The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-12-09
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
FROM JOHN D. JONES (BUTCHER).

1 enclose one dollar for another year,
for we cannot do without the Standard.
| The home news is very acceptable to the
| family here in the Far West. Now if
| you will spare room in your valuable pa
per, shall give little description and
sketch of the production of the country
| for the benefit of whoever intends COM
| ing West. [ have received a great many
| letters concerning this country. Some l
| have answered, some l haye not.
| In March, 1888, left Jackson for the
| Far West, not knowing where | would
locate, and came to Livingston, Montana,
| thence to Boseman. This place was then
the terminus of the U. P. R. r. Not suit
ed with the country in Montana, took
stage passage for the terminus of the road.
From this slope of the Pacific west on
the Clark's Fork a distance of 315 miles.
From there to Spokane Falls, by rail.
This place was then quite small village,
but the boom had commenced that Spring.
Now it looks like an Eastern city, with
its large brick blocks, and large wholesale
houses. They have fine water power
here. There are three grist mills. and the
fourth is going up. Some of them can
turn out from three to four hundred bar
rels of flour every "a hours, of the finest
roller process, which sells at three dollars
per 100 lbs.
Now to go on with my journey: Il left
this place April 18th for Walla Walla.
Here L bought horse and saddle. After
lIol r trX for
few days, and not being suited in the
country, started for the Big Bend coun-
try, camping out on the prairie at night,
tying the horse to a long rope, fastened
to my wrist, or a stake, so he could feed
on the grass which grew in abundance
all over this country. Arrived here at
Breant's Postoffice May 10, 1888. This
Office at that time was supplied with mail
from Fort Spokane, carried by volunteers,
or taking teams once week to bring the
mails. Now this office has coach from
the railroad three times a week, besides
the weekly mails from other points. This
BreanL's p. 0. is on the northeastern por-
ton of a large farming country. Look
ing west and south from the place we can
see nothing but bunch grass prairie, with
no timber. This vast country will be
some day vast wheat-feld. Looking
from here north and northwest, one can
see nothing but high green mountains,
covered with heavy timber of evergreen
such as pine, fir, and tamarack timber.
green winter and summer.
Between this prairie and these noun
tains lies the great Columbia River, some
two thousand feet below the prairie land,
generally very steep going down to the
river, something like going down
mountain. This rough land is thickly
grown with scattering pine. with scarcely
any underbrush-mOreo or less grass all
over it. The rough land makes good win
ter range for stock. With little feed cat
tie winter we'll here Horses winter in
these brakes well, and come out in the
spring in good order. Winter in this
is mild, lasting from one to three
The coolest it has been where l
live is Is degrees below zero. This was |
last winter, and only for few days each |
time.
Everything we ever planted here grows
well. No country beats it on vegetables.
Small grain does well, in good seasons its
common yield is 40 bus. per acre. | have
seen one pumpkin that weighed 80 lbs,