lopened.html

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., May 6, 1911, page 2
"Klickitat Intelligence"

Announcement made a week ago that the townsite of Lyle would be opened May 1st after years of waiting caused many of residents of the territory within a radius of 25 miles to flock there with the hope of making reservations before the general public came in and bought up the best blocks. The owners have refused to make allotments or reservations except to established residents of Lyle, many of whom have been awaiting the townsite opening for ten years or more. These local residents have shown their faith in the future of Lyle by building houses and store buildings on lots on which they could obtain only 30-day leases. Incidental to the development of the townsite a large acreage of some of the finest agricultural and fruit lands in the Pacific Northwest will be thrown open to settlement. The townsite company has retained George A. Kyle, an eminent engineer who will supervise the replatting of the townsite along the model lines. A number of substantial buildings will be begun as soon as grades have been established by the engineers. The postoffice, which is now situated south of the railroad tracks will be moved to Washington avenue on the north side of the track in what is expected to become the principal retail business district. The Lyle Hotel, a three-story building, will be moved two blocks to conform to the new platting. Every building in the town will be turned and squared with the new plat. The railroad companies have promised to build a model station and provide conveniences ample for a city of 10,000. Connected to the north and south portions of the town, which are divided by the North Bank Railroad, will be broad overhead driveways, entirely eliminating grade crossings. There are large quantities of building sand gravel of good quality to be had just outside the town limits. This will lower the cost of concrete buildings, and it is the purpose of the townsite company to encourage construction of structures of a good class. The Washington State Highway, now being constructed along the north bank of the Columbia River, will run through and connect with one of the main streets of Lyle. This road will be a 60-foot macadamized boulevard between Vancouver and Walla Walla and will be one of the scenic drives of the world. Lyle is an old trading point and was a meeting place of Indians in early day. It's later existence May 1st as an established railroad junction and distributing center with a considerable trade already developed. Every train on the North Bank Railroad stops and every established line of river boats makes the place a calling point.