The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01
THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Prolific of ALI Kinds Of Agricultural
Products.



the east by an imaginary line drawn
from Priest rapids on the Columbia TO the
mouth of the Spokane river. The greatest
part is occupied by Douglas county, which
is 100 miles long and sixty miles wide.
Population is about 1900. This great
stretch Of country Is gently undulating
prairie, covered with 8 thick growth of
rich bunch grass, which cures standing
and Is the finest kind of feed green or dry.
The country is divided into three parts,
north and south by two wonderful chasms
called Moses and Grand coulees. They
separate the country into stzipS twenty
miles wide BY 100 long on the average.
They are from $50 to 500 feet below the
general surface with steep precipitous
walls and but few places 90 cross. The
Columbia river is about / 800 feet below the
surrounding prairie, thus making this
river useless TO great extent. Its banks
are also very pTecipitons with but few
places from the surrounding country from
which 70 approach it easily. The soil Is
composed of deoomposed volcanic rock
and alluvisl wash. 1t IS thus one of the
most lasting Of soils, retaining moisture TO
a wonderful degree. Settlers. except in
the Columbia river bottom, never need TO
irrigate.
The rainfall is abundant so that crops
never fail, though like all countries under
the sun its average products vary in
abundance from year TO year. The average
crops Of wheat are thirty bushels. oats
fifty and barley ninety. Potatoes yield
wonderfully, running from $50 TO 800
bushels per acre. They are very large and
sound TO the heart The soil Is early put in
condition by an ordinary breaking plow.
common harrow and good team. There is
no underbrush TO interfere with inn
meaiately turning the ground into good
seed bed. Vegetables of ell kinds produce
great crops. Timber culture claims are
success rs ali trees grow rapidly frorn the
seed. Around the public plaza OF Water
vile are box elders and mountain ash from
eight to ten feet high two and one-half
years from seed. The apples raised greatly
resemble in taste those raised in New
England, bur are much larger and present
a finer appearance. Pears, plums, cherries
and small fruits do equally well.
The lack of railroads has greatly retarded
its growth, as well as belief prevalent in
places that there is agVeatsearcity Of water.
This Is a mistake. as water is easily found
from ten to seventy-five feet from the sur
face. In most eases, though, some parties
who have used bored wells have gone down
as low as 125 feet 20 get the proper head.
The railroad question is becoming settled.
however. Though one-half the county is
ssill open for settlement, we predict that on
completion OF the two roads now building
across Douglas county via Waterville, the
county seat, THAI it will all be taken.
There are lew patches of pine timber in
scattered spots over this county, but the
greatest quantity Is found on Badger
mountain, sort of table land beginning at
the junction OF Moses couiee and the
Columbia river and running north 10
within three miles of Waterville. The
northern part is covered with a dense
growth of good pine timber and some fir.
Three saw mills are located here.
The distance between Seattle and Spokane
Falls is about 80 miles. but by rail between
these points IS sc least 400 miles, as the
Northern Pacific after leaving Spokane
Falls, travels nearly TO the south line OF
the state before il again turns northwest 90
reacn Seattle. To make the line shorter
they are now building as straight road rs
possible across this country End have at
the present writing reached Grand coulee,
almost the halfway point Ii viii nm
doubtedly close the gap by the end OF 1880,
thus shortening its line about l00 miles.
The Seattle. Lake Shore & Eastern rail-
road, a corporation organized 70 create
competitor to the Northern between these
two points, has built from both cities.
That from Seattle has reached nearly to
the Cascades, and from Spokane has reached
Davenport, thus leaving = space of about
100 miles 80 be completed. Both roads run
parallel, bat some miles apart. though cnm-
hsg together at Grand conlee, at McIntee's,
and at Wateryille, which Is at the head of
the canyon. affafding access across the
Columbia. Wateryiiie Is on q straight air
line drawn between Spokane Falls and
Seattle, and about half way between each.
The immensely Of the ares and the pro-
ductiyeneSs OF the Big Bend viii create
ample business for both roads. The route
viii be pleasing 70 the tourist, IS they ride
through three of our prettiest prairies,
over which they can see for miles. and cross
the wonderful coulees, one oil the sirangest
OF sights.
waterviile, the county seat enjoys the
advantage Of having ar immense field OF
resources 10 itself. Lying ~ the west end Of
the farming country 1.-THE nearest point 20
tide watert and the beginning OF the min
ing and tisnbsring west and north, SIS sit
nation Is similar 90 Spokane Falls and
Denver. The minerals found west and
north are gold, silver. copper, lead and
iron and great led ges Of coal. lime, marble
and building stone The hills in which
they are found are covered with pine,
spruce, flr aud cedar. Nothing can be
daae tiu tue completion OF a railroad
through fhfs rrglrfyv Then thousands az
men viii bs pnt 70 work TO develop the
wonderful resources, who in turn will con-
sumo a great tsark.of the agricultural pro-
duets 81 Douglas county. As WAteFvYile Is
their common center it viii be the trading
mart The town has = very beautiful
towusise win sup51fh views 70 south, west
ard north. Two years ago bat TIRES
houses we're Ia exfstenes-now 10 The
hospitality and AberslIty Of rs citizens j.
becoming pTUyerosai. One Hitizea built
aud gave 70 the county 3 tire court house
and g block u land ard $50 towards z
=. - school house now under construction.
IAe town Is ieevened with activity. Il has
a good hoard q trade, brass band, Ere
company. three church organizations With
resident ministers. four BENEVOLENT societies
and a skating INK
All traces sEe represented. but larger
stocks are needed tn supply the great field
Of &hieh WateFrIlSe Is lhe center. With
no toxin Of eonseq nearer than seattle.
spozAne FAlis and EIIsnstuFg, she has no
opposition Wafer can De brought in under
great pressure inexpen&vely. 4 COED four
ing nil and furniture aud sash and door
fsrsovy are ha8ay aeessea, and % those de-
ssring such . lora1son for The abors indus