The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-11-08
Wonderful Growth of Reserva-
ton City Is Backed by
Strong Foundation
TWO MORE RAILROADS
ARE SOON TO BE BUILT
Drainage Work Being Carried on
by Government Will Reclaim
$4,000 Acres, and Wapato
Project Twice as Much
(Staff correspondence

but one brick or stone business house
in this town in March, 1907. which
number had increased to % by March.
1910. New there are more than 60.
In 1908 there was but one business
firm in town. Now there are more
than 100. 1t is a conceded fact that
the business men of this city are hust-
lers. but that alone would not be suf-
icient to cause such wonderful
growth. There must be a reason.
The principal reason is that the city
is surrounded by rich land, which,
when cultivated will produce anything
and everything usually grown in this
latitude. It's the land 1t is only
within the past four years that the
great majority of the people have be-
gun to awaken to the possibilities of
farming on the reservation after the
water shall have been brought upon
the land. A few far-sighted ones have
peeped into the future with the re-
suit that fortunes are being made
every year.
The Indian Reservation
The Yakima Indian reservation
comprises an irrigable area of approx
imately 200. 000 acres. \ large portion
of this is directly tributary to Top
penish, Wapato and other towns along
the Northern Pacific also come in for
IA shore of the shipping business.
The principal products raised on
the reservation are alfalfa hay, pota-
toes. melons. and fruits, and all kinds
of vegetables and grains. The live
stock industry is growing, and the rev.
enue from dairy products. cattle.
sheep and hogs will continue to in
crease at rapid rate for many years.
Those in a position know whereof
they speak say the yield of alfalfa on
the reservation for the present season
has been 100000 tons. half of which
passes through Toppcnish.
The amount of land on the rcserva-
ton under ditch at present is placed
at $4,000 acres, but when completed
the Wapato irrigation project, APP
proved by the United States govern
ment will alone irrgate 10000 acres,
II is generally believed that work up
on this immense project will be start
ed within the coming year. There are
many small private bitches in opera
ton at the present. nut they only show
what can be done on large scale.
In this series of letters reference has
been made heretofore to the drainage
and reclamation project being carried
forward by the United States gov
eminent under supervision of j. w.
Martin. This is an undertaking of no
small magnitude, as it will reclaim
and make valuable for farming 5000
acres of overflow land, which would
otherwise be worthless except for use
az a wild duck preserve. Most Indians
are slow to take up farming by per-
sonal work, but some have done so
with marked success. Most of them
are inclined to farm by proxy, there
fore, they lease their lands. which
plan has been money maker for both
the contracting parties. Lands of de-
ceased and incompetent Indians are
offered for sale monthly, after having
been duly advertised. These leases
and sales are made through the Of
flee of $. A. NJ. Young, Indian agent,
at Fort SimCoe. In that manner 20
900 acres of Indian lands have al
ready been purchased by whites, and
that amount is being Increased at the
values range from $50 to 5000 per
acre, but that offered aud sold at the
first mentioned figure is a long way
from market, and consequently not so
desirable at the present time. The
time Is not far distant however, when
the land on the reservation under
ditch and susceptible OF cultivation
will be quoted at much higher figure.
More Railroads
The residents OF Toppenish and
other portions of the reservation
hope, and the hope is not without
foundation, that more railroads will
soon tap the country from the North
ern Pacific to the Goldenndale coun-
try. thence with a ultimate outlet at
Portland The Northern Pacific has
already graded Is miles of its pro-
posed line known as the Fort Simcoe
and Western, extending from Toppen-
ish toward Fort SImcoe, while the o.
w. X. d n. company has made sur
veys that will tap the reservation
lands.
Yakima reservation alfalfa finds 4
ready market on tho Sound, along the
coast and even to far-aWay Alaska.
The rich volcanic ash lands of the
reservation are underlaid by stratum
Of gravel, carrying an inexhaustible
supply of pure water. with that so
close to hand ii would be an easy
and inexpensive thing TO irrigate those
lands that might not be so situated
as to take greatest advantage Of the
bitches. The water could be raised
ether by gasoline or electric power.
or by water wheels The last mention
ed plan is an old one, but has many
advantages over others.
Alfalfa lands may be leased at front
So to $40 per acre Three crops OF
alfalfa are cut annually. the average
being six tons t. the acre. As al
falfd Is quoted year after year at from
81 To- $40 per ton E. q. b, Toppenish.
il Is rasily seen that there is a fair
margin of profit tu the one who leases
land and looks after it i'm a business
Like manneS