USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 98
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 98
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 98
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Hon. Lee A. Johnson of Sunnyside, representative of Yakima County, was the next speaker. He had made no preparation whatever, but nevertheless made a speech that was full of thought, which breathed patriotism and good govern- ment in every line and which was a fine oratorical effort as well. It was Mr. Johnson's duty to "give the bride away", as it were, on behalf of Yakima County, which he did very handsomely, wishing the new county of Benton Godspeed, speaking of its marvelous resources and great future, complimenting its people and the beautiful and rapidly growing city of Prosser. There was humor as well as meat in Mr. Johnson's speech when he referred to the fact that this county has been called "Johnson's bob-tailed county." He was proud to have been able to help create it and, while it did not get all the territory to which it thought it was entitled, still the child did not get of its parents everything it wants, but usually got as much as was good for it. The parent county, said Mr. Johnson, would be good to this young infant, would exercise a fostering care of it, give it advice and assistance in every way and, in return it could do no bet- ter than to emulate Yakima County in its government and in other ways. The speech was an unusually happy effort and added much to the occasion.
The governor was the next and last speaker and on being introduced was tendered an ovation. He said, in part:
"I shall remember with a great deal of pleasure the fact that, as governor of this state, I was given the honor of appending my signature to a document which set in motion the wheels of your county government and brought into existence the 37th county of this progressive commonwealth.
"In asking and receiving what might be considered a county charter, you have acted in obedience to the inherent desire of not only every American citizen, but of every human being who knows something of civilization and of organized government, to have and enjoy to the fullest the benefits of local self- government, or what is popularly known as home rule.
"Realizing that in some localities of our country the administration of civil affairs is perverted by the venality, unfaithfulness and dishonesty of once trusted public servants and public officials, in your capacity as founders and fathers of a new community an opportunity is given you to set an example for the other communities of this state and throughout the country of civic righteousness and a clean and pure administration of your local affairs.
"We dare not trust our imaginations in forecasting the great future that is yours as the result of the development and maintenance of the mighty irriga- tion system that will be created in this community and in other portions of eastern Washington under the guiding hand of the Federal Government.
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"You will demonstrate that this fair land was not doomed to be the habita- tion of silence and desolation; you will prove that the waters of this great stream were not intended to roll on in sullen silence to the Pacific, but that they were intended by a beneficent providence to be utilized, harnessed, managed and controlled so that these plains should teem with the life and activity of a proud, industrious, well-to-do, liberty-loving, God-fearing people.
"The observance of this July day would be an idle ceremony if we were insensible of our glorious history ; of the victories of our armies and navies; of the achievements of our diplomats and statesmen; of the yielding of nature to the forces of science discovered and applied by the American inventor; of the skill of the American artisan ; of the industry and intelligence of the American wage earner; of the zeal of our institutions and religion; of the investigation and propagation of the truth in our institutions of learning; of the literature graced by the names of Emerson, Longfellow, Lowell and Whittier. Why should not an American citizen be proud of his country, of its achievements, of its progress, of its standing before the nations of the world?
"True, we are confronted with troubles in the industrial world, aggravated and intensified in some localities by unworthy leaders, who present dangerous evils in an attractive light. But we may enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that in the final settlement of all difficulties affecting our domestic peace and happi- ness we will be able at the critical moment to rely on the plain common sense of the American people to mete out in full and rounded measure the even-handed justice the conditions require.
"In conclusion, my friends, there is no reason under the heavens why the people of this state should not on this anniversary day express that deep feeling and patriotism that have always been a characteristic of the American people.
"You can well afford to gather here and pay your respects to the God of nations, who has so kindly and generously favored this people."
After paying a tribute to the memory of the late Secretary Hay, the gov- ernor concluded by expressing, on behalf of the 800,000 people of the state of Washington to the people of Benton County congratulations for the success of this anniversary day, and for the interest and pride they have shown in the future well-being of the commonwealth.
THE SPORTS
The ball game between North Yakima and Prosser was the next attraction, the grounds being crowded to their utmost capacity, the governor and his party being interested spectators. An account of the game is published elsewhere. After it was over the greased pig was turned loose on the grounds and was caught and held by the Yakima players, which seemed to be the only game at which they could win. And at that the pig was so fat that it couldn't run much. The sports were held on Sixth Street after the ball game. There were a large number of entries in every event, the results being as follows:
Girls' Race-Won by Miss Bromwall, prize $3; Miss Specker $2, Miss Ponti $1.
