The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-10-15
ROBERT TURNER EDITOR.
WAS 1T A DREAM?

books and papers in front of me. | had
just finished reading a chapter on tn {
progress of the times and fell into d
deep brown study. To my right sus-
pended on the wall was map of Kitti
tas valley, and in some way my eyes
seemed riveted on that particular spot.
| must have fallen into trance later
on. for it seemed that was visiting in
Spokane, time had taken leap and it
was now 1905 Having finished my
business in the city of Spokane, |
wendell my way to the depot to be on
time fo.. the west coast limited. bound
for Seattle. When the flyer came |
at once proceeded to step into the
coach and select an easy reclining
chair. In front of me was couple of
middle aged well dressed men, men
who had every appearance of educa-
ton and refinement. No sooner had
versation with those men as to the
vast wealth and resources of the state.
Our train was speeding along at the
rate of 80 miles an hour and as it took
less than six hours to run from
Spokane to Ellensburg we were soon
to the Columbia river. We passed
through numerous towns, and small
villages and soon the conductor dis.
turbed our conversation by crying
Lind, Lind, Lind. Change cars for
Pasco and minor points on the old road
bed" Lind was a beautiful town of
about 5000 population with fine school
building churches, banks and a dozen
or more fine brick blocks and numl err
of fine brown stone front residences.
Reaching the Columbia, Mr.. A. and
Mr.. B. were much surprised with
the beautiful rolling waters and re-
called to mind and expression the
number of fine salmon dinners they
had relished and wondered if the fish
rs they so much enjoyed were caught
anywhere near this particular point.
Across the great bridge we sped on
until all of sudden our train darted
through a tunnel, this being the first
reminder that we would soon be usher
ed into the famous Kittitas valley, a
valley that is known far and wide fer
its fine fruits and vegetables and it's
enormous yields of all the cerals and
hay adapted to this wonderful life
giving and life prolonging climate.
Soon we were waited across canal
coursing down which was two or three
small tug vessels, each pulling barge
or scow of hay or grain. 'What stream
is this?" asked both of my companions
at the same time. That, gentleman,
is the Kittitas canal. 1t is from this
canal that 100, 900 acres of land is irri-
g tied. This canal has made Kittitas
valley famous
1t has put her name in the mouth of
every tribe and nation. Here the con-
ductor again interrupted us by ANNOUNCE
ing that we were about to enter the
beautiful city of Ellensburg with her
population of -, ZOO, with all the mod
ern Improvements and accommodations
street cars electric and cable, were
running in all directions, newsboys
selling the dailies both of Seattle Ia
coma and Spokane as well as the
local dailies were to be seen on every
street corner. Hundreds of wagons
loaded with fruits, hay, grain and pro-
duce generally, could be seen going in
every direction / counted more t'.an
250 stores, some of which were three
or four stories high. four large school
baildingS, with one of the finest state
normal buildings | have ever look d
upon. The new,boys were selling the
Daily Dawn which was Just Off the
press announcing that out of state
normal class of 250, l25 had Just eradu-
ated at , p. III. The attendance of the
normal at that time being more than
1900 The old court house had been
remodeled aud is now an elegant build
ing surrounded by one of the most
beautiful yards that my eyes ever
looked upon. Numerous flower gar.
dens and fountains were to be seen in
the ward and the fragrance from the
flowers seemed to make us think we
bad landed in the garden of Eden.
The merchants were doing a rushing