Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-02-20
The Fair Gate City,.
A PERSPECTIVE OF WONDERS
THAT AWAIT HOMESEEKERS.
The Hudson of the West
The Grain, Fruit, Stock and Mineral Resources
Tributary to Lewiston Presented
Briefly.

contributed the following article to
that paper.
Lewiston is located, at the conflu.
cuce of the SnMas' and Clearwater
rivers. The Sspitude of this point is
$50 feet. The advantage of the loca-
t,on was apparent fronsf he date of the
earliest demands of Dtess, and Lew
is,on is the olde7 Permanent trade
center between Snake river and the
Rocky Mountains.
There were missionary stations, mil
itary posts and trading posts at earlier
dates than the settlement of Lewiston
in 1862, but this little city justly claims
the honor of being the oldest town of
the Inland Empire.
The climate of the little valley, in
which Lewiston is a setting like u
jewel, is the miidest and most equable
in all the great northwest. The maxi
mum temperature is 20 degrees less
than that Of any other town in this
Inland Empire and the mean annual
temperature is about SO degrees.
Lewiston was established to meet
the demands of trade created by the
development of rich mines in the
Pierce City, Elk City and Florence
districts. These sane demands have
maintained the city in prosperity
through all the years since. In re.
cent years the rich products of fields,
orchards and pastures have exceeded
the mineral outputs. The perma-
nency of the fruit industry is well es-
tablished, and the quality of the frnit
gathered and grown in the surround
ing district gives it exceptional value
RESIDENCE CITY.
Lewiston is pre-eminently a resi-
dence city. The mild winters so
pleasantly contrast with the more ele-
waited regions adjoining on all sides
that it's fame as desirable place for u
peaceful home is widely known. The
educational facilities are not eXcelled.
The winters are mild and there are no
storms, snowfalls or mud toeinterfere
with the attendance of schools. The
public schools are perhaps the best in
the state, and the state normal school
will doubtless be ranked with the best
of its class.
The population of the city is about
5000, and the a verage daily school at
tendance is AGO resident pupils.
The citizens of Lewiston are noted
for that quality of sociability which
was a feature of pioneer days. Withal
they are intelligent and refined, as
well as hospitable and lavish in the
bestowal of deserving charity. They
are imbued with the love of home.
They do not mipg'e with the outside
world, and may not be cosmopolitan
in manner or business ideas, but the
spirit of liberality makes the visitor
happy with kindly welcome.
THE CLEARWATER BASIN.
The valley of the Clearwater has
been brought to the attention of the
reading public by the opening of the
Nez Perez reservation. The valley
proper has distinctive features which
belong to limited area. The att
tude of the fruit belt is only an alti.
tude of 700 feet. The Walla Walla
valley averages 1000 feet above the sea
and the broader prairies offer more
climatic exposure than are known on
the river bottoms. Soil formation
seems to be a considerable element in
tie temperature of the seasons.
The loan of the valley of the Clear
water Is extremely friable and by in>
duction is warmed deeply by the suns
rays. This warmth, too, is retained by
processes similar to natures way Of
holding the moisture OF spring rains
be'ow pulverized surfaces The sun
shine from cloudless valleys falls upon
the favored valleys more days out OF
the year than is the case in any other
place north of the Colorado deserts
and the signal service records show
that this sheltered garden spot has less
wind than any other station in the
whole cou,.try. The warm soil, the
sunshine, the influence of the river and
the absence of wlud makes the climate
equitable. The range of temperature
Tor day and night in winter is small
and there are no blizzrris to bring
sudden climatic reverses. The even
mid winter temperature, while it Ii
conducive Of bodily comfort aud good
health, ls not a universal blessing
The month of December, that stands
everywhere else for harsh blasts, il
OFTEN springlike in the Clearwater val
ley. SO congenial is the warmth tina
nature responds to the smile of thu
premature season and sends fortl
answering buds and tender flowers
MS condition is no: always favorable