Boys' Race-Won by R. Shearer, prize $3.50; F. Mason $2.50.
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150 Yard Race-Won by R. Shaw, prize $10; S. Parker $5. Fat Man's Race-Won by U. S. Case, of Rattlesnake, prize $3.
High and Broad Jumps-Both won by R. Shaw, prizes $2 and $3.
Long Race-Won by S. Parker, prize $10. Murray $7.50, R. Shaw $5.
AT THE RIVER
A crowd of over a thousand people gathered at the wharf at 5 o'clock to witness the aquatic sports. Unfortunately, the "Prosser Queen", the big steam- boat, had gone up the river at 2 o'clock and did not get back, on account of striking a rock, until after 6. A number of people were on the afternoon trip and a second excursion was made in the evening. The crowd, however, saw a good skiff race of one mile, the starters being Halm and Macumber, rowing one boat, Huff and Miller another and O. Stranwold, rowing single. The latter of course, was badly handicapped, but made a good race against two pair of oars and kept even for about half the course. Halm and Macumber won, prize $7.50; Huff and Miller $5. There was an exhibition of walking a greased pole, extending over the water, that caused a good deal of fun, Nelson Rich, Jr., tak- ing first money, $5, and Harold Guernsey second,'$2.50. The owners of the gasoline launches took a number of the visitors out for rides on the river, Mayor Taylor entertaining a party of half a dozen North Yakima business men.
FIREWORKS AND BALL
The fireworks display at night was a brilliant event, but was marred by an unfortunate accident, Arthur Mason, eighteen years old, a fireman and son of J. F. Mason, having a giant firecracker explode in his right hand. His hand was badly lacerated, his face and neck powder burned and his side and leg bruised. Dr. Angus, who is attending him, thinks he will be able to save all the fingers, his injuries being very painful, but not dangerous unless blood poison- ing should set in. The ball was a big and grand event, several hundred people attending, despite the hot weather. There was also a ball in the new Kemp Building on the north side.
The progress of the Prosser region in the vital matter of irrigation. is recorded in the "Bulletin" of July 13, 1905:
PROSPECTS ARE GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION
The people of Prosser and vicinity are justified in the belief, "The Bulletin" believes, that the Federal Government will undertake the great irrigation project in this vicinity, known as the Ledbetter scheme. It will reclaim 150,000 acres beginning a few miles east of Prosser and extending to the Columbia River. Every acre of the land lies in the new county of Benton. It includes most of the 57,000 acres of state lands selected under the Carey Act. Until the confer- ence at North Yakima on Wednesday of last week the selection of the state lands was standing in the way of this great project. Now, however, State Land Commissioner E. W. Ross and Governor Mead have agreed, with representatives of all the commercial clubs in the valley, to advise the Secretary of the Interior
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
to withhold his approval of the state selections until he receives a report from the Reclamation service.
It is confidently expected that that report will be to the effect that the pro- posed watering of these state lands under the tentative contract between the state and the Washington Irrigation Company will prevent the Government from undertaking the Ledbetter scheme. The way will be open, therefore, for the Government to proceed. There are now two corps of Government engineers, under Engineers Bliss and Hewitt, making surveys of this project, including measuring the water in the river and securing all data necessary preliminary to starting operations. Those engineers were brought here about three weeks ago by Engineer Noble, chief of the Reclamation service in Washington. It is known that he is favorable to the Ledbetter project. The Government engin- eers have been at work on it for over a year. Their investigations have now proceeded far enough, it is believed, to justify them in recommending to the department that the work be taken up.
The plans also include raising the dam in the Yakima River at this point about 16 feet, which will be necessary in order to cover more land than the Led- better Canal contemplated irrigating. This would also be a great thing for Prosser, as it would make the Yakima River navigable for 30 miles above the town by allowing boats to pass over Rocky Ford, about nine miles above the city.
The "Bulletin" also believes that, in connection with this Ledbetter pro- ject, the Government seriously contemplates purchasing the Sunnyside Canal. Despite the reports from Washington that the offer of its owners will not be considered, it is known here that Government engineers are now engaged in making the closest possible examination of the canal, its land and water rights, and they are liable to report favorably on the proposition. If they do, the Sunnyside Canal would be used as the basis for the project under contemplation. It would be enlarged to about four times its present size, the only portion of the main canal that would be used as the basis for the big system being that from the intake from the Yakima to a point about Zillah, a distance of some 17 miles. The main canal below that point would be used as a lateral, the extension of the 17 mile stretch being on a higher line than the present canal.
