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Old newspapers, pinned to the places they wrote about — the streets you can still walk today.
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Speculators and geologists are betting big on the oil and gas potential of the Rattlesnake Hills, hoping to spark an industrial boom in the desert.
“It is no longer a question of whether or not the prospective gas and oil fields in the Rattlesnakes are to be developed, but a question of who is going to be the first to strike oil.”
Agricultural groups in Benton County push to purge the county agent's office and force the retirement of state college leadership over cooperative marketing disputes.
“The reason for this request is the claim that the attitude of Dr. Nelson is such that the county agents are not permitted to lend any aid to the organization of the farmers for cooperative marketing.”
A failed land investment lawsuit reveals how the death of a railroad titan doomed a town's hopes for becoming a major terminal.
“It was the death of E. H. Harriman and not the fault of the road officials that they had failed to build to Benton.”
An editorial critique of the state's failure to maintain a fifteen-mile stretch of road between Richland and Benton City.
“You pay, but you don’t go unless you walk and leave the automobile behind.”
A group of young vandals terrorizing the countryside found themselves outgunned and forced to pay a heavy price after targeting a local man's beehives.
“The "bloods" were in their turn held up, relieved of their guns and team and advised to make for pastures new.”
A prominent Prosser businessman drowns while duck hunting near the mouth of the Yakima River.
“Seeing that Hedger made no progress against the current, McKay urged him to turn toward the boat, which he endeavored to do. Finally Fewlas McKay left the boat in an effort to succor Mr. Hedger who sank almost immediatly after.”
Rural Washington voters approve a bold, experimental agricultural campus on the bluffs overlooking the Yakima River.
“The authorities believe that much agriculture can be taught through other subjects and that all the regular academic subjects may be given a ‘country-life twist.’”
Kennewick residents are swarming the Rattlesnake Hills, staking hundreds of placer claims in hopes of striking it rich as oil fever takes hold of the county.
“To date more than a hundred claims have been filed with the county auditor and the names are like a fancy collection of race horse autographs.”
Local business leaders tour a mysterious, productive natural gas well, fueling regional excitement for industrial development.
“the minor hardships of the journey were forgotten in the delights of hot coffee boiled on a gas burner at the well side.”
Sixty North Yakima men drove out to a wildcat well 14 miles north of Benton City, where escaping gas hissed like a locomotive, then lit into a 20-foot tower of flame — and raised fresh hopes of oil under the desert. Spoiler: the gas wasn't there in commercial quantities yet.
“The flames burst into the air with a roar, and the blaze shot about 20 feet in the air.”
Thousands gather to dedicate the Benton extension of the Sunnyside Canal, signaling a doubling of local irrigated acreage.
“With the turning on of the water in the canal the irrigated area tributary to Benton City is more than doubled.”
Two alert clerks scare off burglars at a local store, but their midnight pursuit ends in a stumble and a flurry of gunfire.
“Owing to the darkness, he fell over a box near the corner of the building; when he succeeded in getting to the front of the building, all he could hear was the retreating footsteps of the robbers.”
A body pulled from the river bears no identification, leaving behind only two dimes and a pair of kid gloves.
“The jury was unable to decide, and brought in a simple verdict of 'found drowned.'”
A day of speeches, picnics, and festivities marks the expansion of irrigation to the thirsty fields of Benton County.
“The completion of the extension practically doubles the irrigated area around Benton City.”
A high-water accident at the Kiona ferry leaves the community wondering if their only link across the river has been swept to the sea.
“Whether the boat has been carried to the sea, or is beached somewhere, is the mystery that is at present unsolved.”
An experimental shipment of 2,600 chicks from California arrives in Benton City to prove large-scale commercial viability.
“They were installed in two Petaluma brooders in a vacant store building.”
Speculators on the Knudson ranch pause drilling as they hunt for a gas strike deep beneath the Benton County soil.
“The present operators feel they are reaching a depth when the bottom of their well may be blown out any minute.”
Prominent rancher J.B. Palmer dies in Walla Walla after a rushed surgery for appendicitis, leaving behind five children and a community that mourns the loss of a pioneer dairyman.
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