The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01

Some very rich discoveries have been
made in the Toad Mountain district. The
locations have been made in or about
Toad mountain, hence the name of the
district. Assays of the Silver King, one
of the principal mines here, run from so
TO 1000 ounces in silver, and from 10 to
30 per cent in copper; of the Grizzly Bear,
from 40 to 500 ounces in silver. and from
to % per cent. of copper, and of the
Dandy from 80 TO 600 ounces in silver and
from 5 to Is per cent. of copper. The
Toughnut gives assays of 40 to 100 ounces
of silver per ton, ana the Evening and
Morning are very rich.
A great deal of work has been done in
the Toad Mountain district this year, and
thousands of tons of ore have been taken
out and now await shipment. The entire
Kootenai district is without means of
transportation, but the Spokane Falls e.
Northern is being rapidly built from Spo-
kane Falls in that direction, lbs miles
having already been completed. The pres
ent Northern terminus is at Little Dalles,
on the Columbia river, and boats are being
constructed to run from that point, in
connection with the road to
Sproat's Lar ding, fifty miles above,
where connection will be made
with short line of railway running ont
to the Toad Mountain district and Koot-
enai lake As soon as the Canadian par
lament gives permission, the Spokane &
Northern road will be built to Nelson
The present arrangement, however, will
enable shippers TO send considerable guam
titles of ore to the smelling works here.
The Spokane & Northern railway is essen
tally Spokane road, and will command
almost the entire product of the Kootenai
district.
Third-The Northwestern Industrial
Exposition. The holding OF the exposition
at Spokane Falls, illustrating the material
resources of Washington and Northern
Idaho, was one of the great achievements
of the year, the beneficial effects of which
will be felt long hence. The exposition
more than anything else demonstrated
the abundance and superior character of
the states resources. 1t was one of the
most magnificent displays ever seen of
grain, fruit, wood and mineral products.
1t showed beyond question that We have
the elements of wealth in more varied
forms than perhaps any other state IN the
Union. and that Washington is in itself
an empire. 1t showed that our wheat
lands. millions of acres in extent
produce from 80 TO 100 bushels per
acre; that we grow from so TO
90 bushels of oats per acre; that we
grow from . to tons of hay per acre:
that we grow from so 10 50 bushels
of barley per acre; that we can grow from
800 to zoo bushels of potatoes per acre; that
we have inexhaustable deposits of coal and
iron; that We can make the only good coke
on the Pacilc coast; that we have the
bnest timber in the world; that we can
grow peaches, grapes and apricots as good
as those of California, and that, in short
we can produce anything grown by any
other state in the Union except cotton and
sugar. | could, by quoting from the Off
ciai report of the exposition, verify all
have said on this point. but | shall not
take up the space necessary for that
Those who were present at the exposition
know that what have said is true.
The one predominant feature Of the ex-
position was the show of our wheat pro-
duct. This is the greatest single element
of wealth in Eastern Washington.
The wheat areas contiguous TO Spokane
Falls are in Eastern Washington and
Northern Idaho. The principal district is
what IS known as the Palouse country
and begins at point about i've miles south
OF Spokane Falls, in Spokane county. and
spreads ont like fan toward the south
southwest and southeast, covering portions
OF Northwestern Idaho. This district has
an average width of fifty miles, and Is
about $50 miles long, containing, therefore
about :, so square mile, or nearly 5000, COO
acres.
About one-fifth of this land is under Gull
tivation. and about one-tenth of il was de-
voted TO wheat this year, with an average
WELD of twenty-eight bushels per acre.
making total amount of 100000 bush
els. Al leas; 100000 bushels Of this was
grown in the single county Of Whitman.
which adjoins Spokane county on the
south. The Palouse country is uudoubt-
edly the most proli..c wheat growing coun-
try IN America. The soil is loose and
sp0ngy and Of volcanic origin. The rain
fail is about twenty-eight inches per an
nun, which is supposed TO be hardly
enough for wheat. but the soil has q won
derfGl power Ct retaining moisture
and excellent crops have been grown
where there WAS not a drop OF rain from
seeding 70 harvesting. Harvesting i
effected easily and certainly. No rain fall
during the harvest period. so that wheat
is never endangered by bad weather. Tbs
PaIou.e country has been but recently set
tied Nearly every foot of the land Is
available for cultivation. Il is rolling
prairie, with an abundance Of timber In