The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01

As an agricultural and fruit producing
state, Washington possesses the elements
which promise a great future. Situated in
a zone which, on both continents. is noted
fo- its production of cereals aud fruits;
famed continually by the cool. balmy.
m0isture-laden breezes of the Pacific: with
8 fertile soil composed largely OF deeom-
posed lava and basalt; with towering
mountain ranges to the east and north,
protecting the valleys from borsai blasts;
with extensive. grassy plateaus and valleys
waiting 10 be turned into waving wheat
fields with large, nayigable rivers drain
ing the eastern plains and washing the
southern boundary; with hoary moun-
tain ranges, fianked by inexhanstible for
ests, underlaid with vast beds Of coal and
permeafed with veins of almost all the
metals known to the miner: with innu-
merahle Tiyuless and streams dashing
down the mountain sides ready to be har-
messed in the service of growing industry,
and with numerous harbors. bays, inlets
and estuaries inviting the worlds COM
nerce, this young state is destined 70 be-
come, at no distant day, one of the bright
est stars IN the galaxy of states.
Commerce. mining and manufacture viii
always furnish employment to large por-
ton of our population but agriculture and
iruit raising viii always remain. as they
now are. our leading industries. Very few
OF us have fair conception of what this
state Is capable of in this respect.
The Cascade range divides the state into
two alIeost equal sections. which differ
radically in climate and general features OF
landscape. Western Washington has its
excellent barbors and endless forests 1t
Is not 50 agricultural section. The river
bottoms and redeemed tide fats are of un-
surpassed fertility. but the great bulk O.
the land area is composed OF graveliy drifts.
and hiilslopeS covered with dense woods.
difficult 10 clear. Ik requires nerve. pa-
tience aud hard work, to hcw out q farm
IN this forest, but il will be done Thou
sands of axes. picks. shovels and plows are
steadily at work and in another generation
the somher wooded plains and hills will be
changed into smiling farms. The salubri-
ous air. the never-failing rains, will secure
rood crops OF grain or grasses even on
poorer soil. 1t is safe 10 predict, that in
quarter Of a century the country bordering
apon the Columbia. the ocean or Puget
sound viii be noted for its agricultural
productions. and the incoming settler, who
possesses the necessary means. pluck and
patience, may safely venture into these for
estS TO make home. and receive ample
reward eventually.
The farm lands OF this section, the lands
where farming, depending on rainfall can
ne carried on successfully, consist mainly
Of belt of uplands, skiriing the foot of the
mountains. having an altitude OF from
I 600 10 800 feet, and extending in horse
hoe form from Gillian county in Oregon
30 the west line Of Douglas county In this
state. This IS the famous wheat belt" of
he Inland Empire II has an average
idth of about twenty-five miles, and ex-
ENDS with but few breaks through the
counties of WaIIa Walla. Columbia. Gar
Geld. Asotin, Whitman, Spokane. Lincoln
and Douglas, about so miles in the state
81 Washington. The soil is uniformly
rich, dark loan, the deposits from creeks
and rivers around the shores Of vast in
land lake filing this basin in ancient
times. Springs are in abundance. espec-
lsliy IN the country drained bv the Paiouse
river and By Hangman creek i'm Spokane
county. The average yield per acre i
about twenty or twenty-five bushels Of
wheat, with fax, barley and cats in pro-
portion. The climate. permitting nine or
zen months OF farm work, with few inter.
yupting rains IN the spring and none in har-
vest time. enables our farmers 10 overcome
obstacles Of transportation. etc. incident
- aew country, and undersell almost
any country i'm the worlds market The
farmer Of The inland Empire paws high
yases. pays high prices for money for im-
asements aud machinery, PAYS 3 high rate
Tor transportation Of bis grain 20 the coast
ana from the coast, aud from the coast so
Earope, and there sells his wheat in COM
petitoB w3th the products OF the lowest
paid psupeF labor 81 HussiA and India. and
aetwjfhssan ding sis this. the country Is
rapidiy advancing and farms ar enhanced
IN valae from year 10 year II the countzy
esn do this amid such adverse conditions,
what may ne expect when these coadi-
tons. ~ they atil ne. become squalized
9itA those o. the East when FnachinerY.
aguney ard sreights will be lower
The capacity Of this wheat belt. when
aaes put - its best, is something 70 sur
prise even tho most sanruiae II ts3 We
hxa . fa1 average crop. bat not ane-iiffh
~ the F&l0use country was cultivated yet
as+@ ts1ss' NV f1AEtf 10 ta&Et& AttE4ft@A
apacitv for more than SIX months and
2 En- were rot nearly aals 70 carry sEav
ne grain offered ~ the stations
Alsoxlns 80 miles in length hs twenty.
ave miles ia wAsth Tor this wheAs he.t va
SiEe as 20 square Haisss or 4.ss1 GO &
scves. IisstaeliHr oue-fcurth of She area
ssa fer pasture, bay, SUN saiaow, s.e..
SC VII have Loco 90 acres actually ia cFep
whsu tas country j. once thoroughly
satslee, This, az An average q tweaty
asgsheAs fsr acre. wili yiesa the eaornoas
rep 81 sz1esse Gan hRshelS To tbs MAST b.
saae4 TIE productions Of ether smaller
sas numerous valleys and sections 81 Ehe
eoszatry, - thai 81 the end 81 this osatuTg
a same eeod year. with gesserslly Zoos
1ruFs. We maT safety expect Washington
50 sxfsaTt sarplss wkeks crop Of 80 a..
q @.aotsN al toas. eqssTsng a1segt los
SHIPS 20 eaTry il frosa cur ports to The mar
Aess abroad.
MOI ene-s<nta a tsis lsnd Is 81 TreSens
cultivated. re iSats srs yet quite cAeap.
Tassresas are being hnls in AZ direetseas
ard 4 stranE sEresm II immigrants =
2oeF1ag into the eoaatry- The immigrant
IS not reaaswea 10 Gear q place ara EaEs