The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., December 7, 1907, page 2

LYLE PIONEER COMPARES CONDITIONS WITH EARLY DAYS

     "Uncle Jim" Lyle, was in a reminiscent mood Thanksgiving day, when he recalled some of the changes taken place since 40 years ago. One event especially interesting was that of the old O.S.N. Co. declaring that there was no landing at Lyle and requiring the early settlers to row a small boat out to midstream to get aboard the passing steamboats. The austerity of this corporation continued until about 1881, when the independent steamer, "Gold Dust," ran in middle river and the captain, E.W. Spencer, made landing at Lyle and pronounced it the best landing on the run. The aged pioneer noted changes in the transportation for the town he founded, namely, the landing of Lyle wharfboat daily of several steamboats and the passing trains from Kennewick and Goldendale, and he concluded by saying: "My dream of 40 years ago has come true in part, and will be fully fulfilled, with the steel gang connects us with Portland."

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer