The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-27


llected for settlement by the early
pioneers of the west. Settlers came
into that section as early as the early
lsixties. After the close of the war
lof the rebellion there was quite an
immigration to this section. Many of
1.-THE pioneers of the valley crossed the
plains in the regulation prairie schoon-
er drawn by plodding oxen. Some
preferred to come west by the then
arduous sea voyage around Cape
Horn. After reaching the valley some
came into the country by way of the
lGoldendale country and others came
Through Snoqualmie pass. 1t is not
generally known that there are num-
bers of the present inhabitants of the
Yakima valley that can tell of the
trail and hardships of the pioneer.
with the Drawing of unknown dangers
and the blazing of new paths through
the wilderness. country without
town, markets. or transportation fa-
lcilities.
Valley Is Long Settled
The Ahtanum valley was one of the
first settled valleys. 1t was here that
the pioneer could build his home
along a flowing stream with an
abundance of wood and water, wild
hay and pasture for his stock. He
had no need to raise the commercial
produce of the farm for there was
no demand. there being no markets.
He confined himself to raising stock
and could without excessive labor
readily, and by his own efforts divert
the water Of the Ahtanum and lead it
to his garden patch. 1t was because
of the ease with which water could
be diverted by. Individual effort from
the stream, that there was at no time
any organization for the building Of
irrigation canals or proper division of
water.
Some Of the Difficulties
| Under such a lack of system and
an insufficient water supply trouble
was inevitable as soon as the amount
of land in cultivation exceeded the
acreage that could be properly wa
tered by the waters of che Ahtanum.
| Added to the finally discovered
lack of water flowing in the creek at
the point where the stream emerged
from the timber clad mountains was
the fact that the water must traverse
three branches of the creek with a
total com ined length OF some fifty
miles with a gravelly, porous bed, and
through some two hundreds small
bitches before all the wants Of the
farmers could be supplied.
Under these circumstances when
the water supply becomes scarce in
the latter part of the summer the
seepage losses have absorbed the
greatest part Of the water and there
has been a great deal Of illicit diver
sion of water.
Untapped Water Sources
| During the past summer the farm
ers of the Ahtanum applied to the
county commissioners for the appoint
ment of a water comm issioner. The
commissioners appointed an engineer
to investigate the problem and to pro-
vide for the proper distribution of
water. AS a result Of these investiga-
tons the water users of the Ahtanum
have been able to secure information
through which they will be able to
make plans to envelope the hitherto
untapped water sources of the valley.
and to provide for plans to provide
a full water supply for every acre now
depending for water upon Ahtanum
creek.
| Present Developments
| The physical features affecting the
expenditures for the company's sys-
tenn seem to be very favorable. 1t is
possible to recover part of the pres
ent underfow of the creek at a rea-
sonable expense. This expense would
be borne by the lands having an in
sufficient water right. The cost for
caring for all water supply would fall
on all lands alike. The valley has q
| very decided fall from Tampico east
for fifteen miles. The elevation at
Tampico is 2116 feet and at the latter
point 1866 feet AS the .conduits to be
constructed by the company would be
laid with the slope of the country a
very high velocity Of the water will
result.
A Happy Combination
A part of the Ahtanum valley has
heretofore suffered from excessive sub
Irrigation and it Is certain that with
the development Of an adequate sur
face water supply will come the drain
age of part of the valley. Drainage
and irrigation seem here to be hap
py combination as the drainage waters
can be utilized for irrigation in the
lower part of the water shed.
The company has a competent en-
gineer employed and the planning OF
the water system will be well under
way by the first of the year. Many
have made the forecast that the wa
ter thus secured for the valley will
meany heavy increase in the pro-
dIce shipped out and this will result
in better stand and values on farm
lands.
/ Plan of Organization
The plan of organization contem-
plates that the expense of develop
ing additional water supply shall be
borne by those lands having no pres
emit legal title to the water, and that
they will be directly benefited by this
increase of water throughout the sum-
mer season, to the extent of the wa
ter so developed. Through this pro-
cess imperfect title to water will be
changed to perfect titles.
InaSmuch as arid land without wa