The Unpolished Potential of the White River Valley

We were anticipating a pleasant trip up the Duwamish and White rivers. Saturday morning, Sept. 18th, found us on the road leading to White River. Pushing rapidly, it did not take long to cross the bluffs which separate the White and Duwamish valleys, where we found ourselves in the beautiful valley whose name heads this letter. We were, comparatively speaking, strangers, but it did not take us long to realize that we were traversing a valley rich in agricultural resources. Nature evidently had done her part, and it but remains for man to do his.

We were in time to see hop picking and the system of curing. We were surprised at the enormous yield, which in some instances was claimed to be two tons per acre. One farmer informed us his hop field contained four acres and he would be disappointed if he failed to get less than eight tons.

From what we have seen, we became convinced that the whole valley has a great future before it. There are two requirements which are greatly needed: the first is practical farmers, and the second is a local railroad, running from Tacoma up the Puyallup, through Stuck, and down White River, terminating at Seattle.

We would be remiss in our duty were we not to mention the short-sighted course pursued by many of the farmers we came in contact with. We will only refer to a few as an illustration of the most suicidal and slovenly system of farming that has ever come under our observation. One farmer who had gone to the trouble and expense of planting something over fifty acres of barley evidently had forgotten to fence it, for we counted not less than thirty head of hogs enjoying the fruits of his labor. Another, who is the owner of quite a large farm, is compelled through his utter indifference to buy his hay to winter his stock. Several sell their hogs on foot for 2.5 and 3 cents per pound, and buy bacon for 12.5 cents. We counted twenty milch cows running wild in the woods, whose owners had not milked since they came in.