The Tale of Two Cities: Yakima and Spokane
A former Yakima resident makes a business case for why Yakima is poised to mirror the rapid development of Spokane, citing coal, railroads, and the promise of opening Indigenous land.
J. M. Adams, formerly a resident of Yakima and now of Spokane Falls, is in the city this week. In conversation, he spoke of Spokane Falls as one of the world's prodigies—a city of unparalleled growth and untold destiny. 'The pluck and courage of your people here reminds me of the enterprise and push of the people who have built up the young giant city by the falls,' he said. Adams suggests that the Yakima and Spokane interests are related: Spokane needs coal, and Yakima has it. Furthermore, he argued that the Indian reservations must go, stating, 'To keep small bands of Indians in the midst of vast reservations is therefore contrary to all sound authority on sociology... the time has come when the Indian reservations must go.'
“The time has come when the Indian reservations must go.”
The rhetoric regarding the 'opening' of the Yakama Reservation for settlement is a painful reminder of the aggressive dispossession campaigns of the late 19th century. The 'parallel similarity' between Yakima and Spokane reflects the boosterism of the era, which prioritized rail connections and industrial extraction over the rights of Indigenous peoples.
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