USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 61
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 61
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 61
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"A. J. Thiele, the new cashier of the Grandview State Bank, recently from Spokane and Russell Parker, associated with E. J. Haasze and Thomas R. Robinson in the fruit business, formerly of Seattle, who were present at the meeting were called on by President Haskins as was E. R. McDonald who had not met with the association for several months.
"It was the opinion of every man present that the association had made an excellent start for its Fall and Winter work."
THE PRESS IN BENTON COUNTY
As the youngest and smallest in population of the counties of the Valley, it can not be expected that Benton County will offer to view as many papers as her associate counties. It is, however, true that the ratio of papers and readers to population is equal to that of either of the others. Unlike the two older counties, Benton County has two towns of approximately the same size and essentially the same conditions and productions, Prosser and Kennewick.
Prosser is the older, is the county seat, and has a longer background of history. This general fact applies to the journalistic history also.
PROSSER PAPERS
The first paper in Prosser was the "Prosser American," published by Messrs. James and Freeman.
The newspapers of the present day in Prosser are the "Independent- Record" and the "Republican-Bulletin."
The earlier of the two traces its ancestry to the "Prosser Record," whose first number bore date of December 29, 1893. Unfortunately the files of this oldest existing paper, in what is now Benton County, are no longer available. The other parent was the "Benton Independent," established on November 6, 1909. The consolidation was effected May 1, 1913.
The "Record" was owned and managed by George Boomer, his wife Alice being associated with him in management. Mr. Boomer was a man of high mental and moral character and had the respect of all with whom he associated. The same may be said of Mrs. Boomer, a gifted and attractive woman. Their political views, however, were not acceptable to the majority of their fellow townsmen, for they were pronounced socialists.
The last number of the "Record" under the management of Mr. Boomer was of May 14, 1909. As illustrative both of the personality of this pioneer newspaper man of Prosser and of the conditions in the community, we insert here the "Vale" of the retiring editor.
"From the Prosser Record. "May 14, 1909.
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
"VALE
"It is with sincere regret that we this week announce that 'The Record' after this date passes into other hands. For almost six years to a day we have labored hard to make 'The Record' the best family newspaper in the lower Yakima Valley and our efforts have been crowned with unusual success. Com- ing here when Prosser was just beginning to change its baby habiliments for the garments of strong youth, we have watched and attempted to encourage the growth of Prosser and the whole lower Valley with all that interest that attaches to those things in which one moves and among which one lives. During our labors here this little village has grown into a city of the third class and the stretches of desert at our doors have blossomed into gardens and orchards.
"Perhaps our guidance of 'The Record,' the oldest paper in this immediate part of the state, has had but little to do with the growth and development of this section, but we will at least add to our remembrance of our editorship by assuming that some of the things we have done have tended to the upbuilding of our neighborhood, not alone in numbers, but in civic pride, neighborly honesty and a stronger faith in the right of the people to do as they think best for themselves, without having to first seek permission from professional politicians or private plunderbunds.
"Assuming charge of a democratic paper, as we did, and immediately mak- ing its editorial columns a vehicle for socialist thought, we can not fittingly express our kindly feelings for the many who, through these years, though not agreeing with us always politically, have stood loyally by us. We have tried to give our readers a paper upon which they could depend, both in news and opinions. We have made mistakes, perhaps, but they were honest mistakes. As far as our intentions and endeavors are concerned we have nothing to regret.
"During the past six years 'The Record' was the first paper in the valley to print eight pages at home. It was the first to install power and the first to abandon the costly hand composition in favor of machine work.
"All this was necessary to keep pace with the rapid growth of the country. Today 'The Record' is read every week by over 4,000 people and while we are satisfied in some measure by that accomplishment we wish we could have done twice as much.
"Regardless as to whether or not we have made a financial success during these years, we at least hope that among the thousands that read 'The Record" some at least have had their thoughts turned to the necessity of a change of our present political and economic uncertainties to conditions of security for them- selves and their children. If, as a result of our humble efforts, there are a few men and women who can see more clearly the necessity of greater security in the right to live that socialism only can guarantee, we are content, whether we have made money or not.
