The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-01
FROM FAR IDAHO.
A Former W~i,rriingitr Writes mn Enter
tnining Letter From that Region.

10 inc f.ultOr OF lnc lnttlllGtnccr.
SIR:-I frequently receive letters
from West Virginia relatives and
friends, asking why | do not write to
the ln%tellIg"nCer AS | did years ago. !
would nnswer II IL because | have been
so long gone from them and wander
cd so far away. that | did not know
that | could write anything 10 inter
est them. AS each Reunion OF my old
company, o.. Twelfth West Virginia
Infantry, takes place | long to he
among them and look into the faces OF
those dear old comrades once again.
and fight owe the old battles and take
In the long marches over the noun
tains and through the valleys, recount
Ing the deeds OF that gallant regiment
and call back to wasted memory those
brave comrades who lie in their south
ern graves.
| presume / am the greatest wan
dercr OF those left In the land OF living
Of the company. | am nestled among
The mountains In the extreme northern
part OF Idaho. on the PotlatCh river. In
the very heart Of the great fruit belt
which was made famous by It's magni-
iiCrnt exhibits at the Worlds Fair.
Fruit has never been n failure here
since the settlement OF the country,
dating back over twenty years. II has
V been my lot to see such album
dance OF fruit and 50 luCious and large.
Agriculture Is invariably n success. n
the failure Of crops has never been
known, but, during the last two years,
after 1t had been rcapcd, heavy rains
set in and ruined 1t mostly. Wheat
will average about forty bushels per
acre and the price at present is only
t~hirty-eiEht cents per bushel. but
strong hopes are entertained for an
early advance.
We are at Kcndrlck. one hundred
and twenty miles south OF Spokane
Falls. the most noted city In the
northwest. This little city Of about 500
inhabitants. although twice swept by
fire, IS ii%Ourishing and continually
growing and IL considered the best
business point on the Spokane Falls &
Paulouse railroad "A branch Of the
Northern Pacific. All the vast mining
products Of the old and famous Pierce
City mines. said to have been discover
ed by a West Nirglnian, after whom
Il Is named, comeS here for shipment,
as well az other mining camps. We are
on the border OF the great White pine
forests 50 exceedingly valuable that
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
lumber syndlcateS are buying II and
Will begin extensive operations for cut
ting down the magnificent timber.
VIC are ten miles from the Clearwa-
ter river down which Clarke and Lewis
explored on their way 10 the Pacific
ocean. II is not noted for anything
but It's wonderful deep wild
cataraCts and rapid current. az il flows
into the Snake river. thirty miles from
us. and thence TO the Columbia. This
country Is settled up with n very en-
tcrprislng and excellent class OF people.
representing nearly every state OF the
union.
\ large colony OF West VirSfnians
hold 4 large scope OF country not far
from us; they are mostly from Bar
bOur. WctZcl and the other mountain
counties, They are prosperous and do
ing we'll. ] find among them several
old soldiers OF the West Virginia rcgI-
ments. especially 50 " the grand old
Seventh Infantry and Second Cavalry,
The climate Is the finest | ever cXper-
Snccd, Notwithstanding my living four
years In New Mexico. The coolest |
have known In my five years living
here was ten degrees above zero. The
snow, while sometimes deep. does not
last long. The are perfectly
delightful. Abundance Of fuel and
pure mountain water Is ever nj hand,
and | know Of 10 cheaper place on
earth to live In the way OF expenses.
am perfectly satisfied with my living
here in everything that constitutes a
life OF comfort and good health. My
only regret Is In being the long dis
lance from a dear old mother and two
sisters living In Wheeling, and my old
stamping grounds. Hoping l have not
t~rcspasScd on your precious time and
patience, | am done.
W. d. pEMBERTON.
p. S.-Hurrah Tor Mckinley. sound
money and protection,
W. D.. 7.
Ecndrick. Ilahn.