The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-29
THE sPOKAN COUNTRY.
SPoKAy FALLS. ". T.,
June 10Th, 1879.

Ed. ISrELLIGEsCER:-I promised,
when 1 left Seattle, TO write you, sitter
seeing this part of the country. have
as yet been over the country but little
but, from what l have seen and heard
from reliable sources, l think l have
formed pretty accurate estimate of it.
In the first place. it is beautiful coun
try to look at, and in many places there
are long stretches OF as fine natural
roads as can be found anywhere. The
timber about here is principally pine
some call it black pine. l do not know
what name a scientist would give 1t.
Off Is to 90 miles | am told red cedar
is plentiful. The timber is open and
grass growing nearly everywhere, and
. person can ride or drive over nearly
every part of the country. There arc
q good many rocky patches, and the
gravel lies so thick in many places that
you can hardly see any soil yet there
is field Of wheat growing close by on
just such soil, and it looks like pro.
ducing a good crop. l would not state
this if it were not for the fact that it is
close to a public road aud attracts the
attention of many travellers so If any
one should become so rash az to ques-
ton my veracity, l will be able to es-
tablish the truth of what say by more
than the Scriptural number OF witnesses.
Good soil is found in small tracts near
here, and. as you 60 ont from ten to
twenty miles. larger tracts of good land
may be found together. The ground is
more uneven and broken than that of
Illinois. yet there are many prairies as
level as one could wish. There is no
noticeable scarcity Of timber or water,
and fine healthy climate. For several
mornings past the thermometer has
stood at CO. Fahrenheit
The Northern Pacific Railroad Engi-
neers have been here within few days,
and it is expected the road will be COM
pleted to this place by the close of 1880.
Land is being taken up rapidly, and
prospectors are travelling through tue
country in every direction. But it is a
big country. and there is plenty of room
for more.
There are good many Puget Sound
ers coming here. Hill Harmon of
Steilacoon and Hawk of Olympia have
rented new hotel and will be ready
for business probably by the 10th Of
next month. Il. W. Pontius is now at
work on the building. Blackman, ex-
Street Commissioner, is here looking
around. The place is quite new it
contains only one sawmill, which can
not furnish lumber fast enough to supply
the demand. Three or four new stores
are nearly ready for business. Trade
amounts to but little here now, but it
is expected to increase. In the village
proper / do not think there are over
hundred persons, but nearly every day
adds to the number There is but one
doctor and two lawyers. and no justice
Of the peace. and Colville 1.-THE county
seat is ninety miles distant.
The water scenery is beautiful-the
finest have ever scen-and the water
power is immense. will say to those
who are doing moderately we'll where
they are. and have fair prospects for
the future. stay where you are but to
the homeless. and those who are not
now prospecting and have no promising
plans for the future. would say come.
The chances for the future here are good
decidedly good-and I believe it to
be q very healthy country. The chances
now for a railroad to Puget Sound l
believe to be good. The competition
between Jay Gould and the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company will result in
that way.
Inasmuch as there are quite number
OF persons on Puget Sound wishing to
come here. | will give you table Of
disfannas and nriccs