Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-11-25

be in no hurry in taking up land.
It is plenty-some of it useless, some
of it too hard to clear to be of any
present value, and much that can be
had without price, that is actually
worth $50 to 500 per acre to the
man who will improve and cultivate
it. He could not sell at such prices,
land is 50 plenty, but still it is worth
that sum to the actual settler upon it,
who keeps it for his own use, such
is the desirable land to get hold of.
1t is difficult country to get about
in, and if you work at your trade
and save money for year or two,
some made acquaintance will tell
you of a place that will just suit you,
and direct your steps right to it;
whereas, if you started out at once
to find a suitable place to settle upon,
you might take up worthless piece
of land, or one very hard to clear,
or you might become disguised, as
many do, and declaring it was no
country to hold you, leave it.
A good business man with 81 500
or 81, 900, might start little trading
post in some of the newer settle
ments aid trade with the settlers and
Indians and could do we'll according
to his capacity. There is one tan
merry on Puget Sound. It seems to
do a good business. Many hides are
transported that might be manufac-
tured here. OF course all these
trades must start and grow with the
country.
The Eastern part of Washington
Territory, that part lying East of the
Cascade Mountains, embraces about
two-th;rds of the whole Territory.
Its outlet is the gap through these
mountains cut by the Columbia river.
This river forms the Southern bound
airy of the Territory from the Pacific
Ocean to about $50 miles East of the
Cascade mountains, where it turns to
the North and meanders about 700
miles through Eastern Washington,
having many tributaries, some of
which are naviSable. The Columbia
has a broken navigation. It has
plenty of water, but has several falls
that interrupt it's navigation. Be-
tween these, it is navigable to the
British line. On the banks of this
river and it's tributaries, lie the most
magnificent grazing grounds in the
world.
This is the country of which the
Rev. Father Wilbur of Simcoe In
dian Reservation spoke, when he
said, it was " cheaper to raise an OK
here than a chicken" Its capacity
for growing cereals also, has been
demonstrated to be extraordinary.
We have frequent accounts of 40
and 60 acre fields producing an aver
age of from so to 60 bushels of wheat
to the acre. Settlers are beginning
to pour into this great country, en-
bracing over 10000 square miles.
The only drawback to this fine prairie
country is its remoteness from mar
ket, the broken navigation of the
Columbia river making transporta-
ton a monopoly and high, but in a
short time this evil will melt away.
Already the general Government has
commenced to improve the Cascade
Falls, and after that is done, the
clearing of the Dalles Falls will soon
follow, when there will be clear
river from Lewiston on Snake river,
and Priests Rapids on the Columbia,
to the broad ocean, which will be
much too great to be monopolized by
any corporation. Add to this the
railroad now building, which will
pass through the center of this coun-
try when completed, and with clear
river, no fault can then be found
about remote market. When that
day arrives look out for the coming
horse. He will be reared on the
Spokane plains. That high, dry,
clear atmosphere will give him lungs
and health. Those gravel plains and
rolling hills will give him hardness
of hoof and strength of limb. He
will be the horse for strength, speed
and wear and every well-to-do far
mer in this region, will be able to
show in horses, horned cattle, or
sheep, stock capable of taking pre-
miums anywhere.