News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-11-12
Western Letter.
HoUGHToN, WASN'T
Oct. %. 1891. I

Oct. %, 1891.
Editor News AND CITIZEN
| take a great pleasure in your La
noble County locals, and perhaps a
few of your Vermont readers may
have an interest in hearing from the
Pacific Coast. 1t is not a time OF
booms at present, so have nothing
! very exciting to mention. Some To-
calities in this country have been done
to death by land sharks and boom
ers Our own little burgh of Kirk
land has suffered to some eXtent-its
ups and downs having been too sud
den. However, the future is fairly
promising with US and the same may
be said of the whole Puget Sound re-
gion Money has begun to arrive
from the east and the prospecting for
mines in the Cascades together with
opening of new railway routes will
brighten up the business worl / no
doubt before spring. 1t is no time
for laborers to come seeking employ
ment. The woods are full of men who
would like a job at almost anything.
Just now they are better off in the
east where expenses of living are less.
OF course | am not speaking of those
who have few thousands to invest
in real estate. For that class it is
really the time to come. Fortunes
can be made in that way without halt
trying Perhaps an encouraging
word may be said to a limited class
who have at least five numbered and
are willing to work hard a few years
in opening up a small berry or vege-
table ranch. Just a few would be
contented to 90 back into the timber
and settle on a homestead claim.
With money enough OF course the
hardship is reduced, but reallypOor
man with fl, mily would find rather
hard lines. Homes can be purchased
all ready to make living from, but
they are usually expensive. The
small fruit business can be made to
support a family in two or three
years, but it will require one mans
labor at least during all that time
with very little income from the land
itself in the interim. Next spring the
outlook for laborers may greatly i'm
prove. | think | have put the case
fairly, but there is SO much difference
in men that general advice is not al
ways to be taken.
My own experience may besome in
terest as it represents the case of a
large number. | bought 6H acres of
land here on Lake Washington in
March, 'SS, chiefly to avoid paying
rent which | thought was eating too
large a hole in my salary. Paid 500
per acre. The land was about two
thirds slashed Began clearing it up
at once. During the summer built a
house which was far enough advanced
to move into the first of September.
Slowed peas upon one acre-the best
crop to raise the first year. Also set
out few Strawberries and put in
few garden vegetables at a venture.
Everything did fairly well. Next sea-
son continued clearing up the land.
Besides my garden stuff, set out about
fifty fruit trees. Season of 80 did
not make so much improvement, as
my health was not strong. Bought
a COW and kept 80 hens. This year
have finished clearing the land, TAX
ing out most of the stumps. Have
set out nearly three acres in straw
berries. Have an acre in clover, Al
so raised all our potatoes and about
ten bushels of peas and an ample
stock of all kinds Of roots together
with roasting ears of corn and celery.
Set out 30 more fruit trees and small
fruits, such as blackberries and cur
rants a good variety. Next summer
expect to set out another acre in
Strawberries and have almost a liv-
ing income The year after shall be
all right-With an income of ten or
twelve hundred dollars. OF course,
nearly all the improvements | have
made could have been effected the
first year if | had had the time and
money to put in. As | am situated |
am not anxious to sell, because |
think would DO CiitffcrIit- to find 81
pleasanter location for home in the
North Pacific country. ii | were to
sell out, should seek for q home in
Southern California or else back in
old Vermont
1t is pleasant to read in the papers
about the improved prospects of the
Green Mountain State. Certainty it
is beautiful for situation and in time
will be the Joy of all the land east of
the Mississippi, Dr. Buchanan Of this
place was in Vermont during the
month of September. He says the
country there was looking beautiful.
| go to Seattle frequently for bust
ness pleasure. Steamers pass every
half hour. Wharf only a few rods
away, 1t is four miles across to the
terminus of Madison street where we
take the cable cars to go down town
about three miles to the front of the
city on Puget Sound. The location
of the city is like that Of Burlington,
vt. The Coast Range resembles the
AdirOndacks and the Cascades. in the
east the Green Mountains. Seattle
has great prospects in the near future.
Will soon have five trans-cOntinental
railroads making their western ter
minus here for the north west.
Will say to old acquaintance as
well as strangers that am ready to
letters to the best of my abil-
itY. D. III. BICKNELL.