Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-05-29
TO HONE SEEKERS IN THE FAR
WEST.
SoUTu PALoUsE, May "a, lSS-

SouTu PALoUsE, May "a, 1884.
Ed. TELLER-There has been great
deal said of late about the Big Bend
country, in Washington Territory, and |
thought | would 20 and see for myself, |
so on the 2lst Of April, 1884, started
in company with S. lmbler, ID. T. Gren-
niger aud T. Hammer to see this new
world, the Great Bend country OF Column
bia river We went through Coliax, did
not stay there long, found the town very
quiet, all seemed waiting for the cars |
We Travelled west of Coltax, through |
Pleasant Valley, very beautiful and
fertile valley, no vacant land to be had,
nice farms and good prospect Of fair
crop. We travelled through Rock creek
crossed the creek just below the big lake
this Rock creek country is good country
tor stock, the snow does not fall very
deep, in fact horses require no feed the
cattle needs some feed though not more
than from three TO five weeks, there is
some good tillablc land here and some
vacant yet; We went through Spraguc a
town on the n p r. r., there is great
deal Of business done here and is improv.
Ing very fast, the N. p. r. H. has a fine
shop here for repairing and making ma
chi,pry Sprague is located near the
head Of Colville lake, beautiful sheet
Of water 10 miles long and from two to
five miles wide, was told there was no
fish in the lake Of any amount The
country here is barren waste not fit for
} anything, all scab land. From Spraguc
we Travelled northwest to Grab creek
eight miles, through very fine country
for agriculture and stock raising; from
Crab creek Lloids creek is some 10 niles,
this part is not very good for agriculture
but fine for stock; there is plenty vacant
land here both railroad and Government.
From this creek TO Wild Goose Bills the
land is not such us | think would pro-
duce very well, still there is very fine
bunch grass, with alkai fats and rye
, grass water plentiful, timber scarce; from
/ Wild Goose Bills to the Grand Coulee
the land is better, in fact resembles the
Walla Walla soil, and the few settlers say
it produces very well, the timber is not
J SO Tar from this section, not more than
, 10 or IL miles; plenty Of fir wood in IA
vines putting in the Couec, there is plenty
Of vacant land in this part Of the country.
The California settlement is in this local
ity. From the Grand Coulee to the head
Of Foster creek there is some good coun-
| try and some fit for nothing but raising
stock, especially horses, there is some fine
grazing land on Foster creek, plenty Of
rye grass, greasewood and white sage and
good water for stock. Foster creek puts
into the Columbia 10 miles above the
mouth Of Okanagan river. From the
mouth Of Foster creek to the Hay Press
is some very good land for both agrieul-
ture and stock raising, timber and water
. handy. From the Hay Press to Badger
Mountain the country is very pretty aud
! level, with the finest bunch grass | ever
saw. There are great many settlers in
this part of the country, still there is
: plenty Of vacant land for all who are
; seeking homes. The timber on Badger
Mountain is good, but water in the valley
is scarce, the water is the great drawback
to the country; there are two towns started
here, Okanagan is six miles from Badger
Mountain out on the bleak plain; Brack en-
J is close to the mountains. Those towns
! are anxious to be the county seat Of Doug
lass county, think Bracken should be
+ the choice. and will be the choice of the
citizens. saw Gale Cooper at Bracken
he has taken him claim, joined the
CHANGERS and is fast becoming a good
man, he wished to be remembered BY his
old friends Of Lewiston | also saw a
young man at Bracken BY the name OF
Crawford, he clerked for j. Alexander,
he has located there; the settlers think
they have good country and SO do |.
| We came back BY the way of Moses
Coulee aud from Harrington. in Lincoln
county, is % miles to Sprague. This is
the best locality that saw, in my way
of thinking, both for stock raising and
agriculture and good water, but timber is
scarce-l2 miles to the nearest saw mill.
The town Of Harrington is located in the
center Of Lincoln county, aud | think,
should be the county seat. This part OF
Washington Territory is as good as rep
resented and | do not think it has been
over rated, the crops look well aud stock
is fat, water good, plenty of vacant land,
both railroad and Government. 1t is in
the railroad limits and will cost the settler
$3.50 per acre. l saw communication
in the Spokane Falls Chronicle, dated
February B, 1884 and signed l.. A., the
same think is true to the letter; there
is large acreage Of grain sown in aud
around Harrington and all the farmers
have large gardens. never saw better
vegetables grow than l saw in the neigh.
borhood Of Harrington, W. T. Now MIR.
| Editor | have written this letter for those
who are home seekers in.,he far west
say Tor them TO come and fill up this
beautiful country, but to those that have
homes stay OF them, is the advice OF your
humble writer. G. W. Tours