The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-02-01
ro,... !. rms raIogs. celsrar.

Dir. J. A Harper, who settled near
G,liax in 1870, thus describes, in a let
ter to the Gas tte. the Palouse country
and its towns He says. during the
tall of 1871, Whitman county was cut
off from Stevens county. Our present
boundaries are shout forty-five miles
north ami south, and alpoat seventy east
sitl stusL. Something near forty miles
square Of this tract is generally susce2-
tible Of cultivation. aud will furnish
CHIN OF enc hundred and sixty acres
Ter eight thousand settlers. Tie tract
is bounded on the nerth, east and south
By similar grade of land.
During the summer Of 1871, Golfax
vas chosen as the county seat of Whit
man comfy. 1t then consisted of
small saw mill propelled 10y water,
small shed with about a wagon load of
merchandise, and blacksmith sLop. 1t
can now hoast of printing Office. awo
dry goods stores, two drug stores, two
m lIsa .grist mil and large steam
saw mill with planning and furniture
making machinery, a post Office, Sc, eral
grocery stores, two hotels, Il restaurant,
large livery stable, a saloon, and large
church in course Of erection, two black
smith shops, several carpenter shops,
one millinery shop. two boot and shoe
shops. butcher shop, and two stove
and tin stores. The land office and ex
press office will soon be in operation
here Several law offices, etc.
Palouse City is located fifteen miles
nearly cast of C5lf.x. l. has. within
the past year, principally, made the fol-
lowing improvements: Two dry goods
stores, a hardware store, drug store,
hotel, post office, blacksmith shop, boot
and shoe shop, ,s;cam saw mill, gTist
mill, and livery stable; and likely other
improvements since | visited the place
two months since.
Almota is another place that bids fair
to do good commercial business, sit
uated, as it is, on the Snake river, about
% miles south of Colfax, and 35 miles
below Lewiston 1t has large store,
and fall assortment cf general mer-
clmnliac, two large warehouses, paying
cash for and storing all kinds of grain
and produce, and furnishing the farmers
with all Kinds of farm i'm plements, from
hoe to steam threshing machine.
Here is also a good hotel, grist midi,
post Office, blacksmith shop, boot and
shoa shop, livery stable, etc This
place is of almost magic birth, being
built up in about two months. These
fairy cities in the hills, would all, prob
! ably, have been one-fourth larger in
number of dwellings,, if the demand for
lumber could have bsen supplied. There
are three large, steam saw mills, and
two water mills in active operation, and
are unable to furnish over half the de-
nland for building and fencing material.
All Of these places have good schools
largely attended. Colfax has three.
There are three other towns started
Lincoln, situated | miles east Of Col
fax, OH the Palouse, has saw and grist
mill, both busy trying to stop 1.-the clamor
about bread and lumber, although we
generally have an ample supply and a
surplus of the first article, and the Best
quality. This place also has black
smith shop and school in operation, and
oontemplates WOODEN factory.
Wawawa is situated about seven
miles above Almato, and Penawawa
about the same distance below. All
these places are lively, thrifty towns,
and bid fair to control their respective
shares Of business in time to come, as
they are ell backed By a large, pro
ductive country that is being rapidly
occupied and tilled. Waiia Wazla Jsi;os.