The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-10-19
A LOVELY GEM IN
A MAGNIFICENT SETTING
An Article Praising the Yakima Valley
From the Pen of a Delighted visi-
tor-Resources and Wealth.


leavin gthe impress of his warm kiss
in bright red colors upon peacn. apple
and pear, through this beautiful valley;
ever challenging the admiration of the
tenderfoot to whom it is a surprise and
revelation. But | no longer wonder at
the productive possibility of this valley.
As | see tangible evidence everywhere OF
happy combination of physical forces
that are working jointly to supply the
constituent life. namely: rich sail Ia
volcanic ash) abundance of water; favor
able environment and high northern lat
itude, for (let me say wherever irriga-
ton, intelligent brain and stalwart
Drawn unite to promote an agricultural
proposition, there can never be any
thing problematical a to results. for
the husbanlman is sure to be rewarded
for hi. labor When | View this broad
eXpanse of rich agricultural land. stretch
ing as it does away down to the great
Columbia, possessing such wonderful
ultimate wealth of cereal. fruit, vegeta
BILE and grasses. an AGGREGATE product al
most beyond computation. it almost
staggers me and no longer wonder that
the twin godes>es Pomona and Ceres
have so many devoted wor>hiper, in tais
lovely valley OF the Yakima, for there
i, everywhere profusion of rich golden
fruit of superlative quality. finding a
ready market. domestic or foreign.
The valley is not only shipping its
immense fruit crop to nearby markets.
but to the Atlantic seaboard cities and to
the Orient as well. laying under contri-
button the people beyond the seas. at
taching to the proposition international
as well A. domestic and national trade
considerations of great moment to the
fruit growers of the Yakima valley. and
as the word is its market and constantly
broadening. tnere is Il constantly lessen
ING liability to over production, which
in my Judgment can never occur Re
member there ar no off years (under the
conditions namely to the fruit growers.
Now. Just think of it-profits of from
$500 to $500 have been made off of an
acre of apple orchard and very much
more on small fruits. r. II. Hardcil.
living four miles east of Zillah. sold last
wear from seven acres of nine year old
trees 5000 boxes of selected fruit and
several hundred boxes of inferior stock.
Peaches, aprcots and plums are staple
| fruit crop here. with the size and color
Of the California fruit. and tAe delicious
flavor of the Delaware product. Grapes.
pears and cherries of every known vari-
ETY. are prolific here. Alfalfa is one of
the remarkable crops of the Yakima val
/ lev. aS it i here it attains the highest
/ perfection. often producing from : to .
/ tons for the three crops harvested for
! the wear. ana when once seeded lasts for
a period of - wears It is one of the
most valuable crops to the farmer for it
/ not onlymakes fine feed for horses. cattle
and sheep. but is fine pork producer.
a. hog, have been fattened entirely upon
/ alfalfa. and marketed in fine condition.
/ Poultry thrive upon it and bees feed
upon it. making a choice quality of
honey. foraging upon it from June to
/ October An abundance of vegetables
are grown here of enormous size, but
solid and of fine flavor Potatoes often
reach a yield of 800 bushels per acre of
superior quality. Asparagus. celery.
onions. rhubarb, are all proitably
grown. The hop industry i large one
in which there is large capital proftably
invested. a. the climate and soil of the
Yakima valley is peculiarly adapted to
mop culture.
Now as to the approximate value of
/ the 100000 acres comprised in the area
/ Of the Yakima valley. when it snail have
been put into high state of cultiva-
tion, i, a thing hard to predict, for diyi-
nation i, a prerogative denied to mortals
and only enjoyed by the gods. S
will not be brave enough to venture an
estimate other than to say beyond com
putation Now let us imagine 800 rail
road tracks paralleling each other for
distance of loo miles. from tne head of
the valley to the great Columbia river
with 200 trains running half a mile
apart for safety with 20 cars in each
train. giving an aggregate carrying ca
! pacity of 10000 cars each with %
600 pound load. What 10 you thinf of
/ it, l. this ballooning? A prominent
mathematician of Yakima thinks not
and considers thi, approximation As very
/ conservative and says ! have been very
rational in my calculations. Be my
/ figures wise or otherwise. | will say this
Of the Yakima valley: 1t is lovely
gem in a magnificent setting. rivaling in
beauty the work of any artist with brush
or camera.
/ Let me say right here. before for
/ oct IL I npvcr in any mort of C.oIs- ,,ros,,