The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-04-11
KNOCKERS ARE
HURTING CITY
NOW LAND SHARKS ARE ABROAD
Board Trains East of Spokane and
Spread Tales of Bad Climate
and Poor Valley Land.

Many of the people who frequent
the depot when the trains from the
east are arriving, have noted the
very small number of people that
leave the trains at this station. In
quiry among the individual passen-
gers yesterday developed the fact
that there are many means being
adopted by both Seattle and Spokane
real estate men to take the wind
out of the sails of North Yakima.
'Hhe means that are said to have
been used are pronounced both I'M
fair and dirty.
According to the stories of those
who are passing through, agents of
the Spokane men are getting on the
trains east of that station, inquiring
all through the train where each
and every party expects to locate,
looking at their tickets and getting
all the information they can. Then,
it is said, they begin to tell of the
great advantages of settling in and
around Spokane.
Those who have heard the stories
of the land sharks, state that this
part of their spiel" is not so detri-
mental to the welfare of the valley
as the fact, that they like to get a
prospective Yakima valley immi-
grant and tell him false and SLAM
derous tales about the unhealthy
climate of this valley. They tell
things they know to be untrue and
their wild and unprincipled lies have
been instrumental in keeping many
people, otherwise favorably impress
ed, from even paying particular at
tention to the soil or general aspect
of the valley.
II never saw such desert land in
my life," said one passenger yester-
day. "You certainly have nothing to
show in the way of agricultural
lands that you have tried to make us
believe in the east"
This man admitted that he had
been advised to note the lay of the
land as he passed through and that
the story of the real estate agent
had been verified with his own eyes.
"You have nothing but sage
brush in this country" he continued,
"and l have always been led to be-
lieve that nothing could be raised
where such stuff is so prolific
DR.. A. Helton says that he has
heard several men tell of this meth
cd of work and suggests that steps
be taken to stop it.
At Spokane, Seattle knockers
get aboard the train and start their
TRADE of abuse on the valley. Their
scheme is the same as the Spokane
men. They boost their own country
and tell prospective homeseekers the
same story, full OF Misrepresentation
and untruth.
There is one satisfaction that you
folks have, said travelling man who
is familiar with this country, land
that is that the best of the people
who go through here will not settle
permanently till they have thorough
ly Investigated the situation for them
selves. Many of these people have
through tickets, and they are not
looking for homes through car win
dows. Neither are they believing all
they hear about this country from
wildcat land spectators. The
cream of these people will wake up
and wonder how much could have
been said about this country with
out some truth back of it. Most of
them will drift back here, and then is
when you folks will get in your
work."
Meantime, why would 1t not be a
good idea for the real estate men of
this city t. combine and send some
one to Spokane to investigate the ac-
tual conditions?
Inc report ursl redCheu the ner-
aid as a result OF the following anon
ymous communication:
There has been quite little talk
about town to the effect that Spokane
boosters and Seattle real estate men
had been through all of the immi-
grant trains during the past week
and had knocked this country. A
number of prominent business men
have heard of It. / went through
oen of the traisn today and itner-
viewed a number Of travellers in re-
gard to the matter. They said that
several agents had gone through