, 1882-06-03

river 10 the east, that homes we're making
on the grassy bunches, and green farms
Law beside the river or GA the lower ter
races further away We could trace the
Assotin country.
Back of Lewiston we could see farms
making. and understand that much land
there invited settlement. Down where
the river swept in curves, We could see
the Clearwater bottom transformed IN d
few places to green wheat fields, looking
beautiful in contrast with the desolate
surroundings. Then, at the point where
the rivers meet, Lewiston laylike Jew
ell twined under the bluff, gemmed with
its green trees and gardens. So We
cIimed up, and higher, looking back con-
stantly ia read new yistas in the distance
that we're reached as elevation gave pow
er to overlook the world
Presto. change we at last placed foot
on the highest rim of the tremendous
canyon, and find the green fields Of the
Palouse country before US 1t is aston
ishing to know that on the highest plane,
over 1000 feet above the Clearwater, We
suddenly open on an earthly paradise and
so it is. The comparison that occurred
to me. was that We had suddenly been
transferred to one Of the beautiful hill
districts Of the willamette. The absence
Of timber renders the Illusion less com
plete, and We recollect that the Waldo
hills. famous as they are, do not average
40 bushels Of wheat to the acre
To describe one section of the Palouse
region, Is to describe all. Sometimes the
surface is more broken than others, and
about Moscow and Pennington it is more
level than the average, but the Palouse
country is broad, rolling prairie, as a
general fact, diversified by the spurs of
the Ceur dAlene mountains, that run
west, and terminate in gentle hills that
divide the streams Travelling north for
three days, We constantly crossed these
divides and came down into beautiful val
leys. The region about Moscow, ten by
fifteen miles in extent, they proudly call
Paradise valley, east of Moscow, extend
ing south five by twenty miles, is the
Genesee valley, and east of that the
branches Of the Big and Little Potlatch,
on which there is much vacant land, runs
wsst out of the mountains to JOIN and
turn south into the Clearwater. We
went north for over 100 miles to Spokane
city or Falls, through their beautiful re-
gions, and everywhere found teams a,
work blowing for spring sowing, for the
spring seeding will last here until the
10th of June. Above Pennington We
turned east to explore the Rock Greek
valley, east of Hsngman creek, and found
it cne If the most attractive spots imag-
Unable.
Driving from Spokane Falls to Cheney,
we then turned south and skirted to the
west the settled portions Of the Palouse
lands, So getting good idea Of the region
that lies 40 by 100 miles in extent, and
possesses as MANY advantages for settle
ment as man can desire. Spokane Falls
Is thriving place, and its magnificent
water power gives it especial Importance.
A view OF those falls, that cannot be
readily described, will pay the lover Of
nature for long journey. When We saw
it the river was at its fullest stage, and
the plunging waters formed grand view.
| went to the Palouse country With the
adequate idea of its true Importance. |
found that it had almost no waste land
within the limits have described, and
that the unoccupied portion, or rather
those portions least settled because of
their remoteness from timber, possess
equally good soil and have earlier seasons.
Settlers have taken up the lands neares:
TO the mountains on the east, and nearest
to the pine belt along the railroad above
Sprague, but there is room for thousands
more between Texas Ferry and Hang
mans creek, the portions most remote
from timber. All this country is well
watered, and where water is not on the
surface it can easily be found by digging,
excep, on the broken ground, near the
canyons cut by deep streams. Very soon,
now, railroads will penetrate the country
from the west and farmers will be able to
mark ct all their products. Above Texas
Ferry is as good land as lies out donrs,
with no settlers Here is wide field for
new comers to occupy, and they can find
themselves in a short time within fifteen
miles of transportation facilities, for the
country is to be fully supplied with rail
roads at an early day.
The Oregon Improvement company
possess the odd sections to the extent of
l50. 900 acres Of the very best of land.
saw where its teams we're breaking land
in all directions, so as to enable the
farmer who shall settle there to commence
operations to advantage, There is con
siderable railroad land and still vacant
government land to be occupied, and
when it is occupied and formed, the pro
ducts of this region will swell the traffic
of the Columbia river 10 enormous pro-
portions. S. A CLARK.
County Division in UmatiIla-