, 1883-07-28
THE PALOUSE COUNTRY.
A Trip to IA Great Grain Producing
section.

Station the distance by the Colfax
road is 50 miles, and the trip on a
bright July day, with Il cool breeze,
is perhaps one Of the most attractive
to be found in the territory. The
country through which we pass pos
sesses many attractions. The drive
through the palisades Of the Hang
man alone is one to be envied.
Leaving behind the charming little
city of Spokane Falls, in the distance
is heard the rumbling of its mighty
waters, and following the Hangman,
that crystal stream, with its beauti-
full willow and pine fringed banks,
and its inspiring music of "chatter,
chatter, as l flow to join the brim-
ming river" in which the plumaged
songsters participated welcoming the
first bright rays of morning sun as
they kiss the verdure capped hill
tops darting through the valleys and
lending light to view in the great
distance beneath, the tall pines
dwindled into shrubs in dizziness of
distance as we ascend higher and
higher until we soon reach the great
summit, here to find many cOzy
homes, fields of golden grain, the
sweet smells Of new mOwn hay and
prairie flowers. This, with the music
Of the reaper and the toll of the hus-
bandman, constitutes the chief at
traction until coming to halt at the
ranch Of Mr.. Hardman, about u
miles below the town of Spangle.
Mr., II. is engaged in stock raising.
From him we gained much infOrma-
tiOn concerning its profits, which he
finds so remuneratiVe that he con-
fines himself to this alone, having
large herds of cattle and horses, a
neat cOzy home, the surroundings
wearing an air Of solidity and COM
fort. In five years experience in
stock raising at his present location,
Mr.. ii. informed us that he has not
yet had occasion to feed his cattle
for more than from two to four weeks
during any winter, and for two win
tiers Of this time they roamed at
large the entire winter. From this
point tha country along the valley
and hillsides is well settled, and one
is particularly attracted by the many
cold springs, the great herds Of cattle
and horses roaming about the foot
hills, the luxuriant bunch-grass, the
comfortable homes and heavily laden
fruit orchards. In the distance we
espy a huge mountain, with its
alpine-like crest. This is the great
SteptOe Butte, and soon we find our
selves looking down into that beauti-
ful valley surrounding it and are
welcomed by that princely enter
tainer Of this charming SteptOe val
ley, Cash-up Davis. Now If there is
any man in this, or any other coun-
try, can extend a right royal well
come, it is Cash-up. Enough has
already been written about this great
man to make no small sized book,
and his name, so widely and favor
ably known for his manly principles
and many good deeds. A draught
from his crystal flowing fountain, a
hearty repast, and one Of Cashup's |
choice havanas, we witness a sunset |
in which Italian skies could not show
richer tints as Sol set to rest, and we |
to the arms Of Morpheus to dream of
the great unhidden treasures of the |
rich lands surrounding us.
"Sweety, oh, sweetly, the morning breaks |
with roseate streaks,
Like the first faint blush on a malden's |
checks"
As we arise to look again over this
beautiful plain, in which nature has
50 much eXcelled in her great handi- |
work. To look over and through |
this valley, on every side, a gradual |
ascent to the hill tops, covered with |
rich fields Of golden grain ready for |
the reaper, are to be seen here and |
there, large herds Of cattle, sheep |
and horses. Rising from the level |
prairie and guarding the entrance to |
this level plain, towering heaven
ward for nearly 1900 feet, stands the |
verdure covered SteptOe butte, as II |
ready TO peTpetuate the memory Of |
CaShup.
'This, gentlemen" said Mr.. Davis,
sis to be SteptOe City. Here the |
railroad company have made their |
survey, and here l donate them land |
for depot, shops, etc. II not satisfied |
with the donation made, shall give |
them more. YOnder you see two |
springs on that hillside, where that |
grain is ripening; pipes can be laid |
from these springs and carry water
to every house in town to the top
story. Right here will he park and |
fountain, and when in "A few weeks |
this grain is removed the surveyors |
begin the work Of plating what will |
be the most charming burg in Whit
man county, Steptoe City"
'-Sln this enterprise we trust Mr..
Davis will be as successful as has been
his career as a husbandman and meT- |
NA"hh AAt HIS dlINdNlN a lllt EtntIdl !
store, post office, blacksmith shop, IA
public hall in which at the last gath
ering Of the stalwart sons and daught-
ers no less than eighty couples par
ticipated in tripping the light fan
tastic Considering the dry season,
Mr.. Davis and the people in the |
vicinity of Steptoe are promised
with a bountiful yield. Many seem
chagrined at the "bad outlook" Of
from 30 to 35 bushelsper acre. Imay
here state that the average wheat |
yield from the lands Of the Oregon
Improvement Company about Step
toe. has been from 40 to 45 bushels of
club wheat to the acre, and on a field
Of 40 acres Mr.. Davis raised, on
ground broken and sowed in the
spring, two thousand bushels Of this
wheat Specimens Of the grain grown
at SteptOe this year can be seen at
the ONCE Of Messrs. Harrison & Town