Boomtown Hopes in Connell
President B.S. Wadsworth reports on the rapid infrastructure improvements and optimistic crop prospects in Franklin County.
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B.S. Wadsworth, president of the Connell Land and Improvement Company, visited Walla Walla to report on the progress of Connell, which he described as booming. A new $2,000 pumping plant and $1,200 reservoir will be turned on next Tuesday to provide a stable water supply. Despite rumors of poor harvests, Wadsworth insists that land managed with intelligent farming methods is producing excellent wheat crops. Land values currently range from $12 to $25 per acre for improved plots, while raw land remains available for $4 to $10. While immigration to the area has been slower than expected, the company remains confident in the region's agricultural future.
“It is the same old story. Crops are looking fine and Connell gives the best kind of evidence of being one of the best towns in Eastern Washington.”
The transition from 'raw land' to agricultural boomtowns defined much of early 20th-century Eastern Washington. Connell’s struggle to attract migrants while managing infrastructure debt reflects the high-stakes land promotion typical of the era.
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