USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 103
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 103
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 103
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The bride was given away by Admiral W. P. Gray and the ceremony was performed by Senator Wesley L. Jones, who paraphrased the usual wedding vows in an apt and ready manner, which aroused the big crowd to applause.
The wedding party made a pleasing spectacle, the attractive bride and her attending young ladies in their summery gowns and the men in their holiday attire of serges and flannels forming an interesting and pleasing tableau.
After the ceremony the crowd made a swoop down upon the barbecue grounds, where a thousand pounds of the finest beef had been roasting over the pits most of the night previous. Soon a half dozen sandwich makers and as many more waiters were hustling as they had never hustled before in the effort of trying to serve the hungry horde which crowded around them. Right here the barbecue committee wishes to thank those who assisted in the arduous task of preparing and serving the huge meal. It was a big job and necessarily put much hard work on the shoulders of a few men.
By this time the U. S. S. "Asotin" had docked and she was followed by the
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"J. N. Teal" on board of which were Governors Moses Alexander of Idaho and Ernest Lister of Washington. The executives were escorted to the speakers' stand where they, together with Assistant Attorney-General Scott Z. Hender- son, held the attention of the audience with interesting addresses, pointing out the importance of the great work now finished and felicitating this community upon the advantages sure to accrue therefrom.
The "Undine" meanwhile had pulled out for the next stop of the day at Wallula and at the finish of the speaking she was followed by the rest of the fleet, while the crowd turned their faces townward, where the rest of the after- noon's entertainment, consisting of a ball game, auto rides and dancing, kept them amused until the special trains began to arrive to again transport them to Pasco. There the big day came to a fitting close with a band concert, dancing and a banquet to the visiting dignitaries, an outline of which program is to be found in another column.
AT WALLULA
If any there are who doubt Walla Walla's belief that they are to share largely in the benefits of the Open River, those doubters should have been at Wallula Tuesday. The scene which greeted the excursion steamers will linger long in the memory of those present. On the site of Old Fort Walla Walla were aligned 647 automobiles and between 4,000 and 5,000 people who had journeyed thirty miles to join in the celebration.
With appropriate ceremonies, the first gang plank was thrown, this being participated in by the five survivors of Colonel Steptoe's command of United States Dragoons. Professor W. D. Lyman, of Whitman College, one of the most enthusiastic of the open river advocates, delivered the address of welcome and formally opened the afternoon's celebration program.
In the absence of Governor Lister, who arrived on a later boat, the re- sponse was delivered by Senator Wesley L. Jones. Other numbers on the pro- gram were: "Dr. D. S. Baker, Washington's Pioneer Railroad Builder :" Prof. L. F. Anderson : "Life Work of Dr. N. G. Blalock," Allen H. Reynolds; Greet- ings, by Governor Withycombe of Oregon, United States Senator Miles Poin- dexter, of Washington, and James H. Brady, of Idaho.
AT BIG EDDY.
Before a crowd of 20,000 people the climax, though not the finish, of The Dalles-Celilo celebration, came here Wednesday afternoon, when the eight and one-half miles of waterway was formally presented to the public by United States engineers, Lieut .- Col. C. H. Mckinstry, Major Jay J. Morrow and staff and a bevy of thirty-two pretty girls who sent a shower of tributary waters spraying over the lower entrance gates. The quota of upper Columbia River waters was mingled with that of the canal from bottles carried by Miss Elda Clements and Miss Josephine Kouba, representing Kennewick and Pasco, the twin cities of the Columbia.
In point of attendance, number of distinguished guests and demonstrative enthusiasm, Wednesday afternoon's was the big feature of the historic celebra- tion. The ceremonies were presided over by Joseph N. Teal, of Portland, who
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has been a conspicuous figure in the Open River movement since its inception. An eloquent dedicatory invocation was delivered by Rt. Rev. Charles J. O'Reilly, D. D., bishop of Baker City, Oregon. A patriotic and inspiring touch was given the program by the presentation and unfurling of the canal flag by Gen. H. S. Fargo, department commander, G. A. R., of Oregon. The hand- some silk banner is the gift of the citizens of Lewiston, Idaho.
