St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-05
THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Col. LansboTn on the Climate, Fertility of
Soil and Energy of the Western
PeODfe,

SOU NHO energy W ue WeSeeTU
People.
Col. G. Lamborn, land commissioner of
the Northern Pacific, returned yesterday
from a trip over the entire line, and being
interviewed by GLOBE reporter, said: 81
have just returned from q two weeks trip
to the Pacific slope The season is much
further advanced west of the mountain than
here. In Washington territory the spring
crops have all been planted and
winter wheat is foot high.
Around Spokane Falls, Walla Walla and in
the Yokima country the fruit trees are in
full bloom and the season is more than
month in advance of Minnesota, While at
Portland and west of the Cascade noun
tains the shade trees are all in leaf, and cur
rants, cherries, plums and other garden
fruits are well advanced in size, and
in another month will be ready
for market. In the gardens in
Portland the flowers are in full bloom, trees
are in bud, and the grass lawns have already
been moved three times. While the Missis
sippi and Missouri rivers north are still ice
bound in Minnesota and Dakota, all the
rivers and streams in Montana and Wash
ington have been open for more than
month The season is early in North Dakota,
the snow is gone, the farmers are busy on
all sides putting in wheat and the acreage
this year in Dakota will be about the same as
last.
In Washington territory there is large
increased acreage put to crops, probably 25
per cent. more than last year. The heavy
snow fall of December disappeared in Jan
uary and the ground was left in excellent
condition. Although ready money is very
scarce among the farmers in Oregon and
Washington they are in good spirits and hope
full Of very large crop this year. A good
wheat crop and fair prices this season will
put them all in good financial condition.
IMMIGRATION
to all the Northern Pacific country gives
promise of being considerably larger this
year than last. The steamers from Califor-
mia are taking about one hundred immi-
grants to Portland each trip and the west
bound through trains carry from thirty to
fifty intending settlers to the Pacific slope
from east of the Mississippi Most of the
people go into the wheat-farming districts
around Spokane Falls, Cheney and Sprague,
and into the newly-opened country in the
Yokima valley. Some fifty new families have
arrived at New Salem, OAK, and
over eighty new settlers from Ohio and the
East at Glenallen, OAK, and many more are
to follow. There is heavy movement in
Dakota west of the Missouri, where there are
several million acres of government land yet
untaken. Montana is drawing considerable
accessions to her great stock ranges and
mining centers There is greater activity in
the stock growing and mining operation than
ever before. Washington territory is find
ing q new outlet for her young cattle to the
grazing ranges of Montana, and it is proba-
BILE that 5000 head OF yearlings and two
year-olds will be shipped by rail
to Miles City and Billings from
the bunch grass ranges of Eastern Washing
ton. This will serve to stimulate the raising
of young stock in Oregon and Washington,
as heretofore their markets have been lin
tied to the demands of home consumption"
THE YoKIMA COUNTRY.
81 spent four days at North Yokima,
ninety miles west of the Columbia river.
Yokima and Kittitos counties, east of the
Cascade mountains, have already an estab-
lshed population of about 5000 people, who
have during the last fifteen years
settled along the rich valleys
of the Yokima river. They are thrifty,
intelligent and enterprising people who have
opened up good farms and grown prosperous
and self-sustaining, although cut off from
railroad communication by ninety miles of
difficult roads until the branch line was ex-
tended up the valley this winter. The lands
in the valley are fertile and are cultivated by
irrigation. The supply of water In the rivers
is abundant, and the irrigating canals are
easily and cheaply constructed. The climate
is mild, and reasonable crops Of all the
cereals, vegetables, apples, grapes, and
other fruits, and hops can be easily
raised. Where the land is carefully irrigated
two or three times each season, failure Of
crops is unknown. Tobacco of excellent
quality can be grown. There is no region
in the West where irrigation on an extensive
scale can be SO cheaply and proftably intro
duced as are the rich leva lands of the Yok-
ina valley.
Hops win yield about one ton per acre and
are of superior quality, and as ten acres
cultivated in hops, fruit or tobacco will yield
a larger profit than 100 acres Of wheat, oats
or barley, these valleys will sustain a much
heavier population than other portions Of the
agricultural districts of the West
NORTH YoKIMA.
The town of North Yokimo has grown with
surprising rapidIty. 1t has already a popu-
latioD Of over 1000. Two months ago when
the railroad track reached 1t the site of the
town was a bare, uuoccupied, sage brush
plain. Since that time over 100 good
substantial buildings have been erected.
The buildings are as yet constructed
OF wood, as lumber is convenient and cheap:
but many OF them are large, two-story struc-
lures, and are permanent in character. A
brickyard has been started, and within
month several brick buildings will be under
wav. The town has been laid out on
broad plain, one mile from the junction
Of the Yokima and Matches rivers. The
streets are 100 feet wide, and the blocks 800
feet by 100 in size, with a twenty-foot alley.
large irrigatiDg canal has been built
from the Matches river, which carries
enough water to irrigate 5000 acres: $500
shade trees Of several years growth have been
planted along the streets. In another year
North Yakima will be generally recognized
as the handsomest and most attractive town
in Washington territory. A fine large depot
building is almost completed. Most Of the
largest business structures of old Yakima,
four miles distant, have been removed on
trucks and rollers to the new town. The ar
engagements for moving are so COM
plete that house twenty by fifty
feet Is lacked up and placed securely
on trucks, and twenty to thirty horses
transfer the building across the level plain in
half day. At the moving Of the GiIliland
hotel il was kept open, and was filed with
guests all the time it was rolling the fourth
mile. The First National bank Of Yakima
viii start on lie journey with its great store
vault and heavy fre-proOf safes all in place,
next week, and viii continue business With
open doors the whole ten days Of its transit.
The people Of the Yakima valley are full Of
energy and confidence, aud new people are
going in from al directions.
The people are justly proud Of the fnan-
cial center for stockmen who Craze their
herds over millions Of acres, and the hopeful