The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
CHARACTER OF
LAND.
VARIETY OF GRAIN

The southerly part of Douglas county
is much like Adams and Franklin, and
must be irrigated if it is employed in agri-
culture, but the middle and northern por-
tons of the county do not need irrigation
and are very productive. No railroad as
yet runs to the interior of this county,
but it has a considerable population of
thrifty farmers. The average Weld of
wheat for 1890 was thirty-one bushels per
acre; in 1889, a very dry year, twenty-five
bushels per acre, and in 1883, thirty-four
bushels per acre. There has not been a
crop failure in eight years, the period of
the county's settlement. Little Club is
the fayorite variety of wheat grown. 1t
requires only haff-bushel per acre for
seeding, while in the Eastern and Middle
states from one bushel and half to two
bushels are required. The advantage in
favor of Douglas county land lies in the
more proiinc character of the "stoolings'
of the wheat grown there, fifteen straws
generally growing from one hill and
each head producing from forty
seven to fifty grains. Another adj
vantage of the Little Club wheat
grown here is that it does not shatter after
being cut. but viii lie on the ground for
weeks in dry weather without an appreci-
able loss. As a result of very careful ex-
animation made by United States land Of
ticials it is estimated that there are 676 600
acres of wheat land in Douglas county
that does not require irrigation This viii
produce on an average twenty-three bushels
per acre, or an aggregate amount of Is. SIS
600 bushels per annum. 1t is hardly prob
able, however, that so much of the coun
try's area Will ever be given up to wheat
growing, as pasturage and miscellaneous
farming viii occupy at least half of these
oso,oO0 acres. A reasonable estimate is.
that IN five years the county will be pro-
dung 100000 bushels of wheat per annurn.
Only about 5000 acres are now under cul-
tlvatlon, and there has been about $4,000
acres of new sod broken this last autumn
and this winter, making 1900 acres
TO be put down in crops this coming
spring. OF the frst class land not
yet taken up about $4,000 acres OF govern
ment land remains that may be entered in
the regular way. The United States land
office not only for Douglas county. but for
Okanogan county as well, is at Waterville.
which Is nourishing and promising town.
into which Seattle capitalists are to nut in
a good deal OF capital for banking, electric
lighting and water supply purposes. The
washington Central railroad from Spokane
rails Is now building toward Waterville
ITS completed line being within forty-eight
miles, with the grade work extending ne.
teen miles further. The line of the Great
northern Is also expected to pass through
Waterviiie on its way TO Seattle. 1t cannot
oe much longer until a road extends
through Douglas county TO Seattle. and
when TINS is the case here will be an as-ri-
cultural area OF great extent near to Puget
Sound ees
Lincoln county lies east of Douglas. adj
joining Spokane county on one side r.
sou IS much ike that Of Douglas II now
mas about $1,000 acres under cuItivatio,
ana about 600 600 acres in all that is sp;,'
aDle Tor wheat growing. Lincoln. DougIas
ana Adams combined have about / 30, o.lo
acres OF wheat land that does not renn;ra
irrigation, and If there is a good rnavta.
LOT the product, these three counties win
oe producing from 100000 10 - Ooo Ooo
per annum IN tve years. This. I am SIRE
Is very conservative estimate. 7 sha,I5
not De surprised if the annual nroduc, =
io,uo'ooo bushels. Much denends -,
what the railroads do. II the Washin.t,,,
Central and Great Northern cor,,;, -.
Their lines through the Big gand a,.s
across the Cascades TO Seattle. this -.
aand ~ih De put under cultivation yerv
rapidly. very
l, Is hardly necessary to add that vesa-
taeies ana fruits grow wherever whea.
grows IN the Big Bend. Vegetables are
especially nne about waterville and
through the upper portion of Douglas
county. Inc season is earlier here than
N poruons OF the state further east or than
"a the raionse country, owing to the war;,
currents OF AIR that come up the Columbia
fiser. AT one time it was ques1oned