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

fence and suffering so common in other
countries during cold weather. Snow falls
TO depth of from six to twenty inches,
but rarely remains more than month,
being dissipated by the warm Chinook
winds, the harbinger of spring. Such
freaks as cyclones, billiards., tornadoes
and heavy thunder-storms are unknown.
The winters are mild, the springs are
balmy. the summers comfortable, and the
harvesting seasons hazy, delightful Indian
summers, which seldom end before Decem-
Der and which have this year extended to
the present writing, December Is. Summed
up, the climate of the Palouse country,
free from extremes of heat or cold and
consequent drawbacks to the husbandman
and people in other walks of life, COM
bined with its health-giving and preserving
qualities, constitutes standing testimonial
of high order to the worth of the country.
TIMBER AND WATER.
Without doubt the Palouse country has
the most even distribution of water of any
region on the Pacidc slope. Snake river,
nayigable stream, flows along its entire
southern boundary; the Palouse river,
with its north and south branches, runs
from east to west through the central por-
ton, while the northern part is well wa
tered by numerous tributaries. Each of
the streams mentioned is fed by numerous
small tributaries, extending TO all parts of
the country, affording drainage and water
for stock In addition to the creeks and
streams there are never falling springs of
purest water upon every section of land,
and in the eastern portion upon every
quarter-section, and good water can be OBJ
tanned anywhere by digging from ten to
fifty feet at slight expense. The country
Is devoid of timber, except along the
streams and in the Cgur d'Alene noun
tains, extending all the way along the
eastern border, which latter is the prInci-
pal base of supply for lumber, fencing and
fuel. The timber consists principally of
pine, FIR, cedar, tamarack and cottonwood.
1t is comparatively easy of access. Trees
grow rapidly in the soil of the prairie, and
many fine timber claims are to be seen
throughout the country, grown without
irrigation.
The Palouse country has passed the pio-
neer stage, and fertile farms for the taking
are no longer to be had. Immigrants
should come prepared to buy at from s. to
$25 per acre. No other country presents
better opportunities for investments than
do the acres of the great Palouse, yearly
enhancing In value.
EDUCATIONAL.
The people of Whitman county take
just pride in the public schools, which are
carefully fostered and maintained by
suitable tax, the maximum rate being
mills on the dollar. Provision is also
made for levying special school taxes
whenever, in the judgment of majority
of the qualified voters of district, addi-
tional funds are necessary. The PROPOSE
ton is submitted to vote, and instances
are rare, indeed, where the true spirit of
Western progress is not evinced and
the ballot not practically unan-
imous in favor of special tax, thus
illustrating the estimation in which the
common schools, the great bulwark of the
nation, are held. In addition to over 100
good public schools there are in Whitman
county Baptist college, convent and
Catholic school. In the principal towns
the schools are graded and supplied with
all the modern conveniences. The spirit
either, all the leading religious denomina-
tons being well represented, with churches
everywhere.
POPULATION AND VALUATION.
In round numbers Whitman eounty's
2,160 square miles have a population of 90
600. The people hail from every state
every county, one might say-of the
Union. They are universally hospitable,
enterprising, progressive, law-abiding and
thrifty, with an inherent love of schools,
churches and social development
In amount of taxable property, as in
other things, Whitman county takes posi-
ton in the foremost rank. The assess
ment of 1880 shows a total of over So, 000,
600, and the assessors figures were raised
by the state board of equalization an aver
age of q per cent. This is an increase
over last year of more than 81. 100000. Be
ing made on basis of about half cash
value, and in many instances less, the as
sessment indicates an actual value of at
least SIS, 100000.
MARKETS AND TRANSPORTATION.
Although crossed both ways by two
great railroad systems-the Union PACING
from east to west, with branches diverging
southeast and northeast soon after enter
ing the wheat belt, and the Northern Pa
cine from north to south, with branches 10
Pennington and Lewiston, supplemented
by steamer lines on the Snake river, the
great Palouse country cannot be said TO
have transportation facilities equal to the
magnificent producing powers of its broad
and fertile acres, even with only portion
of the lands beneath the plow and the
seeder. This has been amply proven by
the great grain blockade which has this
season paralyzed the markets and stag
mated the business of the country at every
station, big and little.
The probable cause of millions of bushels
of wheat being stacked upon open air plat
forms of the country is the great producing
| capacity of this rich region, which has this
season surpassed even itself with fabulous
yields of grain, coupled with a largely in
creased acreage, without corresponding
| increase of the carrying capacity of the
railroads. The country has rapidly ad-
vanced and the railroads have failed 10
prepare for the increased demands of trans
portation. The inability of these two
great systems 70 carry more than modi-
| cum of the grain is a testimonial of the
| richness of Palo1se not difficult TO see and
understand 1t proves its powers and at
| tests its possibilities when the time shall
! come that its transportation wants COM
| pare with its fruitfulness.
| The effect of the great blockade, what
| ever the cause, has been the serious de-
| preston Of every line of business through
| out the great country. at "a time, too, when
| the most unexampled prosperity and free
circulation of money should have been and
| was expected. Elevators and warehouses
| were hlled in short time because but little
| went out of them over the roads. The
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