"We wish to thank the merchants and others who have so liberally patron- ized us in the past. We have endeavored to give exceedingly good service- for all values received. Mr. Haines, who is to succeed us, signifies his inten- tion of conducting an independent paper. If he maintains that position ener- getically and impartially we trust that our friends will confer on him the same. courtesies and kindnesses they have vouchsafed to us.
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"As to our immediate future it is more or less uncertain. The demands upon Mr. Boomer's time for lectures will probably continue and he will devote most of his efforts to that for a few months at least. Prosser will still be our home and if a theater is built we will probably interest ourselves in that. So many words of friendship and good wishes have been extended to us during the past week that though we will enjoy the rest cessation from continuous edi- torial duties will bring, we nevertheless will keenly feel the breaking of neigh- borly ties in case we should find it necessary to make our home elsewhere.
"May the growth of Prosser as a city of homes be endless, and may the seeds of social and economic truths we have tried to sow result in at least a few sturdy plants of healthy growth.
"Many of our subscribers we never have met, but their names on the sub- scription book have become almost personalities themselves. We realize that our political opinions have at times shocked many of them. Realizing that, we appreciate the fact that they are still our subscribers.
"We again thank the very, very many whose friendship has enabled us to accomplish what little we have.
"GEORGE E. BOOMER, "ALICE BOOMER."
The "Record" was acquired and managed by Alfred Haynes for four years. We insert his salutatory as well fitting in with the farewell of the preceding man- ager.
"From 'The Prosser Record,' "May 14, 1909.
"With this issue 'The Record' goes to its readers under new proprietorship. It is not our intention just here to say what changes may be contemplated, other than that 'The Record' from this issue on will be known to its readers as an independent paper, broad enough in its principles to uphold the right and re- prove the wrong in whatever political party or set such principles may become involved.
"Believing in the great future ahead of the city of Prosser and vicinity, it is our desire to give precedence to all matters of local interest and county happen- ings in such a manner as to make 'The Record' a necessity in every home in the city and county. But we do not expect to attain this end by our own indi- vidual efforts, and for this purpose the cooperation of those who already are subscribers and those who may become such, is earnestly solicited.
"In our business relations with the patrons of 'The Record,' efficiency. promptness and honorable dealings to all is assured, and all that we hope for is a fair share of your patronage.
"To our subscribers we would say that as soon as possible we expect to revise our mailing list, so please take note of your wrapper and if you see that you are in arrears, it will be greatly appreciated if you will attend to the same at once, and this will be the first step towards lightening the editor's burden and making the paper a success. There is a very strict postal law that forbids us sending papers to subscribers who are more than one year in arrears.
"G. ALFRED HAYNES, "Editor and Proprietor."
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
The "Independent" came into existence in 1909, and C. B. Michener was the editor-manager for several years. On May 1. 1913, the "Record" and "Inde- pendent" were joined under the management of C. B. Michener and C. E. Rusk. Both men were possessed of high abilities and advanced political and economic ideals and aims. Under them the "Independent-Record" became one of the conspicuous weeklies of the Valley. Mr. Rusk is now receiver of the United States Land Office at Yakima.
In April, 1915, W. R. Sproull, who had been connected for some years with the "Republican-Bulletin," acquired the "Independent-Record" and is con- ducting it at this date with marked ability and success. As one of the strong newspaper forces in the Valley, Mr. Sproull is well fitted to give a view of the influences of the papers in this part of the Valley.
Tracing the lineage of the "Republican-Bulletin," we find that the older parent, the "Bulletin," came into existence at the hands of H. G. Guild on June 26, 1902. It was first christened the "Prosser Falls Bulletin."
Some extracts from the first issue will convey to the reader the "feel" of that time in the history of Prosser.
"From the 'Prosser Bulletin,' "June 26, 1902.
