in the
world. Alfalfa is sure and profita Die
crop. Hops raised on these lands COM
mand y premium. owing to their freedom
from the louse pest. All kinds of vege
tables yield abundantly, especially root
vegeta bles, 20 which the loose and porous
soil seems to be especially ADAPTED.
The Northern Pacific Railway Company
conducted a series OF experiments last year
sugar beet culture on the irrigated
lands In the Yakima valley. the results
OF which were published by the state
agricultural college in bulletin No. 81.
The average Of s.xty-eight different sam
plies that were analysed is as follows:
Sugar in juice, II per cent; sugar Ia
beet, 10 per cent; purity. $50 per cent.
Opening for Sugar Factory.
When IL Is considered that these figures
include the Analysis of beets that were
harvested before they had matured and
that not single ore OF the forty farmers
who raised the beets hal any previous
experience IN sugar beet culture, The ex-
celent results that were obtained will be
better appreciated. Ii has been confident
ly stated by competent judges that there
are no lands better adapted 10 sugar beet
culture than the irrigated lands of the
Yakima valley. Its advantages for tbs
establishment o. sugar beet factory arc
such that they cannot long be overlooked
by capitalists. The high grade beets pro-
duced on these irrigated lands, the cheap
fuel from nearby mines. sixty-iive miles
distant, the long working season. abumd-
ance OF pure wafer and limestone. fur
nish ideal conditions and insure the sue
cessfui and profitable operation Of fac
tory located in this valley.
The perpetual SHOWS Of the Cascade
mountains are never-faillng source or
supply fer the Yakima and Wenatchee
rivers and their numerous tributaries. II:
the valleys Of which are located the
greater portion Of the isrigabIe lands.
Later. when IL becomes necessary. the
numerous lakes and other natural resser-
vo,rS in ths Cascade mountains can be
utilized at small expense Ia conserve the
moisture for use on ands stiil 10 be re-
ella med.
Artesian Water Flows.
In the Mckee valley. a few rnilss north
east ~ the citv Of North Yakima. is To-
Gated the only ariesian basin from which
water = derived for irrigation purposes III
the state when the FIRST well was drilled
in this dlstric; a few years ago II vas
looked upon Il piece of folly, as X did
rot seem possible from a geological stand
point iha; a flowing we'll could lie ob-
tanned After the We'll had been sunk and
a splendid flow OF water obtained. !, WAS
then predicted that II would 40. he per-
ruauenl. and TIA: as other wells were sunk
IN fhe Z strict -h.s flow would decrease.
There are now about a dCzsn c0npistsd
wells. all furnishing an excellent supply
Of water and new wel.s are being drilled
continually There has been a consider
able fnfi1x OF immigration. mostly Hol-
iaudeFs and French Canadians. 'n,o the
Mckee artesiaa district during the past
year. and this district. which ianeulsaesi
during the period Of genera. depression,
Is making rapid progress.
Great Variety of Crops.
The range 0: crops that can be pro
duced IA this character ~ sol! IS I'm =
only b. temperature Experience teaches
that small farms highly cuttita tet are ne
most profitable on irrigated lands, and a
cyrenty-aere farm properly handled in
suTees prosperity unjeSs f9r da.Ey.ng or