The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-10-11

from Matrimonial County, Oregon, by the
Columbia river. 1t has an area OF about go
square miles, $40 of which is surveyed. Sea.
tered over this surface there is a population
of 4, 600 people; their chief occupation being
agriculture. This country, like the balance
OF Western Washington is timber country;
yet there is here some land waica is natural
ly devoid of timber, but all of this is occu-
pied. There is quantity of unoccupied gov
eminent land in this county, all of which is
more or less timbered. Some of it is COM
paratively easy to clear, but large part of
it is covered with heavy green timber. This
land lies chiefly Oh the eastern and north.
eastern boarders of the county, and is. of
course, more remote from schools and mar
ket than are the settled sections The sur
face of the country in the central and west
ern portions is level; rolling in the northern
part, and billy and mountainous on the east
ern boarder. The soil everywhere is good.
The upland being a clay loan, along the riv-
er bottom black sandy loan; in the alder
swale lands heavy black soil and rich as
the richest. The soil of the land is good
where grows the heaviest timber. The soil
of the upland prairies is gravelly and regard
ed as second quality, but even here good
crops are generally harvested, and the farm
ers are nearly all we'll to do men. The soil
is adapted to grow almost any product known
to the north temperate zone. The cereals all
do well. Vegetables as well as any other
place in the world, and fruit the same. APP
pies, pears, plums prunes, &c. All kinds of
small fruits grow and ripen in perfection.
The unoccupied timber lands and foot hills
afford excellent range for stock, and as the
winters are mild all kinds OF stock do well.
A good milk COW can be bought for So; an
average work horse S15., and other stock in
proportion. Farm laborerS get 81 90 per
day and board. Wheat is worth Sl.20 per
bushel now, has averaged some less than 81 90
per bushel heretofore, but is likely to be
worth fully that much thereafter. Potatoes
are worth 80 cents per bushel and other veg
otables in proportion Fruits are all cheap,
but when dried for the market bring good
prices. This is a good county for a poor
man. The necessaries OF lie are compare
lively easy to get. The climate is mild and
in consequence OF the great quantities of tim
Der, the rain fall is abundant Some win
ters have freezing spells, lasting al the way
! from one to SIX weeks. Though six weeks
| freeze-up is OF rare occurrence Sometimes
the winter will pass with no frigidity in the
air, save few frosts, and flowers will bloom
in the gardens all winter long. The climate
is salubrious, though the humidity of the
winter is generally thought to be bad fer per-
sons afflicted with throat and lung difficult
ties.
The county has about 40 public schools
and, as usual, in a new country, they are of
the lower grade. The people now here are
deeply interested in the cause of education,
and the schools are improving every year.
The timber OF this county is mostly yellow
fir and is good for numbering. ship building
and various other manufacturing purposes.
There is some very fine cedar, some little
oak, considerable ash and various other vari-
cites OF small timber
The county is bounded on the south and
west by the Columbia river, which affords
means OF transportation to market by steam
boat. Il is Is miles, by way OF the Columbia
and Willamette rivers, from the southwest
corner OF the county to Portland, the me-
tropolis of Oregon.
That portion OF the county lying next to
the river is subject to annual overflow 1t
is excellent grass land, well adapted for dairy
| ing purposes.
Farms partially improved can be bought
for 500 to $50 90 per acre, according to To-
cation. For further information, the reader
Is referred to another column in this paper,
headed Real Estate Agency" There is a
L. S. Land Office located at Vancouver, the
county seat, where parties can avail them.
selves OF homestead and presumption privi-
| leges
Vancouver. the county seat. is town of
! 500 inhabitants, beautifully located on the
Columbia river, and one OF the pleasantest
places to live in the Territory
This county needs honest, Industrious la.
boring men. II they can bring capital with
them, all the better; here are chances for
profitable investments. Money loans readily
for z per month and there is no usury law.
The poor man will find this as easy a coun-