, 1891-11-12
OLYMPIA
Capital Of State Of Washington.
Population $500.
HIN STEVENS COUNTY,.


1t is gratifying to learn that Surveyor
General Cavanaugh has taken up the sug-
gestion Of the TRIBUNE promptly and ear
nestly, and that he will facilitate the sur
yey of the settled but neglected townships
ofStevens county. Mr.. Edward D. CoWen,
who visited the survey yor-general yesterday
in the interest of the settlers, received his
assurance that every effort would be made
to secure some part Of the residue of the
survey appropriation for the present year.
The general agreed that the facts set forth
by Mr.. Cowen, respecting the condition of
the squatters, justified a recommendation
that the county receive the immediate con
sideration of the department.
1T is not appreciated 2 said Mr.. Cowen
to a TRIBUNE representatiYe-"th this set
tiers movement in Stevens county. While
the major part Of the county is a compar-
atively unexplored mineral zone, its val
leys are among the most beautiful and at
tractiYe from a scenic and sanitary point
Of view and the richest of farm lands. The
defective surveys Of the townships in the
Colyllle valley, reinstated some time ago
by General Cavanaugh, were ofinestimable
value to that section, but aside from this
assistance to settlement, no action has
been taken officially or otherwise to en-
courage newcomers with the assurance of
an early filing, On Beale formerly Onion)
creek. on the north and south and main
forks of Deep creek; on Clugston and Mile
creeks and around Mud lake during the
last year ranch on ranch has been located
These hardy pioneers, seeing that the
county could not afford to open roads, have,
with the generous assistance of the mer-
chants and citizens of Colville, hewn their
way through the forests and over the
mountains. As a class they are poor but
trained young farmers but recently mar
ried, and they are accompanied in their
struggles in the wilderness by their wives.
Its only fair that some extra effort should
be made to enable these determined men
to secure early titles to property which is
intended to be their permanent homes.
There is no tritling or speculation in their
endeaVors General Cavanaugh realizes
their situation and will do his utmost to
place the new settlements beyond the
possibilities of squatters antagonisms and
disputes'
"You say the valleys you have mention
ed are picturesque"
Remarkably so. They are from a quar-
ter five miles in width and extend thirty
and forty miles. Ancient beaver dams,
many of them still peopled by yagrant
families of that industrious animal, are
discovered along the streams, and rich
meadows, dotted with lakes OF pure water
here and there, burst upon the view every
few miles. 1t is in these meadows most of
the settlements are made at either side of
the water courses rise mountains, fashion
ed IN all the varieties ofconformation COM
mon to mineral bearing lime, and clothed
on their north and west sides with forests
Of fir, tamrack balsam and various quail
lt1es Of pine. Wherever a spring bursts
forth high up on the mountain side to sink
and seek its way to the valley channel by
some subterreanean avenue, there you will
see tracts of cedar equaling in size
the middle class cedar of the Sound. On
the south and east sides of these ranges
o. NVASOoAASH " DuL1C4 SIttoS COuuGTy
studded with islands of trees. No better
cattle ranges can be found in the state.
"As to the sanitary attractions, no purer
water, no more salubrious atmosphere, no
SUMMER skies can be found in the Rocky
mountains. The elevations range from
1,2oO to 1900 feet above sea level. Actual
winter is of two months duration only,
and the Indian summer is regular. The
mountains preserve the valleys against de-
vastating storms and the rigors of thesbliz
zard''
but how about markets in that far
away place?"
''The markets are at home, for that mat
ter, though Colonel Corbln, of the Spokane
Falls & Northern railroad, is holding out
every inducement in the way of rates. The
rapid increase Of mining developments in
sures the sale of the products of the garden
and the dairy at the best prices. Besides,
the Kootenai camps will look to the Ste
vens county ranehers for vegetables, hay
and cereal supplies. One farmer made
$1,5oO off celery alone this year, while any
number Of ranchers have secured an in
come from their yield Of potatoes and
onions"