Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-07
LANDS OF THE FAR WEST.
Vast Vacant Areas of the Pacific and
Mountain states and Territories.


Pretty much all of the lands of Idaho are nm
occupied The Territory contains about 64, OO0.- :
900 acres, of which about 5000 900 available
for cultivation. and Is 600 900 more suitable for
grazing: The remainder is barren or mountain
veyed. A largo portion OF the barren land can
be reclaimed by irrigation 1t Is probable that
the arabic area may be doubled and the grazing
| area largely increased as the country fs occu-
Every county in Washington Territory offers
more or less pronounced attractions and vacant
lands to the homesteader. One-eighteenth of
the entire territory is reserved for school pur-
poses, and the Indians hold 6,333, 90 acres Of
the best farming land.
Oregon is public domain. West OF the Cascades
the vacant areas are small.
There are remaining in California about 3d.
O0O,OO9 acres OF Government lands- They lie
| mostly in the foothills and mountains, and in
barren sections bordering on Southern Nevada
and Arizona. The foothills with irrigation are
available, but require some capital to secure
the water. 1t is probable that one-half Of the
lands now vacant can be adapted to cultivation.
The lands are found almost in every county.
San Bernardino County has 10000 acres /;
Lassen, 1000; Alpine, 10000; Amador 225,'
Co.,. CO., Butte 900 cslavs5@s soS%o
600; Yolo, $4,000; Ventura, 10000; Tuo-
lumne; 500 900; Tulare, 1,76s 900; Los
angeles, 9o5 600; Mendocino 1,sos. 600; Tehama.
siskiyou, 2,441,O00; Merced $4,000; Monterey,
542, 900; Nevada, lis, 900; Placer, 173 900; San
ssnSo sh San Does sSn 9s aSSS SSisDS seTs STA
600; Santa Barbara, 112,000; and Santa Clara,
AZ, 500. The remaining twenty counties average
about the same as the above. The State also
holds a large area of school lands, which are Of
fered at nominal figures and which partake of
the same character as the Government lands.
Nevada is not an agricultural State and, ex-
cept Immediately on the streams, her soil does
not respond to cultivation without irrigation.
The greater part OF her whole area is open to
free settlement. In the Carson City district,
which includes all OF the western half of the
State, the lands along the streams or sufficient
ly close to them to get water for irrigation are
mostly taken up. In the eastern or Eureka
district, the greater portion Of the land is des-
ert in character, but can be rendered product
| i've by irrigation by pipes or bitches. Whether
unknown. The State of Nevada owns about
1,650, 900 acres Of land in lieu of the 10th and
36th section grant. 1t is all agricultural and is
held at q nominal price.
Utah Territory Is all included in the Salt
Lake City land district, and, while one -half of
its surface belongs to the Government and is
as mineral coal, or timber lands, or whero lying
| in odd sections within the limits Of a railroad
grant, farming tracts are very scarce. AT the
northwest is a large area Of desert land. The
| valleys where irrigation Is practicable are
Federal property and open TO settlement. 1t is
adapted to agriculture. however, only along
streams or where irrigation is practicable
| In the Central City district, which is formed
| of the counties Of Gilpin. Clear Creek,
Summit, and part Of Bowlder, Jefferson,
Eagle, and Grand, there arc 100000 acres
vacant. 1t is mountainous, but in the Mid
die Park in Grand County is an excellent
grazing section, part Of which is unoccupied
| and numerous small valleys throughout the
district offer opportunities for agriculture.
What has been said Of this district applies
equally to all the mountain districts-Lead-
ville Gunnison, Lake City, Durango, and Del
Norte. The Denver and Pueblo districts whica
| include the immense areas east of the noun
tains, are made up of what Is called arid lands
| fair for grazing, but available for agriculture
only through irrigation. The State Is we'll en-
dowed with lands, which it holds at rs TO SIS
| acre