The Pioneer edition

From the Adams County Pioneer Edition, published by The Ritzville Journal-Times in 1949, with permission of Publisher Dee Ruser and supplied by Larry Lenz.

This multi-part segment is about wheat in eastern Washington and specifically Adams County.

The Story of Golden Grain; The History of Wheat-Raising in Adams County

Bumper crop of 1897

"Early-day farming in Adams County was a hazardous proposition, with uncertain harvests and 40 to 50 cent wheat, until the first bumper crop in 1897 proved that wheat could be raised here successfully and profitably.

"About that time wheat-raising gained predominance over cattle-ranching for the first time in the budding county. The big crop of '97 also was a major reason for the tremendous influx of new settlers at the turn of the century.

"Apparently the first ground power combine in Adams county was used on the John Gillett farm 14 miles northwest of Ritzville in 1888. Farmers came from 60 to 70 miles around to watch it.

"By 1906, a few more combines were in the area, largely on an experimental basis. It is reported that 13 were introduced in the Washtucna region that year. But the transition form headers and threshers to combines was a slow one, extending generally from about 1900 to 1920.

"Combines combined the functions of the header and the thresher, reducing the number of harvest hands needed form 15 or 20 to six or seven, and representing a great savings in time.

"Pulled by 26 to 32 horses, the ground-power cut the grain and threshed it in one operation, dumping the sacks as it moved along.

"Power for the threshing mechanism came by chains and sprockets from one of the combine wheels. Wagons followed to pick up the sacks and haul them to warehouses.

Jerkline mule used to guide entire rig

"Those old ground-power combines with their massive 32-horse teams were a spectacle only the old timers who saw them can visualize. The driver never had more than two lines in his Pulled by 26 to 32 horses, the ground-power cut the grain and threshed it in one operation, dumping the sacks as it moved along.

"Power for the threshing mechanism came by chains and sprockets from one of the combine wheels. Wagons followed to pick up the sacks and haul them to warehouses.

Jerkline mule used to guide entire rig

"Those old ground-power combines with their massive 32-horse teams were a spectacle only the old timers who saw them can visualize. The driver never had more than two lines in his jerks and he turned right.

We will continue with Raising Wheat in Adams County soon.