The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-07-11


bureau of soils, united States depart
ment of agriculture upon the Gervais
tract, two and half miles south of
North Yakima, is a matter of vital in
terest to the people of the Yakima
country, as 1t is to the whole arid
northwest. In fact the Importance o.
the governments experimental work
in the Yakima valley, in its ultimate
relation to the preservation and fullest
development of this regions remark
able agricultural resources. is prob
ably appreciated by a deplorably small
number. Hence, with the two-fold OBJ
ject of drawing public attention 20 u
live subject of general interest and of
giving our readers something of an
insight into the work of the Yakima
station. the Herald presents this
morning the result of a recent investi-
cation of the matter, believing it will
be welcome and of distinct value.
According to the latest official re-
ports, in between ten and fifteen per
cent Of the areas of irrigated districts
in the United States surveyed by the
bureau of soils. alkali is a serious
menace to agriculture. Where ener-
getic and systematic efforts are not be-
ing made to stay the progress of this
dreaded accumulation, the affected
areas are gradually increasing in size
and must soon arouse the public to ac-
ton. Not only is the public health
menaced in such districts and the agri-
cultural products of the land lost, but
property values have shrunken enor-
mously. The losses already have run
up in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars and are increasing year by
year.
The story on the Yakima to date has
been In smaller measure and will con-
tinue to be, unless the warnings are
teeded and the remedy applied, the
story of the older settlements of the
desert, from the GASES of Oriental
Arabia to the picturesque valleys of
Occidental California. Everywhere 1t
has been the same. and everywhere the
effective remedy Is at hand. demanding
only application. In each Of the great
valleys of the San Joaquin in Cali
fornia. the Salt river in Arizona the
Salt lake in Utah and the Yellowstone
in Montana, large areas of the choic-
est districts have been transformed in
TO wastes of alkali. salt grass and salt
bushes where once orchards. gardens
and meadows gloried in their beauty
and wealth, now abandoned fields and
deserted buildings mark the desolation
wrought. And yet in each of these
famed valleys experiment stations sim
mar to that in the Yakima are engaged
In demonstrating clearly that alkali
is not king. but subject Where the
governments lead has been followed
the desert has again been made to
blossom as the rose" even as il did
ut the first liquid touch of water
Here in the Yakima a survey of the
Mckee and Ahtanum valleys, the dis
tricts most seriously affected by alkali,
Ave years ago showed considerable in
jury. or the eighty-five square miles
embraced. approximately fifteen per
cent, or thirteen square miles. were at
that time affected. the greater portion
being rendered useless except for salt
grass pasture. The most casual OBJ
server has only to travel over the low
err Ahtanum and the southwestern
portion OF the Mckee to note the dis
astrous results of alkali impregnation.
In not a few places former productive
farms have been either abandoned to
pasturage or entirely deserted; this
too. where such property lies almost
within touch of North Yakima and
would therefore be especially valuable
II in normal condition. There are so
many individual Instances of these de-
structive alkali advancements here
that specific mention is unnecessary
For miles the lower Ahtanum is given
over almost entirely to salt grass
Here and there in other spots along
the course OF the river and to much
lesser extent along its largest branch
es. the surface crusts give frequent
evidence OF the presence OF the deadly
alkali At Sunnyside the accumula-
lions are beginning to arouse serious
interest and already a system of drain
age has been installed which promises
some relief. The damage from alkali
in Yakima county cannot now be
stated IN less than six figures. and
even an approximate estimate of our
financial losses from this source would
doubtless shock those best informed
However, the area is still comparative
~ small and prompt and general ac-
ton can not only reclaim the districts
at present injured. but also very easily
prevent further deposits.
There is no better watered arid sec
ton in the west than this. but this very
condition, so fortunate II properly ad-
tusted, constitutes a serious danger II
these vast quantities OF water are not
controlled. Alkali is readily soluble
In water. hence moves In the soil in
whatever direction the water moves
This characteristic results in the ac-
emulation of aikaii IN natural basins
where the work of plant destruction
begins almost Immediately. Therefore
the easiest solution of the weighty
problem appears clearly to be good
drainage and the removal Of present
deposits by generous teaching. AT
least II Is upon this simple theory that
the soil experts OF the world are today
working. including those Of our own
government Government reports also
show that similar practice has been
carried on for n long period in arid
Africa with notable success. Of course
there are many differences as 10 drain
age and teaching methods. and some