ries. Its area is 3,222 square miles and it has a population of
about 38,000. It is watered by the Yakima river and its tributaries,
and through its valleys the railroads from the east find their
easiest grade toward the Cascade passes. It is a county of level
valleys and plateaus, having a soil made up chiefly of volcanic
ash and disintegrated basaltic rocks, of great depth, which yields
fabulously in cereal and grass crops, fruits and vegetables with
the magic touch of irrigation. Artificial watering is 30 years old
in this valley, and yet only a very small area was thus treated
until the matter was taken up by the national government. But now
vast areas are being provided with water, and the consequent growth
and development of the county is wonderful.

A series of lakes in the mountains are being utilized as reservoirs,
and from these lakes the waters are being distributed in many directions
in the large irrigating canals. When the projects now under way are
completed, more than 200,000 acres will be under ditches.

RESOURCES.

Yakima's wealth consists in the combination of its soil and water
and climate. The county, lying east of the Cascade mountains, in
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large part at a low elevation, receives somewhat severe heat in
the summer, which gives the opportunity successfully to ripen the
less hardy fruits--peaches, apricots, grapes, etc. The county has
half a million bearing trees and two and one-half million young
trees growing in its orchards.

INDUSTRIES.

Naturally the industries of the county consist in exploiting its
natural resources, and so we find Yakima citizens busy in raising
fruits, hay, grain, and garden vegetables, to supply the big cities
of the Sound. Its last year's contribution will probably exceed
ten million dollars in value.

Of the items which compose this large sum, fruit is probably chief
in importance. Alfalfa and grain-hay is an important item, as is
also the crop of melons and potatoes. The combined fields of alfalfa
and orchards make ideal bee pasturage, and Yakima honey is a constant
factor of barter in the Sound cities. The upland farms produce
quantities of all grains--wheat, oats, and barley--and some field
corn is successfully raised in the warmer parts. Sheep, cattle
and horses are also exported. Hops are a large crop.

PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS.

NORTH YAKIMA is at once the county seat and chief metropolis of
the entire Yakima valley, having a population of abou