Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-06

Information for l0niGfanas.
SnOkaNo Chv0pinlo

EASTERN WAS0lNCTON.
Information for l0nigfanas.
spokane Chronicle
We believe it quite generally conceded
that Washington Territory now hai
centerin9 upon it an interest which il
phenomenal for intensity and eager de
sire to emiRrate to it. The amount OF
inquiry that daily passes through the
mails. directed not only to immigration
bureaus and publishers of papers, bu,
to people in every occupation, would as
tOalSh An Eastern community. Tt
those already here and enjoying the
advantages which the soil and climate
affords, this desire for information. 81
though often responded to, meets with
a cordial welcome, and reams Of note
and foolscap are daily devoted to the
setting fsrth of the attractions of oul
new homes Although there has been
no cessation of inquiry through the
winter, the near app zach of spring
shows a great increase in interest. and
We cheerfully give space again to the
responses which so many thousands are
seeking. We have only space to re-
mark in regard to the general features
of Washington Territory that it is divid
cd into two quite distinct and dissimilaI
regions BY the line of the Cascade
Mountains, into Western Washington,
whose peculiarities are magnificent tim
Der good coal and commercial and mar
thine facilities unsurpassed by any
other country IN the world.
Eastern Washington embraces the
largest body of tillable soil, a benignant
climate. and is rich in mineral wealth.
Each section is we'll represented BY its
respective papers, and we must confine
ourselves to a brief description of this
section. OF the localities east of the
Cascades. the Yakima country, extend
ing east from the foot of the range to
the Columbia river, and watered BY the
Yakima river, embraces a fine area of
warm, rich bunch-Rrass and sage brush
land, the latter tillable by the aid of
irrigation, and is AL excellent fruit and
stock country.
South of Snake river the Walla Walla
country. now we'll settled and prosper
Gus, fiourishes as grain and fruit re
giOn. North of the Snake is the Pa
louise region, rich in its growth of grain
and fruit, and about two thirds settled.
The famous Spokane and Big Bend
countries stretch north from the PalOuse
to the COlville valley, and it is these
areas OF rich bunch grass, we'll watered
and timbered, that We are now specially
prompted to describe more infinitely for
the immigrant. 1t is directly from
these regions that the city of Spokane
Falls draws its agricultural produce,
and it is to these richly endowed young
counties that Spokane will hold the re-
latiOn of metropolis.
Spokane, Stevens, Lincoln and Doug
las cOupties cover an area of about 40
townships or 10,OO0. 600 acres, fully three
fifths of which il the best of tillable
land, and the remainder is fine timber
and grazing lands. This would make
over 200 farms of 160 acres each, and
of this, something over one half has
been entered, and probably one-sixth is
already under cultivation. The best of
the government and railroad lands in
Spokane county are already entered,
bat there are still good lands to be had.
principally the latter, which are held BY
the company at from 8 to 81 per acre.
according to the quality or distance
from the road.
COlville valley, which is one of tho
earliest settled regions of the Territory,
lying between Spokane and the British
line. has still room for many more set
tiers, and is an excellent grain and
dairy country. A number of the old
settlers, who we're in early days en-
ployees of the Hudson Bay Company.
hold some of the choicest land in the
valley, but We understand that they can
be bought out for moderate figure
On the Columbia slope of tho COlville
country an almost semi-trOpical climate
prevails. and peaches, grapes and all
the fruits indigenous 10 temperate
climate are easily raised. Colville val
ley is also rich in minerals and timber,
which, with its wheat raising and dairy
ing facilities will attract large pOpula-
ton, and secure at an early day railroad
connection with Spokane Falls to the
south, and navigation of the Columbia
to the north in connection with the Can
adian Pacific. There are now four post
offices in the valley; at Walkers prairie,
Siwash, Chewelah, and the new tewn of
Colville, which is the county seat. Last
year witnessed quite a movement of i'm
migration to COlville valley, and this
year will see it more than doubled.
The principal body of land. however,
that remains in Eastern Washington
for settlement is the region in the Big
Bend of tho Columbia, comprising the
new counties of Lincoln and Douglas.
This region is capable Of supporting a
dense population, and is now the OBJ
jective point of the large immigration
movement which will begin about the
middle of March. The general charao-
ter of the soil throughout Eastern
Washington is that Of a strong, ashy
loan, a combination of the strongest
elements which make an enduring soil,
being the detrition of the igneOus rocks
whiCn are peculiar to the country and
the annual deposit from the decay of
the rich grasses which have abounded
from time immemorial. This Oharac-
ter of soil produces from twenty to
fifty bushels of wheat to the acre, of an
excellent quality, while vegetables of
all kinds and all the fruits of the tenn
perate zone abound and excel in size
and relish the Eastern products. Oats,
barley, rye, clover, timothy. alfalfa and
the native grasses grow luxuriantly,
and furnish abundant food for the
finest of horses and cattle.