The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1877-08-08
Washington Territory.
KAhAMA, Washington Ter, T.
Iulu,O:l.l 1Q11

Et "
KALAMA, Washington Ter, r.
e. .e.. July 23d, 1877. ! p
Ed. CANTON ADVOCATE: !. viii you,
through the columns OF your valuable pa
per, allow me to communicate of our
whereabouts, and some intelligence of this
country, to our many friends in Dakota
| will not enter into detail regarding
our trip, suffice it to say we had safe and
pleasant journey from Omaha, Ncb., t,
San Fr,neisco, Gu, iltersp,rs,l with va
rying scenery, some monotonous AMI
magnificent. .g
AT San Francisco we took passage on
the steam ship City of Chester" for Port
land, Oregon; we had u ap'eAsant ride Oh
the waters Of the grand old Pacific, which
reminded Us Of our prairie home, of Da-
kota. ,''' @ ..,'s '.2 t.a
We entered the mouth of the Columbia
river, and steamed up to Portland arriv-
ing there the morning of the fifth day
from San Francisco. Fare from Omaha
to San Francisco, SIS, (elnigranD; from
San Francisco to Portland, $35, first cab.
in). I would just say to any one an,ici-
pating this journey, it would be we'll to
dou5lc this amoanJ ut least, for incident
ais, and then avoid all mlddlemen and
translcr computes, rs there are plenty OF
them sltaliay ready to take the extra
-four bits" as they term it, on this coast
We found California suffering very
much from drouth, but not 80 III this, for
here there is il lilXuricnt growth of wheat,
oats. barley, and all kinds of vegetables.
have been in fields Of VIII eat and oats
that stand from six to suvea feet Iilg ], we'll
healed and filed. I ssnl you Il sample
OF wheat an oats; the oats are green and
will undoubtedly shrink. This grain is
fair sample OF the wheat all, o.ts proIIc-
ed here.
Most varieties Of wheat are grown here
without any trouble; som, varieties of
apples all p;Ars are ju,t ripenin5 now
Glover anl Timothy ind their natural
element in this soil.
The market is good for all kinds of
grain AMI vegetables
Tie C,lunbl river is lraverscl by YES
sclS from all paris Of the world; that.
with the nom. consnmp>i'a, gives really
sale for all HAT is produced
There are but fey OF the Inhabitants,
comparatively, that are engaged in pro-
ducing; most are engaged in numbering,
fishing, and stock raising.
This sccfi IN of the-Territory Is very
rough and heavily timbercl. The farm
ing is IN nsily done in vaIlies. There are
some excellent flsms in the Cowlitz,
Lewis, and other river vaIlies; but very
li;ic of tin. upands brought under state
of cultivation. The farther back from the
rivers the more open the country becpmes.
There are districts over which heavy fires
have swept and burned the timber down,
where ayr'Wth Of fern AMI pea vine has
sprung up; sach sectiols are quite easily
brought under state Of cultivation. The
greatest drawback is in getting to them,
as the roads are very few anl imperfect
think person desiring location in
this country, could fad one to suit, rs the
Territory is divided into two extremes
The western part timbered, the eastern part
prairie. .:.S g.:
Water IS good; the streams are clear,
soft, and we'll supplied with fish Of which
the salmon and spcckled trout are my
preference. .,.....,
The people here are not entirely desti-
tu;e: of church privileges, but compared
with an eastern standard, think they are
very deficient; tie same will hold good
lii regard to. schools. l speak of the
country in general, outside of The vi i.lAgcs.
The weather has been very pleasant
here during this moutll;no excessive heat,
most every afternoon II cooi breeze springs
up from the coast, which makes the
evenings cool AMI refreshing.
3 The weekly visits Of the ADVOCATE, are
very welcome assure you. .i,r.'s r !
hespectfuily yours, i
80 '#'M JAS. g. BESNETT.