, 1889-05-02
ter and refreshes the dry land in the sum-

ter and refreshes the dry land in the sum-
mer.
TOWNS AND SETTLEMENTS.
The southern and eastern edge OF the
Big Bend country Is moderately well set
tied, but still contains a large amount OF
wild land just az good as any that Is under
cultivation. ln all the remainder OF this
extensive region settlement is still very
thin, but 1t ia fast thinkeniuR up with
the he avy immigration of the present sea-
son, The city Of Spokane Falls, although
situation little outside of the region, Is
its chief market and business center. II
has about 10000 people. with -four and
lumber mills, manufactures of various
kinds, street railroads, numerous banks,
Wholesale houses, daily newspapers and
benevolent and educational institutions.
From Spokane Falls to Davenport. the
present central town Of the Big Bend. the
distance is about fifty miles.
Of the " Big " Bend, il va
prosper US town Of 1000 people. and is the
junction point for the Washington Cen
tral branch of the Northern Pacific with
the main line. SpraRue, on the N. p.
main line, is the market town for large
part of the region and is an active place
further west, with the same railroad ad-
vantaRes, 10 the base of supplied for the
southwestern part of the Big Bend. Il is
growing fast and has about 500 residents.
Medical Lake. eight miles from Cheney,
is town OF 1000 inhabitants, situated on
the shore OF the remarkable mineral lake
of the same name. This is popular
HEALTH AND PLEASURE RESORT.
and the waters Of the lake, which are Of q
chocolate brown color and are heavily i'm
pregnated with alkaline salts, effect many
notable cures. The town is on both the
Washington Central and the Seat
tie al and Eastern railroads. Deep
and grain warehouses and a good water
power of limited extent. Davenport, first
made accessible by rail last February, is
the Temporary terminus Of the Washington
Central, and is a rapidly growing
about 800. 'A which vii piPu'A''p% probabiy
double during the current year. Wilbur.
thirty.one miles west OF Davenport, IL q
new town, TO which the Washington Gen.
trail will be extended this year. 1t has al
ready 400 inhabitants. Waterville Is the
chief town Of the extreme western part Of
the Big Bend, beyond the two great cou-
lees. 1t has population of 500, and
favorable situation near the foot of Badger
mountain. Monrovia, Fairweather. Har-
rinaton, Sherman and Brents are
postotfices and small settlements. Fort
Spokane 10 u handsome military post at
the junction of the Spokane and Columbia
rivers and 10 Rarrisoned by three COM
panies of United States troops.
ROUTES TO THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
The settler will 20 BY way of the North
ern Pacific railroad, whether he comes
from the East or the Pacific coast. Set
tiers from the East pass over the
main line Of the Northern Pacific
and change to the Washington Cen.
tral branch at Cheney in case they
wish to go to davenport, which is the
central point in the eastern part of the Big
and southeastern parts of the region.
Cheney, Sprague and Ritzville are con-
venient stopping places and are all on the
main line. The principle town in the
western part of the Big Bend 10 Water.
vile, reached by stage either from Daven.
port, or from Ellensbu re-, on the main
line of the Northern Pacific, west
of the Columbia. Settlers from Cali
fornia can cone either by sea or rail TO
Tacoma or Portland, and can take the
Northern Pacific at either of these cities
propose to 90 upon government lands will
dc we'll to stop at Spokane Falls, where the
United States land office Is located and
where they can examine maps and filings
and learn what sections remain open to
homestead, pre.emption and timber cul-
ture claims. The land department Of the
Northern Pacific Railway Company
is represented by agents at Spokane
Falls. Cheney, Sprague, Ritzville, Daven-
port and h .ensburg, who are authorized
to show lands and nsme prices. and who
are furnished with accurate maps, and
with the notes and ratings Of competent
examiners. These examination notes and
descriptions may be depended on "a cor
rect, and they greatly facilitate the task
of the land seeker who wishes to make
home upon q railroad section, or TO pur
chase such land for an investment. The
government does not examine and grade
Its lands at all and the
settler must either learn from his own
observation or from the reports of others
OF the particular tracts that are adapted
LIZ