"SALUTATORY
"The Prosser Falls 'Bulletin' makes its bow to the public. We have added the name 'falls' to suggest to readers remote from Prosser that we have water power here that will figure largely in the prosperity of the future Prosser. We have no rash promises to make. Promises are easily broken at best. We are here among you to stay and grow up with the town. We shall at all times be found working cheerfully and assiduously for the upbuilding of legitimate Prosser. Politically, the 'Bulletin' is of the 'Teddy' Roosevelt stripe, and will be found in line with the republican party. The 'Bulletin' has been kindly re- ceived by the good people of Prosser, and it will try to merit their patronage and good will by truthfully conserving the best interests of the town and sur- rounding country. We believe that Prosser will have 5,000 people in less than five years. The 'Bulletin' hopes it may. Let us all set up the '5,000 in five years' mark, and work for it. The 'Bulletin' comes here as the organ of no faction or clique, and will try to represent all interests fairly. We have made no bombastic assertions as to what the 'Bulletin' would be. We present it as it is, with no apologies. We do hope, however, to improve it as business shall warrant. As a final statement, we wish to say that the 'Bulletin' is wholly owned and controlled by the undersigned.
"H. G. GUILD."
"Commercial men, as a class, are the keenest and altogether the most com- petent people to 'size up' a town we know. It has been our privilege to inter- view many of this class the past few weeks, and we state a truth when we say that without a single exception they all unite in predicting a grand future for Prosser.
"One is impressed by the general appearance of the people that this is cer- tainly a healthful country. Nowhere on this northwest coast can one find a
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more robust appearing lot of persons. Health is a great blessing, and those who come to this section for pure air will find it well oxygenized."
"SALUTATORY NO. 2.
"Prosser has a new $6,000 schoolhouse and the old one is being used for primary grades. The new building has all modern appliances. Aside from the large school rooms, it contains a library and teachers' room. This school has a four years' course, and a pupil graduating from it should be competent to enter any college. Prosser is proud of its public school. Washington, in fact, has the best school system of any state west of the Missouri River."
"While the winds are a trifle disagreeable at times, and it gets pretty warm during the day, the nights are invariably cool and the people are healthy and rugged. As soon as the sun sets in the Summer time, the atmosphere cools very rapidly and the evenings are very pleasant. These are the only real climatic disadvantages and this section comes as near being all right as any of them.
"The Falls at Prosser have a total fall of 23 feet in a distance of 300 yards, ample power to run the largest factories. It is hinted that the proposed electric railroad from North Yakima to Prosser, via Sunnyside, will get its power at Prosser. Prosser is 'willing.' But she won't stop growing for anybody."
"HOW HORSE HEAVEN HAPPENED
"James Kinney of this city, who enjoys the distinction of being one of the pioneers of the Yakima Valley, says that he named Horse Heaven in 1881. Formerly it was called the Bedrock Springs country. Mr. Kinney was going down the valley on the occasion of the naming of the country aforementioned, and having camped one night below Prosser, awoke the next morning to find that his animals had strayed and the tracks led up the mountainside and over into an upland plain beautiful to behold, and there he found the runaway horses cropping the succulent bunchgrass with apparent great relish. 'Surely, this is Horse Heaven,' quoth Mr. Kinney to himself. The name sounded appropriate, and in spite of some efforts to call it 'Columbia Plains,' Mr. Kinney's name stuck, and thus it is known, and that is how the name of Horse Heaven hap- pened."
"INDIAN, CAYUSE AND COYOTE
"An Indian, who lives near Prosser, came to town the other day with a young coyote ingeniously tied up in an old gunny sack, behind his saddle. The Indian was old, but smiling, and apparently satisfied with life as he found it. He was mounted on a sleepy, lazy looking cayuse, and the three, the Indian, the cayuse and the coyote, would have been a proper subject for a prize photograph. Then, come to think of it, what a fitting combination. The Indian represent- ing, as he did, the primitive type of civilization of this age, in this country ; the cayuse representing the same type in its species; the coyote representing the untamed vagabond of the hills, the outlaw, the Ishmaelite of its species.
"The Indian was unconscious of the fitness of the blend. In making the combination there was no intention, nothing further than was urged by the (34)
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
law of necessity, the object uppermost in his mind being to get a dollar for the coyote, having conceived the thought that some white man would like the tick- ridden howler from the hills as a pet for his children. With the writer there would be no satisfaction in watching the constant pacing to and fro of a captive coyote. They were designed by nature to be free, and any one who has read Seton Thompson's stories of wild animals could not well perform the duty of jailer to a captive coyote.
