The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-01-13

4
have more or less bottom land, bordered
by bluffs of considerable heighth, with
table land above. These high bluffs
make it impossible to run railroads in
straight lines across the country as can
be done in Kansas, consequently, rail
roads generally wind along the banks of
the streams. where the proper grade can
be found. Persons travelling over such
roads can see but little, and that little
is not calculated to impress one favor
ably. | have been in this country three
years, have taken considerable pains to
ascertain what there is in it, particularly
that portion lying between the Columbia
River and Puget Sound; have been
through nearly every settlement, and
think Ihave tolerably correct idea OF
it, but to describe it is quite another
thing, and would take more time and
space than | can command at present.
will say, however, that l am much
more favOrabiy impressed with the cOun-
try as l become better acquainted with
Its resources, but there are some stub
born facts that must be accepted here
allude more particularly to securing
farms. You can always buy good farms
cleared and in good cultivation, but they
will cost from $50 to $40 per acre. The
land is worth the money, and will pay t.
cultivate at the price, but it takes con-
siderable money to buy farm at these
prices, and as general thing, immi-
grants coming here have not much mon
ey, and desire homestead or railroad
lands. One thing you may set down as
fact, you will find no prairie land for
homesteading west of the Cascade Noun
ealns, except it be some small pieces
back from the settlements near the
mountains, not yet surveyed. This
leaves but two chances-eitier buy All
improved farm, or take your axe and 60
into the timber. The reader will proba-
bly, ask: care there plenty of timber
claims"' answer yes, but here is all
other difficulty; the timber is very diff
terent on the uplands from the bottoms.
| may say correctly that persons who
have not been here, have meyer seen tim
Der. The upland is the heavy timbered
region, and any amount of this kind of
land is conveniently located and open for
homestead, but there are few that would
that cover these lands, and attempt to
make farm where they stand. There
are, however, many thousand acres of
this upland that have been swept by fire
and but little timber left standing, the
surface being covered with brush and
logs-in many places not difficult to clear
and a considerable amount of it very
good land, but the old settlers all located
on bottom land along the streams it be-
ing more easily cleared and more produc- |
tive. The immigrant can only get these
bottom lands by buying of second hands,
or if he wishes to homestead, taking from
tier position in the outer edge of some
These bottom lands are.snot
very heavily timbered, and when once
cleared make valuable farms, but none
Of this bottom land can be found for
nearer than eight to ten miles
from railroads or market towns. The
country is gradually settling up, and
those on the frontier now, will soon be
in the heart of the settlements, and ev-
cry acre of land that is cleared and cul-
tivated, will yield a handsome income
for the labor expended, and if the settler
has only muscle and Perseverance, he will
come out all right in time.
A great many people come to this
country without en- object. They do not
know what they start for, nor what they
want when they get here. They seem
10 be looking around for what in slang
parlance would be called a soft thing, and
let me tell such that you will never find
it here. There has been multitudes
this country for the past TWEEN
~ live years for just such chances, and
f there ever was any, they are all taken,
md the man that originated them, either
lead, or gone to South Carolina. Those
who are not satisfied with my judg-
nent in this respect, l would refer to
Governor Grover, of Oregon, who is
the best posted man on this
coast on soft thing.
1t costs considerable to come here from
'ast of the Rocky Mountains, and if you
to come, make up your mind
hat you are going to stay. Any indus
rious, energetic man, can get plenty to
10, but it will not always come to him.
de must sometimes hunt little for it,
md after you get acquainted with the
country and people. you can make sue
,ess as sure a thing here as anywhere
Use, and can assure you of one thing,
,ou will not probably find healthier eli
nate in the United States; no ague no
.rasshoppers; no chich bugs; snre crops,
md good markets. When you get few
lcres in cultivation, you are all right.
New Tacoma, where am now located,
$ the western terminus of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, has not much to boast
# except its nice location and future
prospects. 1t has, at present, about 100
itizens, two hotels, four stores, one res
aurant, ope saloon, one livery stable,
of North Pacific land office,
'ost Office, express and steamer Office,
nd depot comprise the business regis
er. The extensive coal fields lying 80
niles east of here, attracted the atten-
ion of our people, and for the past twelve
lonths has been the principal enterprise
n which they have depended for revi-
al of business. aud building a good
,wn- The Northern Pacific Railroad
ompany has control of them, and our
opes that it would build railroad tol