Railroad Promises Renewed for Yakima
After months of doubt, telegrams confirm the construction of the Portland to North Yakima line, sparking hope for an economic boom.
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.
Of late there has been much doubt expressed among our citizens regarding the building of the railroad from Portland to North Yakima, for the encouragement of which plucky Yakima raised $100,000. The doubt had grown with the lack of news until in the minds of many it had become a certainty that the road would not be built. Telegrams were received on Wednesday, however, by J. B. Reavis and Edward Whitson, containing assurances that the agreement under which the bonus was raised would be carried out; that the necessary funds for the building of the road had been secured, and that arrangements were now being perfected for a rigorous prosecution of the work. This is news prolific with good tidings for Yakima—tidings which tell of prosperity and plenty, and the building of a city of proportions that few can realize. Friends at a distance should get a focus on Yakima and watch her expand during 1890.
“Friends at a distance should get a focus on Yakima and watch her expand during 1890.”
The struggle for rail connectivity was the 19th-century equivalent of modern infrastructure fights over highway bypasses or high-speed internet access. Yakima's growth has always been tied to its status as a transit hub, reflecting how central transport remains to the city's identity.
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