The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-08-31

$ss4.s4 an acre during the entire pc
siod. his year, he said, he sold 5000
boxes for $40s1.
H. B. Scudder in speaking of the
Valleys of the Yakima High Line pro-
ject touched upon the fact that the
promoters of the scheme were not
asking a penny from the governm ent
r the construction of their canals,
but merely wanted a legal contract
for enough water to be taken from
the Kittitas projects ditch. He showed
that forty-four million dollars would
be added to the land values Of Yaki-
ma and Benton counties by the high
line. which would transform land now
grazing ground early in the season to
land worth $3.50 an acre.
Human Element in Situation.
H. M. Gilbert, in presenting a
statement from the trustees OF the
Tieton Water Users association,
touched upon the human element in
their request that So, be Immediately
appropriated for the completion of
the expectation that the project would
be completed in 1898, and are now
watering those trees by hauling water
TO them al an expense of $22 an acre
per year. Some Of these young men
he said are working in the stores of
the city or engaging in anything that
will tide them over this hard period.
He said that if any proof were need
ed that the Tieton land would quick
ly repay the money advanced by the
government the fact that 1922 an acre
was spent to preserve trees planted
should be convincing proof.
GAS you gaze upon our beautiful
sage-brush city, with its bank deposits
Of $5,000,000 and its substantial
buildings, you may think that this
country has wealth enough, and that
we do not need very much of this
money that is at your disposal But
1 want to say that we are not asking
for money for our banks; we are ask
ing for help for the man with the
hoe on the sage-brush hills, and we
say that a word from you will more
than double the number Of our farm
homes and create "a families to the
square mile, where in many OF the
other projects the best that may be
expected is 10 or 16."
Engineer Asks Questions.
Col. Biddle then responded with the
statement that he was sure that the
engineers would agree with the people
Of Yakima, after time enough had
elapsed for them to fully investigate,
that this country is the greatest spot
on earth. But I would like to ask
!, -4lA
est problem that confronts US is
whether the various projects will re-
turn the money expended on them.
should like to hear what other lands
besides fruit lands will produce. for
certainly all the land in the entire
valley win not be planted to orchard.
but some will grow in hay and other
crops.
DR. Henry called upon Jack Splawn
to answer the question. Mr.. Splawn
stated that alfalfa would produce $50
an acre net per year at a very con-
servative estimate. Potatoes. he said,
could be produced in quantities vary
ing between 10 to 10 tons to the acre.
with an average price Of $40 or $12
a ton.
Col. Biddle then propounded anoth-
er question:: at will be several years
before these orchards will be in bear
ing. How will the man make his first
payments?"
DR.. Henry replied that the history
Of this community Is the answer. fer
almost every fruit grower bought his
place with a small down payment, and
not only made a living between the
rows Of trees, but also made his pay
ments. In addition to this. there lie
such great scarcity Of labor that a
man could plant out his trees and
make his living with no difficulty by
working for other ranchers. H. NJ.
Gilbert then stated that he started in
here in this country ~ years ago. and
that there had not been year In
which his ranch did not pay expenses
The first year he grew potatoes. and
the second melons. He stated that, Of
course, he would not guarantee that
a poor business man could make a iiv-
ing and his payments for water right,
but that an average farmer would
have no difficulty.