General farming on the uplands, truck-gardening and fruit-raising
on the irrigated lower lands are the chief occupations. On account
of the great fertility of the volcanic soils and the early springs,
Benton county is able to supply the large towns with fruits and
vegetables some two weeks earlier than most other sections, giving
it quite an advantage in prices. The county is rapidly growing
in population and prosperity.
[Illustration: Plate No. 39.--Stacking Hay in Kittitas County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 40.--New Training School, Ellensburg, Kittitas
County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 41.--Sheep-Raising in Klickitat County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 42.--Wheat-Raising in Klickitat County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 43.--Eighty-Acre Orchard in Klickitat County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 44.--Manufacturing Scenes, Chehalis, Lewis
County.]
[Page 49]
PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS.
PROSSER, its chief town and county seat, is on the Yakima river
and Northern Pacific railway in the western central part of the
county, and has about 2,000 population. It is the chief distributing
center of the county. It has three weekly newspapers, six churches,
good water supply, banks, stores, warehouses, lumber yards, etc.
KENNEWICK, at the easterly center of the county, on the Northern
Pacific and Portland & Seattle railroads and on the Columbia river,
is a town of much importance, having about 1,500 people. It is
noted for the remarkable earliness of its fruits and vegetables. It
has the usual business, church and school establishments, including
an ice and cold storage plant.
KIONA, on the Yakima river, midway between Prosser and Kennewick,
CARLEY AND PETERSON, in the southern portion of the county, on the
Columbia river, are all growing and prospering smaller towns.