The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-19

BIZ RALPH J. BENJAMIN
ELI.ENSBURG. Sept H.
Kittitas county Is just finishing
the harvesting Of what Il be-
licvcxi 10 be the biggest and best
wheat crop In Its history.
Estimates made by farmers foe
w. l. Davis. county agricultural
agent, show u win produce to-
tai Of 100000 bushels Of wheat
this year.
Last years crop was 400. 900 bush
eia Two years ago record Of 500.
900 bushels was made.
With the great boost In the wheat
crop In this region. there Is a corre-
spending drop In hay tonnage. Many
farmers believed that wheat was q
more certain source OF revenue this
year than hay. Hence. much acre
age that formerly was planted TO
hay was put into wheat
MAKES BIG STEPS
IN DAlRYING
The hay crop Of this county. how
ever. comes second to wheat. and
dairy produce comes third. These
three lines are the leaders.
In dairying. Kittitas has made big
steps ahead this year. Dairymcn
have specialized In pure bred stock
and have raised their averages OF
production greatly.
One Kittitas county farmer. r. A.
Dunford, OF Gle Elum. won high hon.
ers nationally among dairynen
when one Of his pure bred cows won
the highest producing record In the
United states for April. The snme
COW won a second In March and held
high state records both months-
As food-producing district. Kit
titas county IS Just started toward
development.
To bring the county up 10 il
fullest development, two needs
must be met They ore:
Water.
RoaAs-
There are about 10000 acres under
bitches In Kittitas county now. But
when the new Kittitas nighttime irrf-
CATION project goes thru. this win be
doubled and more.
Ths highline district comprises 90.
600 acres. Of which 10000 acres are
tiIiable. This district Ii bonded for
1000. 900 under the state irrigation
law. and has spent about $780, 900 on
surveys and tests. Contracts have
been signed with the U. 8. govern
meut for storage for irrigation water
. at Lake Kccchclus and Lake
Kachcss. The high cost Of eonstruc-
ton work and the quiet bond market
kept this work from being started
this year. but II seems certain start
will be made next year.
WILL PUT COUNTY IN
FRUIT PRODUCING GAME
The highline. declares r. A. Kern.
secretary OF the Kittitas reclamation
district. and one Of the best nuthori.
ties in the Northwest on irrigation.
viii put Kittitas county in the fruit
producing game on a big scale.
Thousands Of acres OF excellent fruit
hand will come under the bitches.
And Ellensburg will step alongside
Of Yakima and wenatchec as a fruit
center.
r. M. Chandler. former chief en-.
rineer for the state reclamation
board, pronounced the Kittitas prof.
ecf the most feasible in the entire
state
Roads? Kittitas county Is crossed
by four of the primary state high
ways: the Inland Empire. Sunset.
North Central and Yellowstone trail.
But none OF these Is paved here. In
fact, there Is mighty little paving
except In and near the city Of Ellens-
burg.
Though J. O Hubbcn. state rep.
resentative from Kitttas county.
has been chairman OF the state
house OF representatives roads com
mittee for two sessions Of the legis-
lature. he has not been able TO bring
TO his home county any paving
money.
II lie explained here. however. that
much new road work has been done
and that new roads will be necessary
before It win be logical TO pave.
A water grade highway following
the Yakima river from Gle Elum Is
now being planned by the county. 1t
r. to be paved. Work ON this road
II expected next year.
When completed. this road will be
Travelled by the thousands Of tourists
who cross the snoqualmie pass each
year.
Paving Of the road from Ellens-
burg TO Yakima. now one OF the
worst stretches IN the state. also Ia
contemplated. This road also Is TO
be watergrade highway following
the Yakima river. Yakima county
Is doing some work on II.
SAGE RAT COMMITTING
COSTLY DEPREDATIONS
Turnout Kittitas county a drive Is
being conducted by the farmers
against the sage rat. This little
animal, no larger than an ordinary
park squirrel costs the east side
farmer millions of dollars every
year. One sage rat costs s4f a year.
say the farmers. Poisoned grain
puts an end to this pest.
Kittitas county farmers are cash.
ing In" heavily on the farm bureau
idea A farm bureau In an organiza.
ton OF a farm community for the
betterment OF the farmers. The
farmers troubles and problems are
handled BY experts. Fertilizers are
tried out Tips are forthcoming.
The bureaus are literally saving
thousands Of dollars annually for the
county.
This county claims one small sec.
ton Of land that produces fine
strawberries in big quantities from
early spring until Christmas The