The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-04-15
RENTER PROBLEM A PUZZLE.
High Land Values Bring Question tn
Attention of Big Owners.

1 High land values in and about
North Yakima have brought to the
front the problem of the renter, and
many owners of acreage in various
valleys are now considering what at
titude they shall take.
Advertising of this valley and the
spreading of the knowledge regard
! ing Washington, and the natural
drift from the larger cities, have
brought to North Yakima and neigh
| boring towns great many people
who are not able TO purchase land.
On the other hand, those who have
| bought in times past and held for
investment are not prepared to sell
below the prevailing prices. The re-
suit is number Of people who are
not able TO buy and number of land
holders who are not willing to sell
under the present conditions.
Many of the large landholders are
| themselves cultivators, the majority
being orchardists, and are in a posi-
ton to hold on. Under the present
conditions they are accepting, II not
looking, with favor on the renter.
There is large amount of land in
this vicinity being rented this year,
either for cash or share of the
crop. This is particularly true of the
Selah valley G.. G.. Mitchell, who Is
large holder of acreage there, has
some 80 Japanese who are cultivat-
ing on a percentage basis.
Mr.. Mitchell found himself, early
this season, under the necessity of
cutting out some so acres Of hops,
that crop having failed to justify it
self on the high-priced land. He
could find no one to buy, and accord
ingly made the next best arrange
ment. that of leasing. Neighbors
threatened trouble, but a week or two
after the Japs got to work one after
another of those neighbors came in
and asked If they, too, could not find
Japs, or good men of any nationality,
who would share the land with them.
The result is that now quite a large
colony of renters is to be found in
the Selah valley.
Seek Responsible Men.
The same conditions prevail to a
more or less extent in the other val
leys which radiate from North Yaki-
ma. Promising men, the type which
might be expected in time to become
buyers, are being sought and used in
this manner Ira P. Englehart has
several men who have taken tracts
from him and will crop them on
shares this year 10 determine later
whether they will remain as owners.
Some of the land owners are inclined
to balk at this form of progress. de-
claring it TO be a wrong condition to
establish here.
! One result of the renter undertak-
ing will be enormously increased
acreage in the valley this season in
the old farm crops. Onions will be
produced in greater quantity than
ever before, this being particularly
true of the territory where the Jap
anese are located. Potatoes, OF
course, will receive attention, but 9TH
er vegetables will be foremost.
At the state fair last year the farm
/ product exhibit, while much superior
to that of preceding years, was really
but a fine illustration of what the
country is now doing in that respect.
, If the exhibit was a criterion, the
J caulifiower is not grown in this val
ley The renter, in this respect, as
we'll as in the greater one Of estab-
fishing a landlord, will bring about a
different state of affairs.