The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-05-01
Water Turned in Ditch of Hanford Irrigation
and Power Company

Those who have seen the remarkable devel
opment of the Wenatchee and Yakima Valleys
and have witnessed how quickly and how wonder
fully great wdernesses have been transformed
with almost miraculous rapidity into the most
productive garden spots of the world, will appre
ciate the full significance of the statement that
by the time this edition of The Ranch is Off the
press, water will be turned into the bitches OF the
great tract of land owned by the Hanford lrrlga-
ton and Power Co., and the crucial step will have
been taken in the beginning of the development Oh
a vast and productive empire in Central Washing
ton which will some day be as famous as either
the Wenatchee or the Yakima Valleys
Judging from the way settlers have been flock
ing into this district during the early spring
months, the important stage in the development
of this tremendous irrigated section Is attracting
attention all over the United States. The town
of Hanford metropolis and headquarters OF the
great community, has been growing by leaps ana
bounds, and presents at this time scene wnlcn
is only equaled in activity by that at Dawson City
during the Klondike rush. or at Bonesteel, South
Dakota, previous to the opening OF the great In
dian reservation to public settlement Large areas
of the rich productive lands have already been
sold to settlers, most of whom have already taken
up their abode there, planted their orchards and
farms, and nave Doen waiting Only lno hoAioAA'
when the water would be turned on and the farm
ing activities would commence.
Location of the Lands.
Within the last dozen years. the Columbia
River basin has become one OF the most cele-
brated farm and fruit regions in the world. In
its arid districts are stored all the elements or
fertility, and for unknown ages, the vitalizing
systematic irrigation form and maintain the most
luxurious vegetation and fruitage, have been &C.
cumuating awaiting the kiss of the living waters
to set the giant forces of nature to work. Sit
uated in the center of this wonderful country,
where the soil is the richest and the climate the
best adapted to fruit growing and farming is the
Hanford Irrigation and Power Company's tract,
comprising $4,000 acres OF the richest irrigation
land in the world The tract is located on the
west bank of the Columbia River, 35 miles north
of Kennewick, in the county of Benton, Wash
ington-practically in the center of the state and
almost midway between the already famous fruit
Paradses Of Yakima and Wenatchee Twenty
thousand acres of this land is now under ditch
and ready to grow its harvests of golden fruit
The land lies almost level with just enough
slope to make irrigation and drainage perfect.
The soil is a rich deep mellow, decomposed ba-
saltic rock mingled with dsintegrated volcanic
ash, welded in the dry and brooding suns or the
centuries. 1t is all soil; there are no rocks to
interfere with the simple operation of tilling and
preparing the orchard or farm
Climate Adapted to Fruit Growing.
According to the United States Surveyor Gen.
eral this Is the mildest climate in Eastern Ore
gon or Washington insuring the cultivation Of al
most tropical fruits with pure air that is almost
unrivaled even in the foothills of the Sierra Ne
vada mountains Although the mercury has been
known to go as high as 1O5 degrees in the height