The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-02-26
County and City Official Press.
Monday, February 26. 1877.
4 CHAT WITH OUR CORES
PONDENTS.

weekly ADJ must say nave Dron agree
ably disappointed In the appearance OF
your paper. We in this part like the
tcne and M keup the lSrELLiGEScER.
1 say we. because | have pa .sed the
papers around 10 my Deighbors after
reading them myself, and all seem
pleased and surprised with your 90 ~
head country. You seem all business
in Seattle, but while you give Us a
great deal Of information ia your col.
umBs there is still more We would wish
To know. II you would please be 80
kind rs give us through your weekly
paper an answer To the following ques-
tions, i. would be Of much service 70
those OF US no contemplate emigrating
TO your country:
LIST. What Is the price of horses,
cows. yearlings, and two year old steers,
sheep, and the quality
End. What Is the price Of wheat,
corn, oats and -four in SeattleI
3rd. How is the marsh land on the
Sound to be obtained Is it government
land or held by spectators What is
the price
In your issue of the 10th of January
you mentioned Eastern men in the
Walla Walla valley buying stock fol
the Eastern market. Now what dc
they pays II is so far to ship stock
that they certainly could not pay much
Can wild grass be cut for hay in the
Territory l will close my queries,
wishing success TO the ISTELLf0RNCER,
Seattle and the Sound I"
In response to our correspondent, we
would state that our pasture grounds
lie mostly in the adjoining tier Of coun-
ties, separated by the Cascade range of
mountains from the Puget Sound basin
Consequently. We are less az FAT in re-
ference to the stock business Of our Ter.
ritory than with the agricultural, min
ing and numbering interests of this
side. The graziers find their chief
market on the sea board, and drive
their bands across by the Snoqualmie
Pass to Seattle. usually in the Summer,
but this weeks issue gives an account
of transit made in the depth of Win
ter.
During the past three years prices
have ranged about as follows: For
yearlings averaging about 800 pounds
each. graziers receive from FIVE to eight
dollars each on the range. For two
year olds. averaging abou. 800 pounds,
twelve 10 fifteen dollars for three year
olds, $50 pounds. eighteen dollars /;
four year olds, 500 pounds. twenty TO
twenty -two dollars The cattle con-
tinue to increase in weight until seven
AID eight years old, but are generally
marketed before that age. To the stock
raiser it is the most profitable to turn
them off at two years old. bu. it is TO
the advantage Ut the buyers generally to
purchase four- year olds as they drive
better, feed better and ID not shrink in
flesh on the transit The cost Of driy-
ing over the mountains. We are told
does not usually exceed one dollar per
head. The range extends from the
skirts of the Cascade Mountains on the
west. to the slopes OF the Rockies be-
yond them on the east. and indefinitely
10 the north and south.
Mutton sheep. we believe, bring
from 80 to 81 per head Stock sheep
on the range. . lower rate. A stock
man who recently visited Walls Walls,
purchased some 1000 head Of cattle a.,
an average price Of SEQ. to be driven
across the plains to the Chica 20
market.
Wheat in Seattle sells at from one
dollar TO . dollar aud . quarter per
bushsl: oats, so to 90 cents. and -four
IL now seven tn seven aud half dollars
per barrel, having raised considerably
since last Summer Corn is not quoted
in our market. Oats, hay. potoes and
hops are the only agricultural produce
for which the demand is not greatly in
excess Of the supply. Hence, in the
matter Of market. Washington Terrific
~ is the hes, country for farmers on
the continent.
There are marsh lands TO be taken
by homessead-gratis. or presumption
- so and &l.sa per acre. according 10
10 railroad grants.
II is one of the telici,ies Of Wash
ing,on Territory sha. there is no land
held by speoulato:s worth speaking of
no Spanish grants, The great bulk
OF tile lands belong 10 the pub.
lie domain. and such as have
passed into private ownership have.
for the MOS; part, been secured
under the presumption and homestead
laws; that is ia quarter sections nr les.
These may occasionally he purchased at
rates varying according 20 improve
men;s and ccntrali,y of location. -
as general rule from the
decks OF Seastle-,he chief market.
eesilsrs from Kansas and Nebraska or