Letters of congratulations and of greetings were read from President Wil- son and Senator Joseph E. Ransdell, of Louisiana, president of the National Rivers and Harbors Congress. Senators James H. Brady, of Idaho, Miles Poindexter of Washington and Congressman N. J. Sinnott, of Oregon, speaking as a specially appointed committee, voiced the formal greetings of the national congress. Addresses, voicing the faith of the people of the three great North- western states, were delivered by Governor James Withycombe, of Oregon, Governor Lister, of Washington, and Governor Moses Alexander, of Idaho. James' S. Ramage, president of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, spoke for the commercial bodics of the Columbia Basin.
Interesting scenes and events of other days, each playing its part or wield- ing its influence in the development of the Northwest, were interestingly re- called in an address by T. C. Elliott, of Walla Walla, representing the Oregon Historical Society. Brief responses were given by Senator Wesley L. Jones and Congressman William E. Humphrey, of Washington.
Following the dedicatory program the up-river fleet steamed out of the lower end of the canal to be met by the lower river fleet. Thousands of people lined the rocky shores of the rugged chasm through which the canal has been hewn, and awakened the echoes of the distant buttes with their shouts of wel- come as the flagship "Undine" pointed her nose out of the last locks and rocked in the swirling waters of Big Eddy.
The Dalles that night witnessed scenes which, like the other river towns, are writing new pages in its history. The arrival of the "Undine" was the signal for throwing wide open every steam whistle in the city and harbor. Crowds, finding parallel only in the Pendleton Round-Up, thronged the streets and dignitaries and common people alike lent their presence, their voices and their great good fellowship in bringing to a close the third day of the celebration.
Prominent citizens and representatives of the Columbia and Snake river towns were the guests last night of the citizens of The Dalles at an elaborate banquet and speaking program.
Among many notable things in this rapidly improving town we find the most unique and prospectively important of all that have not yet been described to be the grape juice and cider enterprise of the Church Manufacturing Com- pany. J. D. Clark is president and W. H. Hoyt vice-president of the company. The secretary-treasurer and manager and the active organizer of the entire business is M. H. Church. Briefly outlined, the history of this interesting enter- prise is this :
Early in 1908, Church & Stringer, as partners, established an ice and cold storage plant at Kennewick under the name "Twin City Ice & Cold Storage Company." The ice-making capacity of this plant was ten tons, besides the re- frigeration of several cold storage rooms.
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
In 1909 the company was incorporated under the name "Twin City Ice & Cold Storage Company." The same year the manager erected a cold storage plant in Pasco, and installed refrigerating machinery. He also erected coal sheds and engaged in the coal business at both Pasco and Kennewick.
In 1910 the company built an addition to the Kennewick plant and installed an equipment for manufacturing soft drinks.
In 1913 they erected additional buildings and installed machinery and ap- paratus for the manufacture of unfermented grape juice and apple cider, and made the first year about 20,000 gallons of grape juice and 2,000 gallons of apple cider, which was stored in glass in refrigerated rooms.
In 1914 the company reorganized and increased its capital stock to $100,- 000.00. They have greatly increased their output each year to keep up with the demands for their goods.
In 1915 the Church Company was awarded gold medals, which were the highest awards for quality, on the grape juice, at both the San Francisco and San Diego expositions.
In 1918 conditions were such, on account of war, that grapes, bottles, labor, etc., were so high that the company made only about 40,000 gallons of grape juice, which is equal to about twenty carloads when bottled and cased, but they used about 900 tons of packinghouse cull apples, which make about 135,000 gal- lons of cider, a large share of which was condensed by evaporation to a syrup. The increasing demand for the goods is evidence of their high quality.
The Concord and Worden grapes are the only varieties they use in the man- ufacture of grape juice, and while they have up to this time used not more than about 350 tons in one season, it has greatly affected the market price for grapes in the Yakima Valley, and more grapes of these two varieties are being planted each year. They have started a small vineyard of fifteen acres of their own, and are in hopes of increasing this to 80 or 100 acres. Mr. Church expects to in- crease the capacity of his plant to the extent that it will be possible to use all of the grapes of the varieties mentioned grown in the valley more than what are needed and what there is a demand for on the market, as table grapes. He also expects to add buildings and equipment for the manufacture of vinegar and cider on a much larger scale. It is now universally conceded that the Concord and Worden varieties of grapes are grown to the highest perfection in the Columbia River Valley of any locality in the United States, and as it requires grapes of the highest quality to make the best grape juice, it stands to reason that it is possible to produce a grape juice in this locality that is unsurpassed anywhere in the United States, if not in the world.
