Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-09-03
BIG CELEBRATION OF
DITCH DAY At yELM
FIFTH ANNUAL PICNIC A BIG
SCCCESS-LARGE AND
SPLENDID FEED

The fifth annual celebration of
Yelm's big ditch was appropriately
observed Wednesday, September let.
with fine picnic at which a splendid
crowd was present and a very inter-
esting and profitable program given.
The people who gathered to parti-
cipate with Yelm. in commemoration
OF their successful irrigation project
were from all parts of the county.
from Tacoma. Centralia and other
points.
Dinner was provided for all present.
For quality as we'll as quantity Of
the food served la cafeteria, was
everything that could be desired.
After the multitude was filed up
with viands so generously supplied
by the Yelm people, the meeting was
called to order by Mr.. Martin, who
was chairman Of the day. Excellent
music was furnished by the Para
mount Novelty orchestra.
The first speaker introduced was
J. l.. Keeler of SeQuim, who gave q
history OF 20 yeasr of irrigation on
SeQuim prairie. which changed that
profitless region into one of the fer
tile spots of the earth. He prophe-
sled that Yelm would advance even
faster than Sequim had because Of
what had been learned by experience
In the past score of years. The water
not only has made their crops grow.
said Mr.. Keeler, but 1t adds fertility
to the soil year after. year, as the
minsrai Drorsrties of the swAtsgA and
tho alluvium It carries are added to
the sand and gravel of the prairie.
He was followed by Hon. p. NJ.
Troy Of this city. who in referring to
the vile condition of the roads from
Olympia to Yelm, declared that 1t Is
the shame Of Thurston county. and
severely criticized the commissioners
for not having done their duty The
applause which greeted his remarks
does not augur we'll for the re-elec-
ton Of the kind of a board which has
played politics" to the detriment OF
both Yelm and Olympia by theNneg-
lect of this important piece Of road.
We understand even now, with $4,000
of funds available for this road. after
having promised the road to Yelm
last spring. that two members OF the
board have refused to go ahead with
It. Mr.. Troy also recounted the his
tory OF the ditch construction and
praised the Yelm spirit which over
came so many difficulties. He also
promised the support Of the Olympia
Chamber of Commerce in their efforts
to have q good road from Yelm to
this city at once and a paved road as
soon as possible.
Captain 8. A. Wood of Camp
Lewis spoke briefly, encouraging the
people to know all about, the army
what it cost and what 1t accom-
plished. The army belongs to the
people, he said, and the people should
know what they are, getting for the
money which It takes to support the
army.
Garrett Fisher. president OF the
Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, rep
resenting Tacoma, spoke briefly He
reminded Olympia II the road to
Yelm was not built soon that Tacoma
would build them one leading to
that city instead of Olympia.
w. H. Dixon of Tacoma made a
very interesting address replete with
history and full of suggestion for
better crops and better community
spirit.
County Agent E. B. Stookey. in a
short but snappy speech full OF pep
encouraged the farmers to organize
and take advantage of what the farm
bureau offered.
L. M. Rice, engineer of the irriga-
tion project, spoke of the extension
OF the project during the past year
and Of contemplated further exten-
sion.
John A. Rea of Tacoma spoke in a
humorous vein but gave out some
very sound advice as to what may he
done and Is being done by community
spirit and cooperative effort.
+. A. Stratton, q berry expert from
Puyallup. made a short and most In
teresting talk on berries which
would be profitable in the Yelm dis
trict. He advised gooseberries, rasp-