The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-07-19
EARLIER DAYS RECALLED
Failure OF the Great Tobacco GROWING
and Cigar Manufacturing Bubble.
GAY D0lNGS IN BOON TINES
An Old Time Descriptive Article of Yakima
Puts The Herald Reporter Into
Reminiscent Mood Which He
With Difficulty Controls.
GAY D0INGS IN BOON TINES

desk of THE HERALD editor copy of the
Northwest Magazine for MAY 1889, in
which there is descriptive article on
North Yakima and surrounding country.
1t was written by G. NJ. Barton, at one
time editor of the Tacoma Ledger but now
long since dead, and is an exceedingly
interesting account of the then present
and prospects for the future
The Mckee farm was at that time the
star attraction shown to prospective set
tiers and to those who had capital for in
vestment, and the heaviest capitalists
were frequently entertained at Manager
ker's residence, where the popping
OF champaign corks created an efferves-
cence that forced open many tightly
bound purse. Mr.. Ker and wife were
delightful entertainers but occasionally
they entertained when it was not entire
ly matter OF pleasure to them, for there
was not clear title to all OF the 640O acres
OF land which comprised the great Mckee
farm and cattle ranges, and sometimes
Paul Schulze, who was then the arbiter
of the Northern Pacific land department
and whose promises regarding lands fire..
quently had the consistency of pie crust,
was not backward in his claims upon
MIR. ker's hospitality for his friends and
for those he was trying to enlist in his
enterprises. That was the time when
Boyd A. Cunningham was secretary and
treasurer OF the Mckee Company and
gayer spark or greater daredevil it would
be difficult to find. Money was dross In
his hands, and with his handsome face
and figure he was favorite with the
ladies', and when mounted on his horse,
Blue Dick, was certain to attract all eyes.
He left town with an exceedingly light
purse and has since been heard OF in
various parts of the world, including
South Africa-a brilliant, rolling stone
for which financial moss has no tenta-
cles. There were others among the
ranch crowd and among the citizens,
who formed coterie that would be hard
to duplicate in a western town where such
debonair, careless chaps were inclined to
/ drift.
The writer, however, is drifting long
way from the text of Barton's article as
names and incidents, facts and hopes
recall those days when all who We're in
the swim thought the world and the full
ness thereof was theirs. Mr.. Barton tells
how the late Hon. Joseph Jorganson,
ex-member of congress from Virginia
and then register OF the U. S. land office
at Walla Walla, suggested, after visiting
Yakima, that the soil and climate of this
section were peculiarly adapted to the
growing of tobacco. A sample OF the
soil was sent to the Smithsonian insti.
tute for analysis and, upon favorable
statement from Professor Henry, quite
an area of the Mckee plantation, as it
was then called, was devoted to tobacco.
Doc Bemus, an expert in the tobacco
business, WAS brought here to take
charge of this department and for three
years those citizens of Yakima who had
the welfare OF the country more at heart
than their personal preferences and
tastes were impelled to smoke the
"Moxee Belle" Flor de Yakima" or
the Fred R. Reed" for the tobacco was
manufactured into cigars and the sale of
Key West and imported goods fell off
wonderfully in this city under the pres
sure to support home industries Finally
the frost came and knocked out a crop
and then Mr.. ker announced that fur
abandoned. The accumulated stock Of
Yakima cigars suddenly struck terri
bly, depressed market and it is understood
were worked off in job lots in lumber and
railroad camps, while doc" Bemus Sc
cured job tending bar in the Monogram
saloon in Tacoma, where he still remains.
OF course Barton didn't say this. What
he did say was that The Mckee valley
is to be one of the greatest tobacco grow.
ing regions OF the country and will bring
vast wealth to the future state OF Wash
ington." Mr.. Ker is quoted in the same
article as follows: Tobacco growing is
a success. Here is where the money
will be made. We can raise 1000 pounds
to the acre. Experts say, and the flavor
and my taste tells me, that we come
nearer the taste of the imported tobacco
than any other section Of the country.
Three manufacturers were here who in