The Sunnyside Canal is valuable to the Government for this system of irrigation contemplated, not only on account of the land it covers, but also for the water rights of the company. It has rights in the river which the Reclama- tion service has not, and which it manifests no disposition to ignore. The pur- chase of the canal would carry with it these rights. This is also true of the Prosser Falls Land & Power Company. Its rights in the river are subsequent to those of the Washington Irrigation Company, owner of the Sunnyside Canal, but the two concerns claim more water than the river flows at its lowest stage in August. The appropriation of the former company calls for 600 cubic feet per second of time. In order to settle with it a proposition has been made to E. F. Benson, its president, to give him a greater head of water by raising the dam here, when he would be satisfied, it is thought, with about one-third the amount. He uses the water to irrigate about 2,000 acres of land by pumping from the river into a high line canal ; also to generate electricity for lighting and power purposes. His irrigating canal, if the Government undertakes the Led-
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better scheme as here outlined, would probably also be taken over by the Fed- eral authorities. No such settlement as can be made with Mr. Benson is pos- sible with the owners of the Sunnyside Canal, for the reason that all the water in the river to which it is entitled is used for irrigation purposes. As before stated, the Government must respect the rights of these two companies.
The prediction is here made that it will settle with the Washington Irriga- tion Company by purchasing the Sunnyside Canal, and with the Sunnyside Canal, and with the Prosser Falls Land & Power Company by raising the dam at this point and taking over its irrigation system. With these two largest water rights in the new river adjusted it will not be a difficult matter for the government to settle with the smaller appropriators.
From the facts here outlined, the conviction is growing here that at last, after several years of waiting, the Government is about to do something for the Yakima Valley in the way of practical irrigation. Until the past few weeks, the people of this Valley were discouraged and doubted whether any work would be done. Now, however, their hopes are renewed, and, if "The Bulletin" is not very much mistaken, all preliminaries will be settled during the present year, and next Spring the Federal Reclamation service will actually begin construc- tion work on an irrigation scheme in the Yakima Valley that will be worth mil- lions of dollars to the state.
Often times more history of a town can be found in its advertisements than in any other data, and we include here a page of these records from the "Bul- letin" of July 13, 1905. Following the ads, as will be seen is a valuable list of the churches and lodges of that date.
Some advertisements appearing in "The Bulletin", July 13, 1905.
B. E. McGREGOR, City Attorney.
Careful attention given to all legal business.
Probate and irrigation law a spec- ialty.
Insurance and collections.
Contest cases defended.
C. H. HINMAN,
North Yakima, Wash.
Practices before United States land office. Real estate.
Township plats and blue prints. Land scrip.
C. C. MCCOWN, M. D.
All calls attended, city or country. Office room 12, New Taylor block.
Prosser, Wash.
DR. D. M. ANGUS,
Physician and Surgeon.
Office in the Angus Drug Com- pany's new brick building. Calls an- swered day or night.
DR. R. A. CALKIN,
Dentist. Office in Taylor Block. Office hours 8 to 12 a. m. : 1 to 5 p. m. Prosser, Wash.
DR. FRENCH,
Rooms 1 and 2, Masonic Building. Prosser, Wash. Will be at office day and night un- less engaged professionally.
DR. H. WELLAND HOWARD, Physician and Surgeon. Rooms 1 and 2, Taylor Block. Prosser, Wash.
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Sacred Heart Church
United Presbyterian Church
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church CHURCHES OF PROSSER
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
S. P. FLOWER, U. S. Commissioner and Notary Public. Filings and final proof on government land.
Mabton, Wash.
SAMUEL H. MASON, Attorney, Justice of Peace and Police Magistrate. Notary Public, Real Estate, Insurance. Room 9, Taylor Blk., Prosser.
ANDREW BROWN, Lawyer.
General Law Practice. Collections and Insurance. Room 10, Taylor Block.
Prosser, Wash.
LEDGERWOOD & HARRISON, Attorneys at Law. Prosser, Wash.
H. DUSTIN, Attorney at Law. Room 3, Masonic Block. Prosser, Wash.
J. W. CALLICOTTE,
Attorney at Law.
Twenty years practice. Room 3, Taylor Block. Prosser, Wash.
LAURA PALMQUIST, Instructor of Piano. Vocal and kindergarten music. Theory and harmony taught with piano. Seventy-five cents per lesson of forty minutes.
