The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-12-15

The history of the Wenatchee valley
may be summed up in few words and
the result of the pioneering by men
who realized the opportunities awaiting
their efforts has brought changes moth
ing short of marvellous.
The Peshastin valley, which is a part
OF the Wenatchee valley, represents
one of the best developed fruit sections
to be found in any part Of the country.
Time was not far distant when steam
roads and interurban lines passing up
and down the valley, transporting car
loads ofred apples to many destinations,
including distant lands, was not expect
at such an early date.
Only the fact that the upper Wenat-
chez valley has kept apace with that
part of the valley first to gain promi-
nence, has it been possible for these
commercial facilities to be part OF the
busy institutions that make the valley
in general the busting, thriving COM
munity that it is.
The Peshastin valley is so called be-
cause of the beautiful mountain stream
with head waters twenty-five miles to
the west OF the town which bears the
name of both the creek and valley.
This pic ture is suggested to the In
dian mind by the word Peshastin.
The valley extends from the con-
huence of the Wenatchee and Peshastin
rivers to ingalls, creek, which is about
nine miles from the Great Northern
railroad. Another section of the COM
munitv extends along the railroad to a
point about mile and half east of
Leavenworth.
Situated on the main line of the
Great Northern at point where the
hills recede perhaps the greatest dis
lance from the Wenatchee river with
an elevation OF about a thousand feet,
makes it an ideal spot for the produc-
ton of high grade commercial apples,
peaches, plums, pears, prunes, april
cots and small fruits.
In natural resources Peshastin has
been especially favored. LAUNDERING,
agriculture, stock raising and dairying
are profitably carried on in and near
the valley. In 1892, at the time when
the Great Northern was constructed,
very few settlers we're engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits. The first mercantile
establishm ent was opened by w. H.
Merriam, on the tract now owned by
Mr.. G. A. Hauber. Mr.. Merriam died
at Wenatchee only few weeks ago.
The Peshastin flat at that time was a
dense pine forest, and in the COM
paratively few years Of development has
been transformed into many small or
chard tracts which have been producers
on large scale only in the past few
years.
There remains to be developed some
5000 acres in the neighborhood Of
Peshastin, but with the rapidity in
which the work is carried on in a few
more years the valley will be all under
cultivation.
Irrigation systems
Many private irrigation systems a:
we'll as two large water companies sup
ply water to the orchards, part OF which
comes from the Peshastin, and Snow
creeks, and the Icicle river. The Pc.
shastin creek is one OF the most de.
pendable sources of supply in the i'm
mediate vicinity. The Snow Creek
Water Company and the Icicle Cana
Company furnish water through two
large canals. The present source o.
supply of the former company is taken
from the Peshastin creek. The con-
struction OF canal from Snow creek,
which is about six miles from Leaven-
worth, is being pushed to completion