The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-03-06

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eff the railways are trying to give
the people an object lesson, re-
marked the prominent citizen, why
I guess Yakima can establish lit
tie kindergarten for the railways"
And next day North Yakima,
Washington, sailed forth, held up
and iconfiscated q long trainload Of
Northern Pacific coal--and paid for
about one-third of it.
The railways monetary loss is re-
garded lightly by some Of the citi-
sens. "It's small fine for the COM
pany's neglect and general cussed-
ness" but the city's honorable bus
mess men regret the moral effect Of
this feature Of the historic raid, and
It's results to the reputation Of the
town.
It is not the purpose Of this arti-
Gle to throw more bricks at the rail-
ways, though 1t may shy peanut
shell or two at both sides. But the
story of the picturesque episode and
it, causes is interesting and rather
instructive.
North Yakima is one of the finest
types of northwestern towns. It was
built by irrigation. Seventeen years
ago most of its site and the wide
sweep of surrounding valley was
sag-brush and bunchgrass. Then
came the Sunnyside ditch Ca North
ern Pacific enterprise), which
spread a portion of the waters of
the Yakima over many thousands Of
acres Of volcanic ash" soil--richest
and deepest in the country. Settlers
were invited to come in and take up
tracts of ten acres, and upwards, on
long time and easy payments. They
came, and soon the desert vanished
In it's place bloomed apple, peach
and prune orchards, wonderful fields
Of alfalfa and record-breaking crops
Of the finest potatoes in the world.
The town, at first "wide-open"
frontier hamlet, rapidly developed
into the present-day beautiful city
Of 10000 inhabitants, splendid
schools, high license, Carnegie IL
brary, numerous prosperous banks.
good hotels, substantial mercantile
houses and fine church structures.
Its wide streets, excellent light and
water systems, well-edited daily
newspapers and other advantage.
are also the pride of it's people and
of the agricultural population of
some $4,000 tributary to it.
There is no suggestion of the un-
tanned. wide-sombreroed, jingling-
spurred west about this peaceful COM
munity that almost wrecked a train
and freebooted q thousand tons Of
coal.
Some time ago the federal gov
eminent took over the original ditch
that began the development Of the
Yakima valley, extending and includ-
ing it with larger irrigation sys-
tenn. This, together with certain
private projects now under way, or
In contemplation, means further
great increase and pm sperity to Yak
ina with the extension OF its tribu-
tary agricultural and horticultural
region.
Naturally the Northern Pacific
looks with jealous eye upon the
threatened encroachment OF the mys
terious North Coast railway into this
hitherto exclusively Northern Paci-
&c territory. 1t has fought. and is
fighting. with every device and wea-
pom in the brains and hands Of its
able counsel, the right-of-way pro-
gress Of the North Coast.
But the ungrateful inhabitants
view with anything but alarm the
approach of a competitive line. I'VE
shall have plenty of cars. them" they
say. to bring us coal and carry our
products to market"
At the time this article is being
written many scores of thousands Of
tons of alfalfa are heaped in stacks.
and sixty per cent Of the great pota-
i. to crop is stored in pits. shrinking
daily in weight. while prices are
highest, because the farmers cannot
get cars. Hence the popular party
CRY at the last election was "Hooray
for the North Coast roadl'' It
boosted o, 4. Fschtsr. banker. into