The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-20
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Wednesday, July 90, 1881.
EASTERN WASHINGTON.


OcA OSAb AAA CAZ DNccu milcS eoutl OF
this point. The cluster of about TWEEN
ty houses give shelter to as many FAM
lilies, constituting one of the early coll
umns of the army Of civilization which
is coming In rapidly to possess this
great country. The settlement is in
the midst of q magnificent farming belt.
adjacent 10 timber and water. and in
any event but little removed from a
line of railways. The man coming to
Eastern Washington to locate a stock
ranch, If be leaves the Snake river at
Alnota will fipd much to please him in
the aspect and condition of the country
between that point and Colfsx. The
high. rolling land produces q rank
growth of bunch grass, the lower lev.
els blue grass and grain, and while it
may be true that the soil is not partic-
ularly adapted to the culture of grasses
that require a damp soil. there is no
apparent reason why alfalfa, which is
always profitable as hay producer and
for pasture. may not be grown through
out this belt OF country. In the near
future the close settling up of these
lands will enforce change of mode in
stockrasing, and this alfalfa system
seems to be the most practicable.
In an area of about 10 miles, with Col
fax as the center. hill farming is extern
sively and proftably carried on, and in
this scope of country thousands of peo-
pie may find homes, either at Govern
ment rates OF little advance to those
who now own the land. Approaching
Spangle the country is less rolling and
better adapted to farming. The soil
is rich. black loan. watered and fer
tilted by small Lying streams, and
fairly convenient TO rail aud frewood
timber. Ia this settlement there is
room for as many people as populate
the whole State Of Nevada. and, at
that. richer promise for the future
than can possibly await them in that
land OF billiards and sagebrush. A
mile from Spangle we enter the timber
belt and do not leave it during the
journey to Spokan. At Marshall. an
encampment of railway sciencs and
muscle, We touch the graded track of
the Northern Pacific, aud after follow,
ing its general course for five miles, we
enter upon the charming location of
Spokan Falls. a high plateau with
gravelly soil and just rise enough from
the river to the somewhat abrupt emf
nence back of the town TO insure good
drainage.
Those who pioneered Spokan were
wise in their choice of location, and
those who have joined in to build and
develop have as wisely made Nature
engineer and architect chief, and in
due time it will be picturesque city.
1t is already this. occupying undoubt-
eddy one of the most delightful spots
that could be selected for CITY. and
as far as landscape is concerned, noth-
ing is absent that could please the eye.
Directly in front Of the river and mags
nificent falls, to the east, in full view,
are the far famed Ceur d Alene Range.
with here and there dark green spots
in the forest that lie against the moun~
tains like pslettes of the Great Artist.
To the west the eye rests upon a range
OF wooded hills. and beyond these and
% the northward towers the Columbia
peaks, whose snowy crests compete
with heavy masses of fieecy cumulous
clouds for supremacy. This is far from
all, but when this scene is illumined by
the mellow light of an evening sun it
produces picture which cannot be ex-
celled in color. breadth or motion, We
have here the contrast of light and
shade, tranquility and energy, action
and repose.
But the city Of Spokan is not allowed
to ret in picturesque idleness. for en-
terprising spirits have already erected
mills along the river course, and its
liquid sound is mingled with the sharp
buzz OF lumber saws and the ponder
Gus splashing of mill wheels engaged
in preparing house comforts for ma
terialistic man. Spokan is the one
chief point at which to lnger and take
in the real essence of Washington Ter.
ritory life. The public spirit of the
citizens in volunteering $4,000 for the
construction of free bridge to span
the river; the proposed underground
canal to convey water to ravine be-
low town that may be utilized for mill>
ing sites. will attract the stranger; the
organization Of church societies and the
erection of churches and school.
houses show that q wholesome moral
and religious sentiment actuates these
people. and the stores and shops and
small manufacturing establishments
springing into success. all prove that
here are people not only capable of
going alone. but already doing so.
Spokan is only three years old, yet she
he's about six hundred people, the ma.
Jority cf whom have located here with.
IN year. Additions to this number
are now made almost daily. and il is
quite probable that Spokan will have
a fixed population of two thousand
within the next year. A pretty city Of
nearly o thousand inhabitants, pros
porous. having large and rapidly in.
creasing population in the surrounding
territory. making . garden spot, will
impress the traveller wonderfully. as il
ought, with the power of that well d.
recied patience and energy which or
gAnizes . faithful. simple industry TO
create wealth and set in motion 40
many OF the elements of progress and
civilization. Building is going on AZ
. wonderful pace in every direction.
the mills being taxed to their utmost
TO supply lumber as fast as an army of
carpenters can erect store buildings ana
private houses; every hotel is filled 10
overlooking. Mr. Gray. CALIFORNIA;.
and the proprietor OF the largest hotel