The Valley's New Tobacco Boom
Yakima prepares for massive production as tobacco emerges as a leading rival to hop farming.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Yakima will soon start one of its chiefly distinguishing industries. William Ker, of the Moxee company, stated that inside of two weeks they would startup their large cigar factory. The fame of Yakima tobacco is widespread, and there is said to be more profit in raising tobacco in the Yakima valley than in cultivating hops. The Yakima cigar factory will at once begin the manufacture of 500,000 cigars, which will be branded as 'The Moxee' and 'The Yakima.' Manager Ker has expanded the experimental farm to 1,000 acres, cultivating tobacco, alfalfa, and grapes. The manufacturers are already on the ground, and the boxes and labels have been ordered.
“There is said to be more profit in raising tobacco in the Yakima valley than in cultivating hops.”
The transition from hops to other specialized crops like wine grapes—referenced in this piece by the arrival of Riesling cuttings—perfectly foreshadows the Yakima Valley’s modern identity as a premier viticultural region.
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