Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-30

fruits such as plumbs, prunes, peaches
and oherries--in like proportion. Fruit
trees begin TO bear in three and four
years after they arc set out. The great
trouble is that our fruit trees bear too
much and the branches are constantly
breaking with the weight of fruit.
Our soil is a rich sandy loan, slightly
impregnated with alkali. IL il deep,
but light, and grows heavier with cult.
vation. The country is of basaltic Tor.
nation and all the valleys have the ap.
pearance OF having been at one time
immense lakes, and | doubt not they
were. The land is broken and sowed
the same season. Crops are always put
ers are at the present writing still put.
ting in spring wheat. In my opinion
winter grain would do best. The plow
used here is very light and throws
furrow of only II inches, and our farm.
ers only plow and inches deep. This
is a mistaken idea, however, as the land
dries out too quick.
This country is "a lazy mans paradise,
and will bring to any one willing to
work half as hard on farm as he does
in Pennsylvania fortune.
This land district is tTaversed by nu.
merous mountain streams, somewhat
like Spring creek, but much larger be.
ing fed by snow mountains the water is
much colder. All of them have great
deal of fall and hence run with great
force and rapidity, thus ahording ex
cellent water power. The Yakima be-
tween this place and the mouth of the
Natchee river, seven miles distant, has
fall Of ninety feet. Our streams are
all filled with trout from the tiniest to
those weighing five and six pounds.
OF these there are five kinds silver
scale, blue scale, salmon trout, pink
spotted with red streak along the
side, known here AS mountain trout,
and the dolly Warden" or the pink
and yellow spotted trout, such as you
have in the east. The spots on these
latter are not SO bright as on the eastern
brook trout, but otherwise | can dis
cover no difference in them. To catch
them one does not have TO whip out Il fly
to do il. One can have sufficient trout
for meal by an hour or two fishing
any time.
In the northern part Of this county
several gold mines, both placer and
quartz, are in course OF development,
and the most sanguinc expectations
prevail among the miners interested in
them, and It is confidently expected
that the SEauk and Peshastan districts
will ere long spring into sudden promi.
nence. and equal If not exceed the most
valuable mines that have ever been de.
yeloped OF this coast. Should the cx.
pectations OF those working these mines
only be partially realized 1t II safe to
predict a bright future for the business
interests of this county. The mining
Interests of these districts have already
become an item Of interest and con-id-
erAblc importance TO the merchants
and farmers Of the county and OF this
place, where the miners purchase their
supplies. The largest nuggets, or "chis
pas as the miners term them, which
have yet been found, were valued re.
spectiycly at $3.50, 500 and 500, the
latter having been found 10y a China.
man, aud all were found in the "ciean
up last Fall before the SHOWS set in
This Spring in one "clean up a nugget
worth $237 was found by parties who
were ready TO give up their mine IN
despair. As yet there is no improved
machinery in these mines, the crushing
being accomplished by the old fashion.
ed "arsstru.' OF Spanish origin. The
gold found in these mines i rcmarka-
bly, pure and is worth from $l7 to SIS
per ounce.
Aside from all other advantages Va.
kma's greatest blessing is found in its
healthiul and delightful climate. Ow.
ing To its peculiar situation and topogra.
ply 1t Is in this respect wholly different
from any other section of the country.
BY its close proximity 10 the Cascade
mountains IL Is protected alike from
the cold winds and early frosts to which
those counties lying east Of the Colum.
bia river are subject, while the melting
SHOWS of Mounts Rainier and Adams. in
plain view, though eighty miles distant,
which rise in awful grandeur aud ma
jesty like high white pillars in the west,
lmpart. to the summer atmosphere q
cool and invigorating quality that is
both wholesome and agreeable. The
winter just past, here, as elsewhere, was
one of unusual severity. The worst
known in twenty years, but yet in all
my life ! never passed one where the
temperature was so equable and pleas.
ant. There were no cold. damp south.
casters, no penetrating, marrow frees.
ing north.westers and no "blizzards.n
The atmosphere was dry and agree
able, and no wind. 1t was cold without
feeling so. and when you stepped out Of
doors the inclination was to inhale as
much Of the pure air as your lungs we're
capable Of holding and when they were
fully inflated one felt buoyant, good ma.
tured and as though it was pleasant TO
live. But three nights did mercury fall
below zero and those three were the
most glorious and exhilarating moon.
light nights ever saw.
On the 18th of February strong
warm wind from the southwest began
blowing-called in this country "ehi.
nook wind'-and the snow disappeared
before it like magic. and since then we
have had most delightful weather, such