Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-10
(Spokane Chronicle.I

TmR SPOKANE COVNTRY.
(Spokane Chronicle
The more fully 10 understand the
term spokane country" It should be
explained. Eastern Washington. that
portion Of the Territory east Of the Cas-,
cade Mountains. is popularity divided
into five different sections. each with its
Distinguishing peculiarities. Lying d.
rectly west OF the Idaho line are the
ColviIle, Spokane, PalOuse and Walln
Wa.Ia counties, extending 70 the Snake
and Columbia Rivers. West and north
of the Columbia is what Is called the
Yakima country, extending to the Cas-
csde Mountains. The Northern Pacific
Railroad enters the Spokane country
from the east near the center and pene-
trates il for about seventy miles In q
southwesternly direction, crossing the
northwest corner 0f the Palouse coun-
try. The tourist OF Journalist or immi-
grant who forms his opinion of the
country from what he sees along the
line of the road very decidedly misses
his guess" A very few years will dom
onstrate the high value for fruit raising
Of the immense gravel plain which CON-
stitutes the Spokane River bottom, from
the Coeur d'Aleue Mountains 10 the falls
"a valley from two to eight miles wide
aud over thirty miles long. Its ability
TO sustain and give fieurishing growth
TO the young fruit trees has been salts
factorily tested the past two very dry
seasons. There is bonanza in store in
this industry alone. In the immediate
neiRhborheod of Spokane Falls there
are number of farms Of unsurpassed
fertility, while from five 70 ten miles
distant are large tracts Of az good land
AZ has ever been turned by the pl0w.
These localities are familiarly known
a. the Haltese Lake and Cali
fornia Ranch districts TO the
east, Moran Prairie 10 the south,
White Bluff prairie to tho west, and
Five Mile prairie, Wild Rose valley.
Peone and Pleasant prairies TO the
u0rth. Then extending south 100 miles
t0 Snake River aud west 10 miles to
the Columbia is vast prairie, broken
by numerous streams and occasional
narrow strips Of timber, principally
pino and cottonwood. At least three
iif. IN of this prairie region IL first-class
tiliable soil, and raises from twenty to
City bushels Of wheat, forty to seventy
Ave bushels of cats and 200 70 400 bush
els Oh potatoes per Aore. The other two
iifths Is excellent grazing land and tim
ber. To the north Of the Spokane
country ID the Colville region, extending
M the British Columbia line, abound
ING in fertile valleys, some Of which
have been settled for over twenty years.
The general character Of the country
north and east 0f Spokane Falls, how
ever, ID mountainous and timbered,
abounding in lakes and streams full Of
trout. Spokane Falls, therefore. stands
ON the borders Of the prairie region
south and west Of us and is the natural
gateway of the immense timbered re-
Qions north and east of uso The timber
comprises white, yellow and black pine,
red ar, tauarac, cedar, birch and q
species Of maple, cottonwood and alder.
This timber il now being manufactured
at the Falls by the million fest, and
there are numerous steam nills Ia Ida
ho and Montana which are furnishing
lumber by the oar load Tor the building
OF this city aud for the fencing and
dwellings, Of the vast prairie region be-
yond.
Tue Spokane country proper In about
aixty miles wide by one hundred and
thirty in length, large enough for good
sixed state. The population 10 now
about 1900. exclusive OF Indiana and
Chinese. The recent completion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad has acceler-
ated immigration, which WAS previously
considerable. while aubicct 10 the ts-
dious overland or ocean routs via San
Francisco and Portland. IL viii be
readily seen that for energy. enterprise,
industry and intelligence this must Be
the choicest population OF the country,
II not Of the world. The settlement of
this region began about twelve years
ago. and the quality and capacity of
The soil and climatic condition. may be
said to he thoroughly tested. The soil
- what IL termed an alkali ioam, and 70
rich inAll the oonstitu0nt elements OF
oereals and vegetables, producing the
finest quality. Frost sometimes inter
fsres with the maturity Of tho tenderer
vegetables and fruits, but net 30 - great
an extent ~ east Of the Rockiee- There
y an occasional drought. notably the
One OF tha present year IN which ncAroc-
" an inch Of ram has fallen for nearly
four months, and rot there has heen NO
suffering tor water, and tho total crop
viii average largely OYER ono hall, many
farmers having already threancd and
and q Yield Of thiriy-hve buaheis sf
wheat 70 the aore, while Ne have heard
Of none below twelve. Corn has been
raised this year 10 e0nsidesAhls Quants-
tiea TO perfection, and s0rRhum has bcen
demonstrated succeoA
rhe altitude Of this city is about 1901
fest above - level, lnsnres hracing
aud vigorous climate, and the neiRhbos.
hood of anow-toppsd and pine covered
mountaiua gives purity and rcaaiicncy
10 the atmosphere. The summers are
long and dry, giving ample time tor the
farmer 10 secure his harveets. and the
heat II rarely Oppressive. Tho winters
are mild and short, not over fouI
months In duration. and there are nons
Of the herOe anoW storms in winter and
cyclones In summer which terrify ths
eastern States.
spokane Falls 10 tho oldest town In
Spokane county, and . the natural mo
tfup0lis Of eastern washington. Her,
arc ceuterinQ the commercial, nnAnctal
civil and educational inleresss Of thi'
great region. Il h the lASKeut place q
tho NorsheRn Rnci4e betvcsn ninnooin
Montana, and The DAllsa. In OFsRou
and the Dirt place of Importance on -
line Of this road wees Of the kocky
muuntaina Two brunch linee Of faiI
road. one 10 Farminetnn on The scusl
and one TO Kettle falls On tho Columht
g The north, are already aasursd ~ -
TFansoontinsnth company. ard en-
west 70 the Rig Bend regi00 ooneem
peAted In the near future. Ths plael
was inoorporAted - . city 1851, and ~
KroR sksadsiy il good ortlexs wealth
ssiunA1ssssi aud civic facilities utthuu
interruption. Early shis asason rap.
tsse took place in real satntes vhicl
nas probably cons somsvhAe beyoue
re sss.sns dssslcps,snss : /. &c g t,s s1s s e
~ 3sg tSssge eoanssy e yss; oes y sas nsio -
~ = hooked fos nsxs Spring. The a.,
y ropeeesutsd roltaionaly 81 aix donoI
inattnns naptim, OonGroaa1tunal, Rc
man fhfhnffa Mnxkn41nA as>x Hns{nnn