The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-06-29
HUNDREDS CO TO
SOAP LAKE
Soap Lake Fame Spread
Broadcast by Indians is
Proved by Whites.

Soap Lake, Wash, June 20
Tucked away in the sagebrush hills
of Grant county is the health resort
of Soap Lake. The lake itself is
several miles long by one mile wide.
The curative powers of the waters
were known to the Indians even be-
fore the white man came to these
parts, and its fame was spread broad
cast through the land With the COM
ing of the white man, sanitariums
were built, and the modern method
of advertising used, SO that over the
northwest there are few places where
the fame of Soap Lake is not known.
The lake derives it's name from
the peculiar taste of the waters,
which are strongly like soap. Its
curative powers are proven to be
good for many diseases to which the
flesh is heir, and hundreds every year
come to be healed. T
Location of Soap Lake.
Soap Lake lies within six miles of
Ephrata, the county seat of Grant
county. Formerly the transporta-
ton has all been from that town,
but now the Great Northern is put
ting in a station closer to the lake
so that travel will be easier. The
lake is PIT miles east of Seattle, and
122 miles west of Spokane. 1t lies
near the geographical center of the
famous Big Bend country.
There is a good sized community
around the lake. There are three
sanitariums which care for the
health-seekers The largest one is
known as the Sloan Sanitarium,
and is situated on the highest point
of land, where it commands pictur-
esque view of the surrounding coun-
try. Extensive improvements have
been made within the past few years,
and now the institution is well fitted
TO care Tor the VlSltOrS.
Coming Fruit Country.
The Soap Lake country is not only
a health resort, but within the past
few months the industrial develop
ments have been many. The land
surrounding the lake is well adapted
for fruit growing. and capital is just
beginning to be interested in the
country. The Stratford Irrigation
company is one of the foremost or
CARNATIONS. Recently the company
sold more than 1900 acres of fruit
land to 800 persons.
The fruit industry will, in time,
become an important factor in this
community Originally the country
was a part of the great stock range
that extended from here to the south
ern part of Grant county, and en-
bracing what was known as the IA
nous Moses Lake horse range. The
range is passing, and the period of
irrigation and small ranches is COM
ing. With this change the popula-
ton will increase many times, and
the production of the country become
enormous.
Soil Has Been Proven.
The soil of the country around
here has been amply demonstrated
as fruit-producing soil. Many small
ranches have been set to fruit, and
where water can be secured there
has been splendid development
along this line. The Stratford Irri-
cation company has installed a splen-
did irrigation system, and besides
watering their own land will carry
water to much other territory.
Fruit growers from the Wenat-
chez country have bee : experiment.
ing in this territory for several years
past. Owing to the lack of facilities
for gravity irrigation in many places,
the pumping system has been tried.
1t is said to have been success
here, as the wells need not be very
deep to secure an abundant supply
of water. Two additions to the vii
lage of Soap Lake recently have been
plated and placed on the market.
The medicinal powers of the Soap
Lake water are. not kept at home.
Factories for the manufacture of
salts and soap are kept busy supply
ing the demand. The water is ship
ped TO all parts of the northwest,
and carry the fame of the place to
many who have never visited here.