, 1882-01-13
ANOTHER LETTER.

Collector Bash Is welding tren-
chant pen for the development OF
the Territory in which his fortunes
have been cast. The following, pub
lished in the "Indiana Herald" of
Huntington, in the issue of Dec. 2o'
1881, is from a brother of the Col
lector, who is stationed as Inspector
of Customs, or Special Deputy, in
the eastern portion of the Territory,
near the British Columbia line:
Washington Territory has two dis
tinct climates that are separated
from each other by the Cascade
M untains, and each is as much un>
like the other as if they were a
thousand miles apart. That west OF
the mountains is dark and damp,
and the country is covered by dense
forests, with thick underground of
bushes and gigantic ferns. The soil
is good, but tine sun seldom shines
long enough at one time to kill the
ferns. weeds or briars that are torn
up by the pIow, and it requires the
utmost vigilance of the farmer to
keep them from getting the better
of his crops. 1t has many advanta.
ees. however, that place it on a level
with Eastern Washington. 1t has
immense lumber, coal and oyster
interests, besides various manufso'
lures. Eastern Washington has a
dry, cool climate, and generally a
sandy soil, with occasional spots OF
alkali. The southern half of the
country is principally rolling bunch
grass prairies, with here and there
growth of stunted pine, and cotton
wood, while the northern half is ex.
,remely hilly and mountainous, and
also covered with famous bunch
grass, excepting the northern slopes,
where pine, fir and Moatain Tama'
rack grow. 1t is decidedly the place
for the homesteader who is willing
{ deny himself some of the com
f,rts for a year or two, until he gets
fairly started. This is also good
country for the asthmatic and cons
sumptive, as the climate is so dry
that they are greatly relieved, and
in many instances entirely cured. Il
don't vouch for this statement, how
ever, | give it as got it). The
principal product is wheat, and in
certain districts it is produced in
almost fabulous quantities, but not
to the exclusion of other grains or
vegetables. The only staple ol In
diana that does not do well here is
corn. The frost usually catches it
in the northern counties before 1t
gets ripe, but | hear it is raised in
some Of the southern counties to a
considerable extent. Fruits do well,
even to peaches, and it is a noted
fact Wash, Terr. apples are the best
on the coast. Immigrants are pour
ing in, but there is plenty OF room
for more. The chief place OF attrac
tion for them now is the vicinity oi
Spokane Falls and Rockford, but
they are also moving eastward along
the line OF the Northern Pacific. II
will not be a great while, II they
continue to come at this rate, until
we will have inhabitants enough for
state. There is talk of the Nor
thern Pacific running branch K. t.
from Spokane Falls through Colville
valley to Fort Colville. The valley
has an exceedingly good soil, and is
Already more than half settled.
Fort Colville is eighty miles north
west, in direct line, from Spokane,
and fifteen miles east Of Columbia
river. 1t is pleasant little military
post, with second class town at
,achment. There is more whisky
sold here to the square yard than In