The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-02-19
Clarke County.


the WeSt Shore.
Clarke county is in Washington Territory,
on the north side of the Columbia river,
about - miles from the sea coast, and sep
arated from Multnomah county, Oregon, by
the Columbia river. 1t has an area OF about
go square miles. Scattered over this sur
face there is n population of about 700 peo-
pie, their chief occupation being agriculture.
This county. like the balance OF Western
Washington, is timbered country: yet
there is here some land that is naturally de-
void OF timber. but most of this is occupied.
There is quantity of unoccupied govern
ment land in this county. all of which is
more or less timbered Some OF it is COM
paratively easy to clear, but a large part of
it is covered with heavy green timber. This
land lies chiefly on the eastern and north
eastern borders of the county, and is. OF
course, more remote from schools and market
than are the settled sections. The surface
OF the country i'll the central and western
portion is level; rolling in the northern part
and hilly and mountainous on the eastern
border The soil everywhere is good the
upland being n clay loan, along the river
bottom black sandy loan; in the alder
swale lands n heavy black soil aud as rich
as the richest The soil of the land is good
where grows the heaviest timber. The soil
of the upland praires is gravelly and re-
garied as second quality, but even here good
crops are generally harvested. and The farm
ers are nearly all well-to do-men. The soil
is adapted to grow any product known to
the north temperate zone. The cereals all
place in the world, and fruit the same, APP
pies, pears, plums, prunes, cherries &c. All
kinds of small fruits grow and ripcn to
perfection. The unoccupied timber lands
and foothills afford excellent range for
stock, and rs the winters are mild all kinds
of stock do well. \ good milch COW can be
bought for so; IN average work horse for
SO and other stock in proportion. Farm
laborers set 81 per day and board. Wheat
is worth 81 per bushel now has averaged
much less than II per bushe heretofore. but
is likely to be worth fully that much here
after. Potatoes are worth 40 cts. per bushcl
and other vegetables in proportion Fruits
are all cheap. but when dried for market
bring good prices This is good country
for an Industrious man. The necessaries OF
life are comparatively easy to get. The eli
mate is mild, and in consequence of the
great quantities of timber, the rain fall is
abundant. Some winters have freezing
spells, lasting all the way from one to six
weeks; though six weeks freeze up is of
rare occurrence. Sometimes the winter will
pass with no frigility 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 Seaer-
ally thought to be bad for persons afflicted
with throat and lung difficulties.
The county has numerous public Schools
and, as usual, in II new country, most of
them 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 va
rieties 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. 1t is Is miles, by the way of the Co
lumbia and Willamette rivers, from the
southwest corner OF the county to Portland,
the metropolis of Oregon.
That portion of the county lying next to
the river is subject to annual overflow. 1t
is excellent grass land and well adapted for
dairying purposes.
Farms partially improved can be bought
for 50 to so per acre, according to location.
There is L. $. Land Office located at
Vancouver, the county seat, where parties
can avail themselves Of homestead and pre-
emption privileges.
Vancouver, the county seat, is town OF
500 inhabitants, beautifully located on the
Columbia river, and one OF the most pleas
ATTEST towns to live, in the Territory.
This county needs honest, industrious
men. If they can bring capital with them,
all the better: here are chances for profta
bic investments, Money loans readily for |
per cent. per month. The poor man will