Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-03
A GOOD IDAHO LETTER.
From the Richmond, tMo.) Conservator.
GRANGEVILLE. IDAHO.
Dar 81 1907

Dec. 81, 1887.
EpIroRs CoNsERvAToR | saw in the
Democrat, of your city, Of October 2S.
letter from this place signed by b. f.
Davis, relative to this country. and after
due examination of said article, cannot
consistently let it pass without comment.
In his letter he SAYS too much, too
much on one side, and too little on the
other and | believe the captain thinks
that is true now himself. He came
from the boys ofthe Wiamette, in Ore
gon, arriving here late in September
last, having been advised by his nephew,
James Forbes, who preceded him here
few months, and fully appreciating the
good qualities of this country. wrote his
uncle to sell out and bring the stock not
sold to Idaho. Mr.. Forbes, being
shrewd and clear-headed young man.
saw that this was the country above all
in which short horn cattle could be
raised to state of perfection without
any need Of corn crib, as the luXuri-
ant bunch grass which covers our prai-
ries is all that is required for cattle or
horses, except for not TO exceed three
months any winter, when some feed
their cattle but stock horses are never
fed, and keep fat all the time on the
public domain. The captain has now
some of the finest hay he ever fed in
any country, cut on the open prairie
near where he lives, which is worth 81
or S. per ton in the stack. | think he
paid S. per ton for his, and it was cut
where herds of stock pastured on it all
summer, and has been fed upon by
stock of the white man for the past
twenty-siX years, and by those of the
red man for years previous, and still its
growth is not in the least retarded. The
captain was not posted on that point.
We have the finest timothy land in
America, any of our soil will produce
good growth of that grass. He says 1t is
mot second class farming country"
Now, the facts are as follows:
The yield of wheat in this county this
year has been from 20 to 60 bushels per
acre, and the average over thirty
bushels, Oats from 80 to 100 bushels
per acre, and will go over so bushels
per acre on an average. Barley about
the same as oats. Hungarian, millet
and other grasses do excellent here.
Corn is the only grain that falls short
here, and in many localities they raise
five to eight barrels per acre. h )ots Of
all kinds grow equal TO California. One
of the captains neighbors dug 400 BUSH
els of fine potatoes from half an acre
this fall. Fruit--apples, pears, plnms,
cherries and small fruit grow well.
Timber of the finest quality can be had
Tor nothing, and no man in this county
is required to haul it to exceed twelve
miles, and we have it on every side OF
us.
This country is well watered. The
past season has been unusually dry, and
many streams ceased to run for time,
fol hxyo Ia -,
frequently the case in old Ray. Stock
running at large never suffer for water,
but always have good quality in
abundance. Still | know some who
have dry claims who prefer to haul wa
ter rather than dig for it. | never
+ knew of but one well sunk forty feet
deep without getting water, and usually
much shallower, There are some
claims here quite stony, and many
E others which have none on them. 1T is
3 n basatic formation and usually porous
and very irregular.
The snow has fallen here about eigh-
teen inches deep at two different win
tiers in the last twenty years, but usu-
ally it does not exceed ten inches,
{ which only remains a few DAYS at most,
as it is carried away by the chinook
winds, which always come to our relief
and melt it,
We have no railroads yet, although
surveys were made across the valley
last summer, which we expect to see in
operation in year or two.
We are surrounded by rich mineral
belt where extensive gold and silver
mines are being operated, and where
we have good market for our surplus.
7 Butter is ready sale at forty cents per
pound eggs 20 to 40 cents per dozen;
chickens $3.50 to $500 per dozen
ducks from IS to Sl2; hogs 3 to 5 cents
gross cattle $40 for stockers, and steers
S25 for two-year olds $33 for three
year olds $50 for yearllngs Sll. Wheat
is 40 to 80 cents per bushel.
Now where could the captain have
been and what country would he pro-
claim 6rst-clas for farming, if this is
not second-cass even? 1t must be. in
Florida or South America, where or
anges, bananas and pine apples grow
upon the forest trees, aud without Guilt
walton, while the enterprising inhabi-
tants lay in the shade of an arbor and
feast upon the wonderful works of ma
ture.
The captains short horns are now
running on the. public domain, and To
his astonishment growing fat. And |
can safely say to all his friends in Mis-
souri, that they may continue to address
him at his present postofiice, which will
become more familiar to them in the
! future, and we extend to him and his
estimable family hearty welcome, and
+ sincerely hope in the future that he will
make no more snch blunders, winch we
believe WAS at the time without bad in
iention on his part, but rather hasty.
Very respectfully,
AN OLD RAYITE.