Inasmuch as the entire Northwest has "gone dry," and there is a good pros- pect that the whole United States will follow,-and yet people are bound to drink some kind of refreshing and palatable drink-it seems a fair forecast that the Church grape juice and cider factory will develop into one of the greatest enterprises in the country. Already Mr. Church finds the demand for his products entirely beyond the capacity of his present plant. His market extends from Victoria to Los Angeles. It is surprising that he could have en- tered the latter city, in a land of grapes and wine. But it is considered there
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that there is no soft drink to compare with Church's, and some of these days California, too, will cut the alcohol out of her drinkables.
Mr. Church is now installing equipment for utilizing the by-products of his factory for making vinegar and jelly. Indeed he already does a considerable business in those lines. He ships hundreds of casks of condensed cider, so con- densed as to require the addition of six times its volume of water for proper dilution. When his present plans for enlargements and betterments are com- pleted he hopes to put up 400,000 gallons of grape juice and other products in proportion. One fact is worthy of note, and that is, the producing regions, mainly of New York and Michigan, from which the chief supplies of grapes for the immense Welch and Armour factories are drawn, do not compare in any degree with the lower Yakima for quality and quantity of grape production. While five or six tons per acre of Concord grapes are a large amount on an acre in those eastern sections, the Kennewick section will produce eight and ten or even twelve in some of the older vineyards. The Worden is found to be the best adapted for manufacturing juice, though many tons of Concords and other varieties are produced. The Church factory seems to point the way to one of the greatest and most distinctive industries of the lower Yakima.
An additional fact of interest in connection with the grape industry is the regular "Grape Carnival" of each September. Displays are made that would rival California.
Another of the great coming industries of the Yakima Valley, in which the Benton County section is taking a keen interest, is the beet sugar industry. There is already a large sugar factory at Yakima City, another at Sunnyside, and an- other nearing completion at Toppenish. Experiments around Prosser and Kennewick indicate that the lower valley will be peculiarly adapted to the pro- duction of beets. The neighbor of the Yakima Valley on the southeast, Walla Walla, has entered actively upon the raising of sugar beets, with the hope of the construction of a sugar factory.
As with some of the other towns of the valley, a stay in Kennewick pre- disposes the visitor to desire to return. Without question a great city will some- time exist at the junction of the big rivers. Whether the chief location be Pasco or Kennewick, or both in equal proportion, is a question that only the future can answer. One of the vital questions for both places now is the completion of the Inland Empire Highway and the Evergreen Highway and a bridge across the Columbia at this point.
The builders of Kennewick have wisely laid out a large plan and only future building will disclose the amplitude of possibilities for filling the plan. One of the most, probably the most, unique and beautiful addition in any city of the Yakima Valley is found in the Olmstead addition.
The comparative dullness in building and real estate has prevented the fill- ing up of this beauty spot as rapidly as anticipated by the projectors. But it is only a question of a few years till the tasteful design is realized in a group of homes that will indeed fulfill the vision of the forward lookers.
We may fittingly include at the close of this general view of Kennewick a summary of the part of that city in the World War, as found in the issue of the Kennewick "Courier-Reporter" of January 2, 1919.
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KENNEWICK'S WAR RECORD CREDITABLE-THIS COMMUNITY HAS GIVEN LIBERALLY OF ITS MANHOOD, ITS MONEY AND ITS LABOR-SOME TOTALS ARE COM- PILED-PEOPLE OF KENNEWICK DISTRICT HAVE GIVEN $6.00 PER CAPITA AND INVESTED $75 PER CAPITA
It is difficult to attempt to measure patriotism, loyalty to a cause, or fealty in service in material terms. Were it possible though to hold up to a community a definite standard of "duty done" in the war, Kennewick would not be found wanting whether the standard be applied to those who went or those who stayed at home.
