The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-08-05
WHAT IRRIGATION HAS DONE
FOR The YAKIMA DISTRICT
Joel Shoemaker Tells What He Has
Seen In the Irrigated Valley
of the Yakima

ior the Tacoma papers, has been visiting
the Yakima and Sunnyside sections of
the county and has the following to say
in his letter to the Tacoma Ledger of
this favored section:
THE annual harvest is well under
way in the eastern Yakima valley.
Scores of large alfalfa stacks may be
seen in every direction. This represents
the first cutting of that important hay
crop. Much of it is being baled for the
markets of Puget Sound. The prices are
satisfactory and the farmers are pleased.
There is IA noticeable scarcity of desir-
able help as the large percentage of peo-
pie are owners of land and buyers of
labor instead of wage-earners.
This county occupies a section to it.
self which is without parallel in the
great Northwest 1t is series of pros
porous colonies maintained by one large
artificial waterway-the Sunnyside can
al. Irrigation is the acknowledged king
of the desert Alfalfa is the great I'M
crowned monarch of vegetation. The
story of development is more like
real estate novel than life reality.
Six years ago almost the whole country
was an undisturbed sagebrush plain.
The coyotes and long cared ackrabbits
owned the broad eXpanse of sand and
greasewood. Its value was not reckoned
sideration for arid lands without irri-
CATION canals.
with the opening of the irrigation
era came a change. The desert was
converted into a paradise of homes
Flowers grew on the spots once marked
by shifting sands From a barren waste
the district has become a dwelling place
for 5000 prosperous people. There are
10000 acres under successful cultva-
ton. Men are making from 10 to 20
per cent on investments every year.
and charging their possessions of earth
The crops include everything that can
he grown in temperate cline. Some
farmers are making fortunes from al
talfa. Others have accumulated indie
pendence from dairy farms. Many are
growing the big red apples which are
shipped to the cities of the Orient and
found on the tables of the crowned heads
of Europe
"A great inland river supplies the
moisture for growing crops and the
water for domestic and culinary pur-
poses. 1t carries volume of water
equal to 600 cubic feet per second from
the Yakima river This is enough to ir-
rigate the 10000 acres under the canal
and make of the country one continuous
city extending for sixty miles from the
source. Tit rainfall is less than eight
inches annually, and thirty-three days
IN one year constitute the period during
which this slight moisture precpitates
The sun beats down like constant rays
tary system. 1t gives red cheeks to
the apples and peaches and adds hun
dred fold to the growth of vegetation
"One of the chief factors in the devel-
opment of this arid waste has been the
great flocks of farm poultry. Every
family has a small collection of fowls
Some own turkeys, ducks, chickens and
geese. This feathered tribe has been a
constant source of income and has pur-
chased the necessities and comforts of
life while the pioneer ranchers were in
the midst of a struggle for existence.
No official statistics are obtainable, but
the stories of the first settlers would
make volumes in favor of having poul-
try on the farm. The fowls have sup
piled eggs and meats for home and
market. They have acted as natural
living insecticides and devoured the para
sites of field and garden. The income
from poultry has added many hundred
fold to the wealth of the people.
Official figures given out by the de
partment of agriculture show that the
poultry industry in the United States
exceeds that of all others of animal
origin, except the dairy and animals
sold for slaughter. 1t represents over 10
per cent of the entire animal produc-
tions from the farms. The total of
1921 ,l7S,247 for one year exceeds that of
wool, which brings only s45,723,739. The
eggs valuation is wonderful That and