The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-08-01

chardS ana al1alfa 1eluS makes Il ldSI
ing impression upon the minds OF all
beholders. 1t now has a population
of 1900 of the most progressive class
of American farmers. 1t comprises the
following towns: Zillah, Granger, Out
look, Sunnyside and Grandview. 1t has
a branch line of the Northern Pacific
railroad running through it, four
flourishing banking institutions, many
substantial business houses, and its
numerous schools and churches will
challenge comparison with any other
agricultural district in the world.
During the past irrigation season
40, 900 acres of land were served with
water, producing crops to the value
of $2,500000 or an average return OF
$62.50 per acre conservatively estimat-
ed, not including the value of the in
crease of livestock. The staple crops
of the country are fruits such as ap-
pies, pears, peaches, prunes, apricots,
grapes, berries and other small fruits,
hops, alfalfa, timothy and clover; po-
tatoes and other vegetables; dairy
products and livestock.
With the entrance of the govern
ment into the field of irrigation de-
velopment in Washington, new era
has dawned. The irrigation works
now contemplated and under way here
in the Yakima valley and elsewhere
in the state, are of the broadcast and
most comprehensive character, far eX-
ceeding in these respects anything
that was likely to have been accom-
plished by private undertaking. In this
valley alone the government projects
contemplated will add more than 2OO,-
900 acres to the present irrigated area,
thereby as a direct result more than
doubling our present taxable wealth
and population.
The arid valleys of the west, from
an irrigation standpoint, may be
placed in two classes: First where
the area of land exceeds the water
supply. and second where the water
supply is in excess of the area of land
to be served. Most valleys are in the
former class, and to this rule the Yaki-
ma valley, notwithstanding our form
er belief to the contrary, is no excep-
ton.
The Importance, therefore, OF con-
serving water, as contemplated by
government regulation, through the
enforcement of economical use in all
ways, by the incubation of improved
methods in it's application to the soil,
and by frequent civilizations as sub
stitute for frequent irrigations, not
only in its direct bearing upon the pro-
duction of larger and better crops
from lands served, but indirectly in
the reclamation of large additional
areas from present sources of sup
ply, cannot be too emphatically dwelt
upon.
From 1890 to 1900. covering the
period of early corporate irrigation
development, the population OF the
county increased, according to the fed
eral census, from 4, 429l to 13, 1852, or 3O4
per cent, which in passing, it may be
remarked, was by far the largest rate
of increase shown by any county in the
state. North Yakima increased from
1885 to 3,125, that is to say, little
more than doubling it's population dur
ing the ten year period. The assessed
valuation of the county during the
same period increased in round fig
ures one million dollars.
From 1900 to 1907 (the figures for
the latter year being based on the
state statistician's estimates) the pop
ulation of the county increased from
IS, 1852 to 3S,765, or 2SS per cent, again
showing by far the largest rate of in
crease in the state. North Yakima
increased from 3,135 to 1880, or 1868
per cent, which, it will be noted, is a
considerably higher rate than the
county at large, although not abnor-
NAL in a period of rapid industrial
growth.
Mentally reviewing the development
of the past, weighing with the scales
of judgment the projects now in pro-
gress or in contemplation by the Unit
ed States government and by private
% ,ital curuauino with q SanQIIinp eve