Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1882-03-11
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
TERRITORY.
Four MILE. WHITMAN COUNTY, J
WASHINGTON TERRITORY,
EohrsVovsu 7fh 1890 Y


WASHINGTON TERRITORY,
February 9TH, 1882.
EDITOR INTELLIaENcRR:-Having
once been a, resident of Lafayette
county and having many friends and
relatives who are readers of your
valuable paper, and thinking that
some of them at least would like to
see an item from this part of the
country, will endeavor to give you
few lines of as much interest as pos
sible.
Whitman county is situated in the
eastern part of Washington Territory,
with Snake river bordering the south.
The soil Is very rich throughout this
section of the country. The average
yield of wheat, which is the principal
crop, is about 80 bushels per acre,
sometimes 40 or so bushels per acre.
Barley and oats both do well here.
the yield of which is from 40 10 60
bushels per acre, occasionally 75 or 80,
aud in one instance one of my neigh-
bors raised 1000 bushels of oats OH
ten acres of ground. Within the last
two years there has been considera-
BILE amount Of flax seed grown in this
and adjoining counties. which shows
a yield of IA to 20 bushels per acre.
A failure OF crops in this part OF the
country is thing which has never
been known. The present price of
grain is rs follows: Wheat. SO cents
per bushel; oats. so cents; barley, So
cents; flax seed, 81 f,ur, So so per
barrel. Vegetables can be raised in
abundance. Tho largest potatoes,
cabbage, turnips, and in fact most all
kinds of vegetables are raised with
but little trouble.
The land, before breaking, is cover
Ell with a beautiful coat of buncl
grass, which for grazing purposes il
unsurpassed. The hills on the rolling
prairie in every Objection are spotted
with horses, cattle and sheep, which
depend almost entirely upon the un
moved grass for food both winter
and summer. We scarcely ever have
snow that covers all of the grass
or that lays OIL the ground but
short time. The winters are gener
ally mild, which of course is grea
advantage to stock.
Timber for building and fencln!
purposes is nearly all hauled fron
the mountains, or RATED down tn
river. There ia some scattering tim
> ber along some of the little stream
which answers for ire-wood, an
plenty Of lumber eau be obtaine,
at from $40 to $15 por thousand fec
owing to the quality.
Tho country is we'll wstered an
very healthy. The land is mostl
taken up, although there are som
J vacant tracts yet in this county All
In the adjoining counties there ar
: thousands OF acres of vacant land ye
to be settled, and where any iudui
, triOus man can make a good hOm
1 one that in short time will be va
> liable. People who are in search {
: homes will do well to look after IL
matter. Railroads arc being bui in
I our country. The Northern Pacif
and the o. X. S. N. Company al
pushing their work forp-. as fa
as possible, and already the iro
y horse is seen smortimg through IL
|, country from Ainsworth to Spoaka
Falls, and in a short time our pr,
f ducts will be carried direct to Il
q sound and then we will have the moi
Il promising prospects OF speedy weal'
v of any part of the Pacific coast.
u Not wishing 10 be tiresome to yol
q readers, l will close by offering n
n regards to the people of Laflyet
r. county. Respec fully,
o| A. W. DEBoLT.