Wherever the boys of this community have worn the uniform of their coun- try, and they are to be found on land and sea in almost every quarter of the globe, they have worn it with credit. As yet there has been prepared no com- plete roster of the boys who have entered their country's service from this com- munity, but it is safe to say that no community in the nation has given more liberally or more proudly of its young men than has this one. The community has to its credit five captains, two first lieutenants and scores of men in the ranks. In every branch of the service at home and abroad, letters from home bear the Kennewick postmark. More than a score of Kennewick boys are with the 146th Field Artillery which took part in every big American battle in France and won an, enviable reputation for itself. When the "devil-dogs" .won ever- lasting fame for the United States Marines at Chateau Thierry, Kennewick's boys were there. They were there with the fighting 91st division when it went into action in France and again in Belgium. They were there when Marshal Haig's forces broke the famous Hindenburg line in Flanders. They were at St. Mihiel, they were at Sedan, and now many of them are in Germany. They were with the engineers who built the docks and kept the trains running. They were likewise there on those silent guardians which chased the German U-boats off the high seas. Proud of them? Of course we are proud of them!
When the boys come home they will have no cause to feel ashamed of but few of their people who stayed behind, for the home folks have been busy and have met every war demand made upon them. The community as a whole has done its full duty. Although not riding upon the free and easy waves of pros- perity the people have given freely and liberally from their modest earnings.
Although the mere totaling of dollars and cents can by no means tell the full story of home service, these totals do make a very creditable showing and in a measure index the efforts of the community to win the war and keep the home fires burning. In doing this many men and women and children of the community have given not only of dollars, but of their time.
Kennewick and the immediately surrounding territory, not including Rich- land, has given to various war work a total of $18.177.74. Of this a total of $10,790.01 has been given to the Red Cross and $5,487.73 to the Y. M. C. A. and kindred organizations. Contributions for which no definite figures are available, such as Armenian and Belgian relief. Smileage books, Navy League and various other war activities are estimated at $1,500.
In the four drives the people of the Kennewick district have purchased $235,650 worth of Liberty Bonds and this total will be increased by several
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
thousand dollars by the purchase of Thrift and War Savings Stamps, figures for which are not as yet available.
Estimating the population of the Kennewick district at 3,000, which is a very liberal estimate, the per capita war contribution is more than $6.00 and the Liberty Bond purchase is in excess of $75 per capita.
Some idea of the tireless efforts of the women of the Red Cross is gained from the fact that they have made 3,852 garments, most of which were large garments, such as pajamas, convalescent robes, underwear and sweaters. This total does not include garments made by the D. A. R. Auxiliary, which was active during the first few months of the war.
Such figures as are available on the different war fund drives follow :
RED CROSS
Quota.
Subscribed.
First war drive
$ 1,900
$ 3,103.40
Second war drive
2,500
3,052.59
First membership drive
1,041.00
Second membership drive
900.00
Contributions to local branch
2,293.02
Contributions to D. A. R. Auxiliary __
400.00
Total
$10,790.01
Battery E Mess Fund
$400.00
Miscellaneous (estimated)
1,500.00
Y. M. C. A.
Quota.
Subscribed.
First drive (no record)
Second drive
$ 1,000
$ 2,017.25
United drive
2,500
3,470.48
Total
$ 5,487.73
Grand total contributions
18,177.74
LIBERTY BONDS
Quota.
Subscribed.
First loan
$12,000
Second loan
$ 52,672
75,100
Third loan
43,800
51,500
Fourth loan
84,907
97,050
Total
$235,650
THE SMALLER RIVER TOWNS
Down the river from Kennewick the traveler will find a highly cultivated country, the oldest producing section, except the comparatively small "Garden Tracts" just up the river.
In that "Kennewick Valley" section down the river, are two little towns,
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
Finley and Hover, and numerous clusters of ranches so closely joined that they present almost the appearance of towns. The conditions of life and the type of people found in these places are similar to those in Kennewick. The two sections, in fact, the one above and the other below Kennewick, relatively a small area of only about 14,000 acres, have been the producing areas on which the town has hitherto mainly depended for business. The rapid development of the high- lands and the general connection of the much larger tract of country around Rich- land have already increased the support of business lines centering in Kennewick. It is obvious, however, that the support of the near future is to come from the vastly larger area to be developed by the water systems of the High Line Canal or Sunnyside Extension. When still further the Horse Heaven country receives its supply of creative moisture, Kennewick with 150,000 or more tributary acres under intensive farming will be indeed some city.