"Some one of the group who was watching the picture of Indian, cayuse and coyote, said: 'Poor coyote.' 'Hallo, poor coyote,' replied the Indian. 'Him heap killum sheep.' The Indian in his contempt for compassion for the coyote, gave the white man's reason for passing the sentence of outlawry upon the whole coyote tribe."
IRRIGATED LANDS NEAR PROSSER
"The Sunnyside Irrigation Canal, one of the largest and most successful of its kind on the coast, is building down the valley and is expected to be opposite Prosser by next Fall. It will open to cultivation about 20,000 acres of choice grass and fruit lands. The Prosser Falls Irrigation Company has five miles of ditch on the south side of the Yakima River above Prosser, and five miles of ditch below the town. Along its course are some of the finest irrigated farms, orchards and meadows in eastern Washington, and these lands are very valuable."
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY
"Prosser is a railway town on the line of the Northern Pacific, and an average of twenty trains pass through it daily. The Northern Pacific Com- pany has a neat depot, an express office, freight warehouse, and employs a day and night agent and operator, and an additional freight agent during the day time. The company's employes are competent and obliging men and it is a matter of common remark that the conductors and brakemen on the road are not only ordinarily courteous, but are painstaking in their efforts to inform the traveling public and provide for their comfort. The Northern Pacific is one of the greatest systems extant, and much of Prosser's prosperity as a town, and the improvement and value of the adjacent farm country about it, is due to the enterprise of this splendid system in intelligently distributing immigra- tion along its line in Washington. Its low rate to homeseekers from St. Paul westward has filled up many a heretofore sparsely settled section in Washington.
"The 'Bulletin' takes no stock in the howl against railroads that are doing as much for the country as the Northern Pacific. Let the Northern Pacific, with its splendid equipment, be removed ten miles from Prosser, and what would the town be, or ever amount to, thus isolated? The management of the Northern Pacific take a live interest in the prosperity of towns along its line, and its policy is to aid in building up such stations. One of the company's officials who always has a good word for Prosser, is Mr. A. D. Charlton, general passenger agent, at Portland."
PROSSER
"Is a thriving town of about 500 inhabitants and has a fine natural loca- tion. It is 50 miles from the county seat at North Yakima, and is 40 miles west
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from Kennewick, the most eastern town in the country. It is the natural busi- ness center for a large area of territory. It is located near the falls of the Yakima River, which will develop over 900 horsepower. Prosser has two hotels, the Lape and Riverside houses, one restaurant, one bank, two livery stables, three general stores, one hardware and furniture store, two drug stores, one meat market, one barber shop, one jewelry store, one blacksmith shop, three saloons, two newspapers, two churches, two lumber and coal yards, a millinery store, harness shop, brick yard, undertaker's shop, a grist mill, pumping station for an irrigation company, an electric light plant, four real estate offices, a Chinese laundry, three confectionery and soft drink dispensaries, several secret societies and a number of contemplated business ventures."
PROSSER'S WATER POWER
"Remember, in considering Prosser's future, that it has one of the finest water powers in this state. We have the power at our door for various manu- factories. We have the wool at hand in the country about Prosser to furnish a mill with all the raw material for the manufacture of the best of woolen goods. Nowhere can cheaper or better power be had, and with the wool at a mill's door, it would seem that the necessary capital and experience ought soon to be forthcoming.
"The falls at present furnish power for the pumps of the irrigation com- pany, Kemp & Taylor's flouring mill and the electric light company. Every person who sees the tremendous water power here practically idle, realizes with- out much effort the importance and commercial value of same if utilized. It seems as if the Creator intended this to be a center for the sons of men to found a prosperous city, and so endowed it beneficently, first with a beautiful natural location, and then with a splendid water power to turn the spindles and operate the shuttles of the near in the estimate of Prosser's future by both the citizen and the stranger, the existence of its excellent water power figures very materially in the conclusion arrived at.
"Only the other day, a level-headed commercial man, in speaking of Prosser's future, very tersely said: 'That water power alone ought to make this the best town between Tacoma and Spokane inside of ten years,' and the drummer put it right, and several of the boys have bouglit Prosser lots to back their judgment. Too much within the bounds of truth can not be said in favor of Prosser's water power."
