The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-02-17


400 miles to the state capital, hold
ing meetings to influence legislation.
Mr.. Bowers had charge of the
ushering force and from comments
we heard was handling it very sue
cessfully. We found the Bowers
family delightfully."- domiciled in a
large. modern home in one of the
best parts Of the city. They were
all busy, healthy and happy. In fact,
this seemed to be the situation with
all of the Redwood Falls contingent
that we met.
DR.. Schlegel has secured a good
foothold. This, with a few fortu-
nate investments, makes life look
rosy to him in Spokane.
Ralph Kumm has a good position
and is about to secure an advance in
the house, including an advance in
salary, indicating that he is making
good.
John Anderson came to Spokane
and visited with US. The country is
using him we'll financially and the
years sit lightly on his shoulders.
We telephoned others of the Red
woodites and heard of them through
our mutual friends and could hear
nothing but good cheer and success
of them all.
In business way, Spokone i'm
pressed US favorably. Undoubtedly
there is a great future ahead for
her. A growing, pushing city offers
great opportunity for any man, es-
pecially the young man with pluck
and daring. Still, to our mind the
life Of city cannot be compared to
the life Of the country as we have it
at Redwood Falls.
Our next stop was on the Columbia
river, about 125 miles southwest of
Spokane. We drove through an
irrigated district known as the Ken
newick and Alfalfa on the Columbia.
The soil is very sandy, and when
watered freely yields enormously.
1t impresses US as being very similar
to Southern California. Kennewick
has irrigated for years. From
towns of a few hundred few years
ago, Kennewick and Pasco have
sprung to cities OF 1000 to $500. The
results obtained in fruit orchards in
that time are quite wonderful, if
the stories we hear are to be believ-
ed. Strawberries were shipped from
Kennewick in April last year. Land
is held from $500 per acre for sand
and sage brush to 5000 per acre for
developed orchards.
Alfalfa, Is miles south, on the
Columbia, is comparatively a new
proposition. Three hundred thous-
and dollars has been spent on an ir-
rigation ditch from the Walla Walla
river, IA miles above. This water
is supplemented by S35, 900 pump
ing plant on the Columbia. connect
ed by underground pipes to the
main ditch on the hill side. The
hackers of the enterprise evidently
have confidence and nerve, evidenced
by their expenditure. Most of the
land is "desolation" itself sage
brush and sand dunes.
The town of Alfalfa has just
started. Two dozen buildings oc-
cupy the townsite and a large num-
Der were building while we were
there. Labor was scarce. Carpen-
tiers are getting 45 to so cents per
hour, common labor Is cents per
hour, men and teams five to six dol
lars per day. It's few citizens were
emblematic of the west. Four rail-
roads cross at Alfalfa. They have
boats north and south on the Column
and can't see anything except
metropolis on what is now sage
brush. The two year old orchards
showed great progress. They are
putting in large amount of Euro
pean grapes and the vines produced
few grapes the first season. Peach
trees set out last snring, we were
informed, had few peaches on last
fall. The day we were there it was
80 in the sun. We imagine it gets
very hot in that valley in the sum-
mer, but all over Washington they
assure us "You don't mind the sum-
mer heat nor the winter rains"