The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-12-21
THE SNAKE RIVER VALLEY
IS COMING TO THE FRONT
Will E. Willis, Formerly of This City,
Tells of the Wonderful Progress it
is Making.

| VIII +. Willis, formerly editor OF the
"Washingtonian," but now publisher of
the Charleston Republican" was ming
ling with old-time friends here Satur-
day. He stopped off between trains
while enroute to southern California,
where he goes to spend the holidays
with his family. After being away from
North Yakima for over year. he was
able to notice quite number of substan
tial changes in this city and he thinks
this place is bound to have great future
before it,
Editor Willis halls from the new town
of Charleston. which is located in the
celebrated Snake river valley. the irri-
gated region which so much resembles
the Yakima valley, and which. like our
own favored section. is coming very rap
/ idly to the front North Yakima citi-
zens will be doubly interested in it from
the fact that it may be said to be almost
wholly the outcome of the labors of E.
/ H. Libby, who was at one time engaged
in newspaper work in this city. Mr..
Mr.. Willis says to Mr.. Libby's individual
efforts is largely due the great success
which has been attained in that locality
/ Mr.. Libby, he says. had faith in tine big
undertaking from the start, but that
he had to labor long and hard, before
/ he could convince the doubling Thomas
es down east. As a matter of fact the
company was only incorporated for one
hundred dollars, until just recently, al
though the business had long since grown
to immense proportions. Now the capt.
tai stock is placed at two million dol
lars and it is all subscribed and taken,
indicating how desirable it is considered
by those seeking choice investments.
Originally about thirty-fve hundred
! acres were included in the irrigated sec
I ton, but now an additional four thous-
and acres has been procured and will at
once be placed under an immense ditch,
making that a very large irrigated tract.
/ That the lewiston Charleston company,
of which Mr.. Libby is president and al
/ so general manager, means business. is
evident from the fact that it is now pro-
ceeding to put in an elaborate system of
cement fumes and conf at the enor-
nous cost of a million and a half of dol
lars. Work on this gigantic undertake
ing will soon commence and will give en-
ployment to an army of workmen. Mr..
Libby visited and inspected the Sunny
side canal, and also examined the great
irrigation systems of California, and he
has had expert engineers at work per-
fecting the plans until now, he hopes to
nave one OF the most complete and per-
feet systems that can be found any
where.
Editor Willis tells of the rapid and
substantial growth of Charleston and
Vineland, the one section which has two
names. He says there are no vacant
houses or stores, but, on the contrary
that veritable building boom is on.
Many desirable eastern families are
coming there, while not few people
from Spokane and various eastern Wash
ington points come there to enjoy the
delightful winter climate, which rivals
California Health is so good that the
few physicians who are there spend a
part of their time in growing fruit. It
is a strange fact, but nevertheless true,
that there is not a mile of railroad in
the whole of Asotin county. in which
Charleston is located, and the leading
issue of the recent political campaign
was the railroad commission, both par
ties strongly advocating it in their plat
forms. While there is no railroad now
in that county, yet this condition WILL
so Mr.. Willis thinks, soon be thing of
the past, for a survey has already been
made for an electric line, and both the
Northern Pacific and o. r. & N. people
are preparing TO come into this very
! promising field, and with their coming
Editor Willis thinks there viii be such
boom as has never been heard of, in
that neck Of the woods.