HORSE HEAVEN COUNTRY
"From the Yakima River, near Prosser, the hills to the south rise abruptly to a height of 1,000 feet. Gaining this eminence and turning about, one sees to the northeast the Rattlesnake Hills gradually rising until their irregular line blends with the horizon. Looking to the west one beholds the great valley of the Yakima, with Mounts Adams and Tacoma in the distance, robed in spotless white, while the timbered Cascade Range, which divides eastern from western Washington, can be traced in its northerly course as far as the eye can reach. Meandering down the valley, and visible for miles upon miles, flows the Yakima River, its silver waters gleaming in the afternoon sunlight, a thing of beauty.
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
On the south bank of this splendid mountain stream, which is fed by the springs and rivulets of the Cascades, nestles the growing little city of Prosser, a place whose future is assured. Up and down the river are fine farms and green fields of alfalfa : orchards and gardens catch the eye and show the viewer what irrigation will do for the valley. Looking toward the south and east, there spreads before the beholder a great plateau of bunch grass, sage brush and green wheat fields, from this height, apparently as level as a barn floor. To the east the Horse Heaven section extends beyond Kiona, thence south at least 20 miles to the Columbia River, and westward a distance of from 50 to 75 miles. As one gets near the Columbia River the land becomes sandy, and the rich soil of Horse Heaven proper is lacking. In no country is there a more prolific soil for wheat, vegetables and fruit. The area of wheat soil in Horse Heaven has been variously estimated to contain from 250,000 to 300,000 acres.
"We quote from a pamphlet recently issued on the 'Horse Heaven Wheat Belt':
"'This land is especially adapted to wheat raising. the wheat production being dry and hard and bringing the highest market price for export milling purposes. Wheat yields from 20 to 30 bushels per acre, depending upon the knowledge and effort of the farmer. Some farmers only plow the ground once in four to seven years, and the grain brings a volunteer crop each year-the yield of a volunteer crop brings from 9 to 20 bushels per acre. The wheat is harvested and threshed with the California combined machine, and in no place in the United States can wheat be raised with less expense. Four men and thirty horses will cut, thresh and sack 35 to 40 acres per day. Some machines cut 2,000 acres in one season. A farmer can get his wheat cut, threshed and sacked for $1.50 per acre, and the machine company boards all the men and pays all expense. This combined machine heads the grain, elevates it into the threshing machine, threshes and runs the wheat through a fanning mill into sacks which are then dumped in winrows in the field. The straw from the machine is scattered over the field and plowed under or left in bunches ready for burning just as desired. One man drives the horses on the machine, one attends to the header, one to the separator, and still another one sews the sacks and dumps them in winrows. This wonderful machine, all complete, costs, de- pending on the size, from $1,600 to $1,800, and the actual expense to the farmer who owns a machine, to get his crop in sack, does not exceed 50 cents per acre. "A 'Bulletin' reporter drove through a portion of this wonderful country one day last week and is enthusiastic in his praise of it. Without doubt it is a world beater. Let any unprejudiced man go over this section and he is the rankest pessimist on earth if he fails to be impressed with the idea that it is destined to be one of the richest sections on the coast. The reporter saw thou- sands of acres of Spring and Fall grain, waving in the breeze, that can not be equalled in any wheat country in the United States. The grain is now a rich dark green, and the visitor's first and last impression is that it is an extra healthy growth. Thousands of acres are being plowed this year up there ; new farm house», mostly unpretentious, as is the case in all newly settled sections, are going up in every direction. Farming in the Horse Heaven country is not an experiment. Several Prosserites have made their start in life, and a good one
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
at that, raising wheat in Horse Heaven. Many persons who bought railroad land a few years ago at from 50 cents to $1.00 per acre, have made big money this season by selling it at $5 to $7 per acre, and this in addition to the cash received for their wheat crops during occupation of the land. Thousands of acres have changed hands since last Spring and the market is growing stiffer every day. This is a fact that any one will tell you. That Horse Heaven is a fine wheat country all will concede. There is no controversy anywhere about that.
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