STORK CIGAR STORE, A. Wiese, Proprietor. Cigars, Tobaccos, Smokers' Arti- cles, Choice Confectionery, Fruits, Soft Drinks, Ice Cream. Corner Sixth and Bennett, Prosser, Wash.
H. H. GUILD, REAL ESTATE, Room 10, Taylor Block.
Horse Heaven and Rattlesnake wheat land. Irrigated lands and re- linquishments.
CHURCH SOCIETIES CHRISTIAN CHURCH
All Christian Church services in new Tabernacle opposite I. O. O. F. Hall. Sunday school at 10 a. m. Services of worship, sermon and communion at Il a. m. Christian Endeavor 5:30 p. m. Prayer meeting Thursday evening. General invitation extended to all services.
M. A. THOMPSON, Pastor.
CATHOLIC.
There will be services at the Catholic Church the last Sunday in each month, Father Parodi, North Yakima, officiating.
METHODIST
Sunday school at 10 a. m .; preaching at 11 a. m .; class meeting at 12 m .; Junior League at 3 p. m .; Epworth League at 5:30 p. m .; preaching at 7:30 p. m. All are cordially invited. W. C. SMITH, Pastor.
Residence next to the church.
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
Preaching every Sabbath morning at Fairview schoolhouse in "Horse- Heaven" at the hour of 10 o'clock, followed by Bible study at 11 o'clock.
Preaching at Prosser Opera House every Sunday afternoon at 3:30. Spe- cial music in the song service and praise. A cordial welcome to all.
J. S. THOMPSON, Pastor.
SECRET SOCIETIES
A. F. & A. M .- Euclid Lodge will hold regular communications on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Sojourning brethern are welcome. Andrew Carledge, W. M .; G. H. Pearl, Sec.
K. of P .- Prosser Lodge No. 130. Regular meetings every Tuesday eve- ning in I. O. O. F. Hall. P. E. Maddox, C. C .: W. H. Bernard, K. of R. and S. Visiting knights welcome.
I. O. O. F .- Prosser Lodge No. 154. Meeting each Saturday evening. H. W. Creason, N. G .; Albert Smith, Sec.
I. O. O. F .- Pearl Rebekah Lodge No. 107. Alma Smith N. G .; Grace Angus, Sec.
M. W. A .- Camp No. 6100. Meeting each Monday evening. C. A. War- ner. V. C .: A. Hinkle, Clerk.
M. W. A .- Royal Neighbors. Riverside Camp No. 2834. Mrs. Clara Wilgus, Oracle ; Mrs. Iva Jenks, Recorder.
W. O. W .- Woodland Echo Circle No. 319, Women of Woodcraft. Meet- ing in new Masonic Hall the second and fourth Tuesday afternoon in each month. Visiting Neighbors invited to attend. Emma Roberts, G. N .: Emma Warnecke, Clerk.
G. A. R .- Major Johnson Post No. 114. Meets first and third Saturdays of each month. Commander, A. F. Jackson : quartermaster Charles Perry.
W. R. C .- Major Johnson Auxiliary. Meets every second and fourth Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Elizabeth Perry, President : Lucy Mills, Sec- retary.
Order of Eagles-Prosser Aerie No. 969. Meets every Friday evening I. O. O. F. Hall. Joseph Ponti, secretary.
SCHIOOLS, CHURCHES AND LODGES OF THE PRESENT
Preceding pages have given the history of these vitally important institut- tions in the town. We will include in these paragraphs the present record.
From the superintendent of the Prosser schools we derive the following facts relative to the schools :
Prosser High School was founded September 15, 1902, under E. Bowler, superintendent. The present high school building was erected in 1907. Pres- ent high school faculty : P. A. Wright, superintendent : W. S. Hodge, principal : Caroline Hardick, English: Allene Dunn, mathematics ; Pearl Hutchinson, do- mestic art : Ethel Hughes, music; Mrs. Warren Hawley, commercial. The present directors are E. A. Wise, chairman ; Lee Ferguson, clerk ; J. Kelly De Priest. High school enrollment, 130: grade enrollment, 460; value of school property, $109,300.
We have already given in a quotation from the "Bulletin" the churches
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HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
and lodges of an earlier date. The lodges have remained essentially the same. The churches and pastors at present date are the following :
Presbyterian, W. S. Richie ; Christian, Lee Ferguson : Methodist Episcopal, T. A. Graham; Episcopal, Leonard R. Smith; Baptist, Mr. Bale; Catholic, Father Richards.