The student of Benton County, to do real justice to it, should certainly make his way down the river below the Umatilla Highlands, the "Wallula Gateway," with its superb scenery, and pursue his journey even to the Klickitat County line. There are no towns in this section, however, but there are the beginnings of cul- tivation, and with adequate water the ardent sun and the rich volcanic soil will quickly bring orchards and alfalfa fields to fruition. That section, as also the Kennewick Valley, is traversed by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad, but the next improvement in transportation now most eagerly awaited is the Ever- green Highway, to be constructed down the north bank of the Columbia all the way to Vancouver.
Retracing our course to Kennewick we may resume our investigation by vis- iting the three fine little towns upon the bank of the Columbia, Richland, Hanford and White Bluffs. Each of these places is the center of a fine tract of cultivated land, all of which have been described in the chapter on Irrigation. We have also spoken in the chapter on Benton County of the early settlements in the Richland country. Richland was founded by Howard Amon as an adjunct to the enterprise inaugurated by himself and Nelson Rich for irrigating that region. The author has been informed by Ben Rosencrantz, first original settler in the vicinity, that Levi Ankeny had called Mr. Amon's attention to the place as the natural location for a town. During the development brought on by the Benton Land & Water Company of Messrs. Amon and Rich and its successor the Horn Rapids Irriga- tion Company, the town made considerable growth.
In 1910 the development seemed to justify incorporation. Accordingly in August of that year Richland became an incorporated town. A number of active and intelligent men have carried on the necessary business for the gradually de- veloping country, among whom the most permanent are Wheelhouse Brothers, Harry and Louis. At present date O. B. Rollins is mayor, F. G. Bier is clerk, A. L. Nelson is treasurer and Lou Wheelhouse, W. H. Muncey, H. F. Yedica. M. S. Miller and C. S. Teachout are councilmen.
A vast amount of produce comes from the orchards, corn fields and alfalfa fields of the fine tract of land around Richland. On account of the warmth of the weather and the very quick, rather sandy soil, this section seems to be in the very forefront in early production. It is commonly claimed, in fact, that the earliest strawberries in the state come from Richland.
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The town is not directly upon any railway line, though the Oregon-Wash- ington Railway and Navigation Company has a station about three miles distant. The ten mile journey can be made by auto over the elegant highway, or by boat, the "Hanford Flyer" or some other. It is a delightful ride by boat up the majestic flood of the Columbia, sublimest of rivers, whether in deserts or moun- tains or "continuous woods."
Richland, though a small town, is not a whit behind her larger sisters in the pride and effort taken in her schools. An excellent building and good equipment has habituated the pupils to expect ample provision for their mental and discip- linary needs. A general high grade of teachers has been maintained. In debate and oratory and athletics the pupils of the high school department have held their own with those of the larger towns.
The school property in the district has an estimated value of $40,000. The teaching force at the present date consists of C. W. Holt as superintendent and Miss Myrtle Gray as principal of the grade schools. There are ten teachers in the Richland schools and one at Fruitvale, which is also in the district. The names of these teachers, as of all in the county, appear in the directory in the chapter on Benton County.
The school board consists of H. J. Clark, C. C. Harding and S. M. Ross. C. S. Teachout is clerk. A newspaper, the "Richland Advocate," is published by Perry Willoughby. We have referred to him in the chapter on the press as very nearly the dean of the newspaper men of this section, having been the founder of the "Hanford Columbian" and the "Hover Sunshine." One specially pleas- ant feature of this section is the regular Richland Festival in September. To this gathering are brought the characteristic productions of the section, exhibit- ing the wonderful capabilities of the soil.
From Richland we may resume our journey by a first-class highway, almost entirely in sight of the river, or the even pleasanter journey by motor boat to the next stopping point, Hanford. Hanford derives its name from Judge C. H. Hanford of Seattle, who in conjunction with Gen. H. M. Chitten- den of the same city, conceived and inaugurated the plan of irrigating the splendid belt of fertile land stretching for thirty miles along the river, by a pumping station for which power is derived from Priest Rapids. The power at that point is estimated at a minimum of 240,000 H. P., at high water prac- tically without limit. The fall is about seventy feet in a distance of ten miles. When the Government gets around to build a dam and install a power plant commensurate with the possibilities this will become one of the greatest sources of electric energy in the world.
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