The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1883-11-15
proved, within moderate distance Of towns

at $40 per acre.
"Rainfall?' The officers of the United
States signal station here informs me that
average rainfall has been twenty one inch
es for the past three years, (since the sta
ton has been established.) The elevation
LOO feet The distance to the Blue
mountains will average ten miles; from
here to the mountains there is gradual
rise to 5000 feet or more and snow has
been visible on the highest points for the
past ten days, but during the entire winter
this snow will attimes be 'chinooled of,
except on the north sides of the highest
elevations. .
"Fencing?" The settlers who came in
a few years ago built most by rail wood
fence, to protect their crops from the large
herds of cattle and sheep that roamed at
will over the country. This was also need
full to themselves because Of the practice
on the entire Pacific coast of turning out
herses, cattle, hogs and sheep into the
stubble fields to CLEAN up in measure the
wasted wheat, but many of them now put
up post and board fence of three five
boards Or poles, the rail timber and poles
being cut on the government timber on
the mountains, the interior department
at Washington having decided that set
tier is entitled to take fuel from unentered
lands tor his actual use.
Railroad facilities?' There is a branch
road from Wallula to this point, this be-
ing at present the terminus Virtually of
the Northern Pacific to this town. Roads
are in progress of construction through
the Snake river country and to all parts
of the territory. The Northern Pacific
company are making strenuous efforts to
build branches in every directien to fore
stall the efforts of other companies, and
this will insure railway facilities equal to
any section of the United States within
the next FIVE years.
Interest on money! Long time in
terest runs from ten to thi1teen per cent,
five years investments. Loans at local
banks II and Il per cent.
What I have said above in reply to your
questions is written in haste, and not as
full as | should desire it. What | have
learned since my stay in the territory would
fill good sized volume, and the limits of
a letter, or even series of them, is but a
poor way of giving all the information that
is most desirable where change of base is
contemplated. You are at liberty to hand
this hasty screed over to the publisher OF
your local paper, should it be of interest
to those who desire information about this
country 1t has been severe tax on my !
time and purse to answer the many let
ters of inquiry that I receive weekly, in
addition to my letters to the Western
Farm Journal, Iowa Homestead, Clarks-
vile Star and others, besides l must an
swer the demands Of my family.
In conclusion, allow me to say that
should you contemplate investing in the
sheep business, allow me to extend a word
of caution. To a stranger this may seem
like presumption, but l have had some
years experience, and although 1 was very +
successful in it in Iowa, | have seen too
many failures there, not to have arrived at
certain conclusions, and these are given
below:
Begin with small flock, that will cx-
perience in handling them; when this is
gained you can extend operations, but
don touch them unless ydu lore sheep;
it is only the pe,sistant enthusiast in the
sheep industry that can achieve success.
| have an old acquaintance who came from
Iowa who bought flock OF G, 600 head of
sheep, but sunk all his investment and
ran himself into debt besides. The scab
got among his flock. Well, he was care
less. | might say indolent, with no capac-
lty for or experience in the business. |
formerly handled sheep myself for about
eighteen years, and although being very
will venture to say that no
man can be successful in it unless he lores
sheep. The care and forethought requir-
ed is only born of long association with
the flock 1t is not like your man John
Randolph of Roanoke, who said he would
go mile ont of his read any day to ''kick
a sheep Yours,
PHIL j. EBERsoLD
My post-ofiice address when at home is
Clarksville, Butler county, Iowa.