St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-27
TRANSPORTATION NOTES.


1hs Northern Pacific Country.
Col. Lsmborn, land commissioner Of the
Northern Pacific road, who has Just returned
from q trip over the line 10 the Yakima val
ley, was accidentally engaged in q converse
ton yesterday, during which be made some
very interesting statements as 10 the pro-
ductiTeness OF the valley The railroad, be
said, that is now being constructed from
Ainsworth up to Tacoma and Seattle through
the Cascade mountains, has reached Yakima,
Washington territory, on the Cascade branch.
This is an important town aud gives prom
Use of being the most eligible as 3 site for the
future capital Of the territory. Ellensburg,
forty miles north OF Yakim is
the business center Of . hourisbing
population, where the farmers are thrifty and
prosperous. The lands are fertile and rich
all along the Yakima valley and all about
Ellensburg. The climate is excellent. Il is
not only good for corn, but it is also good for
fruits, such as apples, aprieots and all similar
fruits.
Col. Lamborn was surprised 10 find the
country so we'll settled, aud still more was be
when he found the farmers all prosperous.
The stock interests in these regions IS well
attended 70 and the stock looks we'll. The
mountain ranges are covered with bunch
grass, which is very nutritious. The climate,
owing To the latitude, is a good deal like
that OF Southern Colorado. Irrigation
is necessary. but the yield is very
large. Tue upper portion OF the Yakima
valley has been settled for fifteen years, and
notwithstanding the farmers have been
without rail facilities they are doing we'll
They have heretofore bern isolated aud com
PEELED to haul their produce 10 the DelleS, ON
the Columbia river, a distance OF ninety
miles.
The colonel says that they have an excel
lent hotel at Ellcnsburg, where as good q
meal can be had for twenty-five cents zs can
be furnished by any hotel in St Paul, which
goes 70 show that the country is self sustain
ing. Money is very scarce 10 the valley, but
there is an abundance VI produce. Tue
consequence is that the business
Is conducted in very primitive
manner and trade is all on the basis or bar
ter. Taken al in all the valleys of the Yak
ina aud lis numerous tributaries coming
down from the Cascade range promise TO be
thrifty and prosperous agricultural coun-
ties as any along the line OF the Northern
Pacific, aud the company will attain more
money and business IrOIn that region than
has been anticipated. There are enormous
bodies OF timber on the slopes which will
supply the country for 200 miles eastward
Good coal veins have been opened twenty
five miles above Ellensburg. This coal will
be brought as far east as Spokane Falls
Gold placer mines have been worked
with good results for some time,
and good openings have been
been made In silver bearing eoppesr leads
similar 10 the deposits Of Butte, Montana,
which are found over a region 1880 miles
in extent. These coal and mineral districts
are adjacent 10 the projected line OF the road
from Ellensburg TO Tacoma Ellensburg is
situated on the east slope OF the Cascade
range and about l25 miles east of Puget
sound. Yakima and Elleusburg are ad-
mirably located aud both are destined TO be
among the most prosperous centers Of bust
ness in Washington territory.