Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-01-14

- bali braeds-more than two-thirds
speak 8ood English and all dress in
citizens Rarb. They are az class
very intelligent and a large number
can read, write and tiGure-live in
good substantial one and two story
houses. They have here a dancing
hall OF their own in which they hold
their meetings and have their parties.
Nearly all the men can play the violin
and some are experts in handling the
bow. They have some grand balls,
particularly on the 4th of July aud
Christmas, the young ladies dress
quite stylishly particularly the half
breeds. The men are good farmers
and fine mechanics, and in my opin-
ion the most advanced Indians ia the
United States outside of the five civil
lied tribes in Indian Territory. The
soil is highly productive of oats,
wheat, potatoes, and many of the
garden vegetables. Fruit does not do
very we'll on account of the short
season and the continuous rains
which gives it a sour, watery taste,
excepting the apple which is excel
lent. The plums, pears and prunes
are very fair, the cherries are small
and sour and the peaches are a fail
ure. l am Informed however that
the southern portion of the State, in
ciuding the Willamette Valley, that
all kinds OF fruits and vegetables
grow in super abunda ace. The great
drawback to the rapid settlement and
development of this country is the
ever contin uous down pouring of rain
and when not raini ~ the whole coun-
try is covered with a dense fog.
have been here over eight months
and during the whole time there has
not been over five or six weeks of
clear weather. This weather condi-
ton imparts to everything in and out
OF doors damp, musty. mouldy feel
ing. The roofs OF the houses are
covered with moss, the trees also. L
VS. here three months before ever
had glimpse Of the moon or stars
and once in a while the sun would
seea to force it's way through the
mountainous bank Of clouds and take
a brief peep at us here below. Peo-
pie here cannot do any outdoor work
of any kind from Octobor to May
unless they work in heavy rains hence
40 many people are poor, which al
ways will be draw back TO this por-
ton Of Oregon. Another great
hindrance to its development is the
great cost to clear lard and bring it
under cultivation. It costs from $40
to Sl20 per acre to clear land for the
pillow and some places much more on
account OF the heavy growth of dead
and Standing timber and the dense
underground which is 30 thick in
many places that a bird cannot fly
"naOuSu AO' LILO ~" II lCo VI Iuo
farm product will not just y the OUT
lay, hence great deal Of this land
will remain in it's present condition
for several generations. The people
are too poor and indolent to under
take it's reclamation. The land Guilt
waited by zach farmer does not exceed
IL to 20 acres. Thirty acres is con-
sidered large tract Of cleared
land--and this 30 called farmer cult
Yates about 5 or 6 acres in oats, 2 or 3
acres in wheat, 8 or ten acres in hay,
with small patch of potatoes and a
garden. The above is about the out
put OF we'll to do farmer OF Benton
and Tillamook counties. Sometimes
they have small orchard OF 25 or 30
trees. This is their sole dependence
for q living as they have no stock
worth mentioning. I do not think
the counties above mentioned have
as many cattle within their limits as
there are owned by Russell & Bradley
OF our county. Money is exceedingly
scarce and most Of the people are 10
debt. The roads and highways are
the worst ever travelled over in any