KIONA AND BENTON CITY
We derive from Mrs. W. A. Kelso, the following data about the starting of the town of Kiona and the Kiona schools :
Kiona was a station made when the Northern Pacific Railroad was built through, in 1885. William Neil was section foreman and his family was the first to live in the place. At that time Mrs. Kelso was Miss Libbie Ketcham. She taught the first school at Kiona in 1886 with the Neil family of four chil- dren for pupils. This school was on this side (south side) of Yakima River, but a few years later the small schoolhouse was moved across the river on ice, and school has since been located about half way between Kiona and Benton City.
As the traveler, either by rail or road, will readily discover, there is a natural break between the Prosser section of Benton County and the Columbia River section. This is occasioned by the closing of the higher land over the Yakima River, leaving a narrow gateway through which the river passes directly north to "The Horn," making its way thence southeasterly to the Columbia. This barrier will be reclaimed to considerable degree by the laterals of the Sunnyside extension, and thus the barrier and the gateway will sometime con- stitute a scene of verdure and productiveness connecting the two sections.
Just at the point of the sharp bend to the north at the eastern edge of the "Gateway" are the villages of Kiona and Benton City. The townsite of Kiona was laid out in 1902 by Kelso Brothers, formerly of Walla Walla. Mrs. Ken- nedy was also a part owner of the property. The Kelso Brothers have continued to conduct the chief business enterprises to the present. A two-story school building was erected in the first years of the town's existence, Mrs. H. H. Nagle and Miss N. N. Williams being the first teachers. At the present date a four-year high school is maintained. The present principal is H. Lacey Squibb, assisted by a corps of six teachers, whose names appear in the teachers' direc- tory in the chapter on County History.
While there is nothing to make a large town at Kiona the region around is one of great possibilities, and with the development of the irrigation system there will be a great growth insuring a fine business center.
Benton City is right opposite Kiona on the Yakima River and on the O .- W. R. & N. line. It has a splendid location and was laid out with great expecta- tions and ambitious aims, entering the county seat contest as already noticed. It was founded in 1909 by F. L. Pitman, an engineer on the railway system. The town was laid out under the wing of the railway company. The times were not propitious for townsite enterprises, and after the erection of some excellent buildings and the inauguration of prospective improvements on a great scale, the townsite passed into the hands of the Spokane and Eastern Trust Company as trustee. Mr. S. J. Harrison of Sunnyside, the chief builder of
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that fine city, became interested in Benton City and organized the Benton Land Company for handling the townsite and the adjoining acreage. Mr. Harrison contemplated the creation of a colonization system similar to that which had proved so successful at Sunnyside. But after much effort and well planned advertising, it was seen that the time was not yet propitious. The town has assumed the role of a fine village and local center, well equipped with schools, church, and business establishments. Like Kiona, Benton City will become a trading center commensurate with the growth of the splendid country around.
KENNEWICK
An attractive feature of the cities and towns through which we are passing in this journey is the presence in them of character. They are distinctive. No one seems to duplicate or imitate others. Something in the environment or the hitorical setting or the prevailing industry, or the type of architecture, imparts an individuality to each. All the way from Roslyn to Kennewick there is a certain local effect which fixes in the mind of the observer an impression of each town that remains distinct in memory. And this air of distinctiveness exists in spite of a general sameness in external nature and in certain regular features of construction. As we look out of car windows or from auto-seats, we see the same brown, treeless hills and sagebrush plains at those places yet untouched by water. And where the vitalizing streams have flowed we see the green of the alfalfa or the snowy cataracts of apple-bloom, if it be Spring, or the gold and crimson of the perfected fruit, if it be Autumn, or the nodding tassels of the corn, if it be the season. We see in every town the high school building on the most conspicuous eminence that the topography affords. And vet the sameness in these general respects does not defeat the essential unique personality of each place. There is something which the traveler will associate with each town by which to remember it. If he closes his eyes and says "Kennewick," the visions that come to his mind first of all will no doubt be the river and the highlands with the Olmstead addition. The Columbia River is in itself an asset of immeasurable interest and value. And while other towns have their Highlands and Nob Hills, the Kennewick Highlands are different. From the wide sweep of the open spaces at the edge of the Highlands the sight- seer gets the full benefit of these two leading features of the topography. And the river, always and everywhere grand and inspiring, is peculiarly so at this point of vantage.
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