The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., December 14, 1907, page 3

KLICKITAT COUNTY

     Klickitat county is the south central county of the State of Washington, being bounded on the south for the entire distance from east to west by the Columbia River, the division line between the states of Oregon and Washington. Yakima County lies on the north, Benton on the east, Skamania on the west, and the counties of Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Morrow of the State of Oregon on the south. The state has an average width of 20 miles and 80 in length.
     The main portion of the county is of plateau formation, varying in elevation from 1500 to 3,000 feet. The fertile Klickitat Valley is in the central part, being of an average altitude of 1600 feet. The distributing center is Goldendale, the county seat, having a population of 1500.
     Goldendale is superbly and beautifully located at the base of the Simcoe mountains, the edge of the celebrated Klickitat white pine timber belt, on the Little Klickitat River, which, with its tributaries, supply excellent water power for manufacturing purpose. The gravity water system of Goldendale is owned by the municipality and is not equaled by that of any town having the same population. The water is piped from a cold spring on the Simcoes, 12 miles to the north of the town, which affords an abundant supply for domestic and irrigation purposes. Pure water, wide streets, commodious business houses, electric lights, perfect sewerage, the best of public and high schools, beautiful homes, cheap fuel, sightly location, and a healthy and invigorating climate make Goldendale an ideal place for a home. Flouring and lumber mills are its chief manufacturing industries, but, capital seeking investment will, at no distant day, establish woolen and scouring mills, box factories, canneries, and the other needed industries. Goldendale's electric plant is generated by water and is being further developed so that motive power can be furnished for manufacturing purposes in Goldendale and contingent territory.
     Among other towns of importance in the county are White Salmon in western section, a trading center of a fruit, lumber, and stock country; Lyle, at the mouth of the Big Klickitat and terminus of the railroad from Goldendale which connects with the Portland and Seattle R.R at that place; Trout Lake and Glenwood, located in the north-western section of the county, which is chiefly devoted to the dairying and lumber industries; Centerville in the rich Swale country, 7 miles southwest of Goldendale, where the raising of wheat is the chief avocation; Columbus, on the Columbia River and the Portland & Seattle R.R. in the peach and grape belt of the county; Cliffs, located on the Columbia River 4 miles east of Columbus, the division of the Portland & Seattle R.R. a town that has a very promising future; Roosevelt, opposite Arlington, Ore., also located on the famous North Bank road, being the chief shipping point of eastern Klickitat, and from which there is a mail and stage line via Dot and Cleveland to Bickleton, the trading point and metropolis of northeastern Klickitat which is a grain and stock country.
     Parties coming from the East, whose destination is Goldendale or the Klickitat Valley, should get off at Columbus or Cliffs, and take the stage to Goldendale. If coming by the Union Pacific system, they should leave the train at Biggs, or Rufus, Oregon, where they can connect with the stages from Goldendale. If they have a through ticket to Goldendale, transfers are made at Lyle; or parties can reach Goldendale by taking the Columbia River boats to Portland for The Dalles and get off the boat at Lyle where transfers are made to the local train for Goldendale.
     In the past, Klickitat county has been greatly handicapped in her development by the lack of transportation facilities, but the completion of the Portland & Seattle R.R. along the North Bank of the Columbia River has given residents of every section of the county an outlet to the east, and Portland, without having to leave the county to reach a railroad. There is no county in the state better equipped with this great essential to growth and development. Klickitat County is also favorably situated for river transportation on account of the great Columbia River being its southern boundary. River transportation secures for Klickitat citizens the lowest possible freight rates and protection against corporate greed forever.
     The principal farm product of Klickitat Valley is wheat, the yield averaging about 1,000,000 bushels a year, with a like amount raised in eastern Klickitat. Grain lands produce from 10 to 50 bushels per acre and the land values vary in the same proportion. Sheep, cattle, and hogs are valuable assets of the farmer and stock raiser.
     Most of the valley lands will produce excellent crops of dry land alfalfa and red clover. Farmers are wanted who will devote their energies more to the dairy and poultry interests of the country. Diversified farming will husband the strength of the land, pay rich returns, and treble the population of Goldendale and the Klickitat valley.
     There is a large scope of country tributary to Goldendale which will raise apples, unsurpassed by any section or clime. Portland buyers visited Goldendale for the first time this year (1907) and contacted for all the apples and they could obtain. Exceedingly gratifying to the Klickitat citizen were their high praises of the Klickitat product. As good apple lands can be bought near Goldendale from $10 to $30 dollars per acre, those seeking first-class apple lands at a premium cost will grasp the opportunity. The completion of the Portland & Seattle R.R. has greatly stimulated the apple industry and much new acreage is being planted to fruit trees.
     Klickitat County has 60 school districts, 3500 school children, and a population of 10,000. The taxable property will aggreate $6,000,000 in 1908, and the rate of taxation will be about 15 mills.
     Klickitat winters are generally short and mild. The coldest weather seldom registers below 20 degrees above zero. Snow is welcome, as it protects the grain and secures an abundant water supply during the summer months.
     Residents of Klickitat are blessed with cheap fuel and lumber, the lumbering industry is becoming a great factor as a wealth producer for the county. Klickitat has over 500 square miles of timber awaiting the woodman's axe.
     Klickitat county surpasses all others in its many and varied resources. There is the Salmon fishing in the Columbia, and the largest trout in the world are caught in the Big Klickitat.
     Other industries are Lumber, shingles, sash and door, and flouring mills; the raising of fruit, -- apples, apricots, peaches, grapes, melons, pears, plums, prunes, strawberries, etc., truck farming, -- the raising of cabbage, corn, beans, potatoes, pumpkins, squashes, onions, lettuce, radishes, peas, tomatoes, celery, asparagus, etc., grain, sheep, cattle, and hog Industries, dairying, etc. No other section offers greater opportunities for the capitalist, or for the poor man who wishes a home and is not afraid to work.
     Klickitat needs more brains, capital and energy to promote the development of her many and magnificent natural advantages and resources. If you have money to invest, or are searching a new location or home, do not be satisfied until you have visited Goldendale and investigated the merits of Klickitat County. It is a marvelous and growing country but here figs do not grow on thistles and profligacy and idleness are not wanted for they cannot reap the reward of virtue.
     Anyone wishing further information concerning Goldendale and tributary country should write to the Klickitat Development League, Goldendale, Washington.
     Come and assist us in promoting Klickitat development. The Klickitat apple and strawberry against the world. Goldendale grows while others sleep.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer