The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 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 un-
900 acres, Of which about 600O,00 are available
for cultivation. and 5000, 900 more suitable for
grazing. The remainder is barren mountain
ous About one-fourth Of the Territory is sur
veyed A large portion of the barren land can
be reclaimed by irrigation. II is probable that
the arabic area may be doubled and the grazing
area largely increased as the country Is occu-
pied.
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,OC0 acres OF
the best farming land.
The greater portion Of the land in Eastern
Oregon is public domain. West OF the Cascades
the vacant areas are small.
There are remaining in California about 80,
OO1,OOJ ceres 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 It is probable that one-h half OF the
lands now vacant can be adapted TO cultivation
The lands are found almost in every county.
San Bernardino County has 100000 acres
Lassen, 2,5 o,OOo; Alpine, 10000; Ama1or, 2l5,-
Colusa, $4,000; ii Dorado, $4,000; Kern.
l d Lake 100000; Humboldt 1850
lumne; 500 900; Tulare, 176s, OOO Los
Angeles, 2O5OOO; Mendoclno, 1865, OOo Tehama.
$4,000; stanislaus, $1,000; sonoma. 132, 0c0
Siskiyou, 2,i41,0O0 MERGED, $4,000; Monterey,
$4,000; Nevada, 11s0)O; Placer, ia, 600; San
Benito, 227, 000 San Diego, 2,2t4,OOO; Sierra,
$4,000; Shasta, ,2S5, 900; San Luis Obispo, 372-
900; Santa Barbara, $4,000; and Santa Clara
1880. 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 ut 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
artesian irrigation is practicable orr not is yet
unknown. The State of Nevada owns about
1850, 900 acres of land in lieu OF the 10th and
36th section grant IL is all agricultural and is
held at a 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
subject to free entry, except when designated
as mineral, coal or timber lands, or where lying
in odd sections within the limits of a railroad
grant, farming tracts are very scarce. AT the
northwest is large area OF desert land. The
valleys where irrigation Is practicable are
occupied.
The greater portion of the area of Colorado is
Federal property and open to settlement. 1t is
adapted to agriculture, however, only along
streams or where irrigation is practicable
III inc CenVrhl C1ty ulstrlct, winch Is formed
of the counties of Gilpin, Clear Creek
Summit, aud part OF Bowlder, Jefferson,
Eagle, and Grand there are 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-fead
vile. Gunnison, Lake City, Durango and Del
Norte The Denver and Pueblo districts which
nrl IA naT1aa augf NJ ha
tains, are made up OF what is called arid lands
fair for grazing, but available for agriculture
only through irrigation. The State is well en-
dowed with lands, which il holds at 81 .25 10 SIS
per acre.