Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1888-07-27
Of interest to some one with the Pacific
Coast fever, give the RECORD the facts
as found them.

Of interest to some one with the Pacific
Coast fever, give the RECORD the facts
as found them.
Last fall started for Washington Ter
ritery to see the country that had want
ed to see for several years. had heard
that it was the best section of the United
States to live in that the soil was very
rich that they raised all kinds of fruit,
grain and vegetables, and that stock
would keep fat on the range all winter.
But after reached there was very much
disappointed. found everything entirely
different from what I expected. Fruit
Is nearly all shipped in, and there are not
enough vegetables raised to supply the
home markets. As for the wheat, it is of
very poor quality compared with that Of
Dakota. West of the Cascade Mountains
there is very little farming country. The
land is heavily timbered and very stony
and rough 1t rains almost continuously
six months in the year. Mud was so deep
in the streets of Tacoma, Seattle and
Olympia. w. T.. and Portland, Ore, that
it was hard work for team to draw an
empty wagon. was in the vicinity of
those cities for several weeks, and it did
not stop raining as long as fifteen min
utes at time. only saw the sun once
during my stay there. People wear rub
Der suits and horses are covered with
rubber blankets. In the summer they
depend on irrigation to make the crops
grow.
East of the Cascade Meun tains the eli
mate is much better but the soil is very
poor. 1t is light, brown-celored sand,
mixed with little clay and covered with
sage'brush. In the big bend of the Co.
lumbia river is country spoken of very
highly. 1t looks we'll but it is impossible
to get water on the land as there are no
mountain streams 10 be used for irrigating.
Therefore the land Is worthless. 1t is SO
grow. In parts where they can irrlgato
they raise quite good crops. Washington
Territory papers claim that the yield of
wheat per acre is about sixty bushels. but
failed to find farmer that had raised
such large crops. There is more labor
and expense put on one acre there than
there is on four acres here in Dakota.
When the irrigating season begins, the
farmers trouble and hard labor com
menccs. As general thing there is not
over half enough water flowing in the
bitches TO irrigate ale the farms. AS 81
consequence there is a great scramble for
the fluid, farmers seeking to get ahead of
one another by closing their neighbors'
bitches that lead from the main ditch,
and turning the water into his own. This
causes much trouble and hard feeling,
and very often ends in lawsuit.
The extreme western part Of Montana
is much better country than Washington
| Territory, tue need of irrigation being its
| only drawback.
In conclusion will say that l return to
Emmons County perfectly satisfied to
settle down and improve my land. I do
not think there Is a place in the United
States where can better myself, so far as
agriculture is concerned. At least three
others thought 80, too fer they returned
to Dakota when did. would not give
my half-section of land in Emmons
county for an average township in the
country visited. Respectfully,
| EZRA j. THURBER.