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The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., July 4, 1935, page 6

WISHRAM NOW EDEN, IS SAID
Representatives of News Finds Many Beautiful Gardens in Town

A representative of The News, calling in Wishram this week found more than a town inhabited for the most part, by railroad officials and workers.
The residents in Wishram, so the representative's report indicated, take a great deal of interest in the appearance of their lawns, vegetables and flower gardens.
One, in particular, drew the concentrated attraction of the papers contact man. This was the flower and tropical garden of R.B. Votaw, a prominent S.P. & S. conductor who resides in Wishram.
Aside from the flowers and shrubs which are ordinarily found in territory in North America, Mr. Votaw has planted and successfully grown several species of tropical plant life. Included in his garden are 10 banana trees, one of which has attained the height of six feet. Mr. Votaw can also show the visitor fig trees that really have figs on the branches. The lodge banana tree has a hud approximately four feet from the ground. This tree was started from a bulb which Mr. Vada obtained from a banana messenger off one of the fruit expresses.
In addition, Mr. Votaw has several date palms, bamboo trees and other tropical shrubs growing out doors. The conductor likes to terms Wishram "The Banana Belt of the Northwest." The success of the tropical trees is due, Mr. Votaw estimates, to the steady warm weather enjoyed during the summer months at the location of the town of Wishram.
Though off the main highway and the accustomed road of travel, many tourists are drawn to the river town when they peer over the attractive trees which enshroud the town.