The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-20
O H ANSWERS CHARLIE.
A Former Madison Citizen Who is Pleased
With His Home and the Resources of
Washington State.

Special correspondence of The Daily Leader.
WALLA WALLA, Wash, April 12.-Be-
ing much interested in the letter from
my old friend and acquaintance, Chas.
A. Bergstreser, which appeared in The
LEADER Of the I'd inst, l would like to
give him a little friendly advice through
the columns of the same paper. He
seems to be much disappointed in what
he has seen tout west" His experience
80 far has been exactly what mine was
when I first visited this country some
eight years ago. Starting from Madison,
l took almost the same course that my
friend Charlie has taken and being un-
favorably impressed with the country /
returned to South Dakota but felt that
l had not made full Investigations as to
the merits and dement's Of this country.
To satisfy my curiosity, six months later
| took another trip tout west" and for
four years and a half / travelled through
Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho,
Utah. Nevada and California in such a
capacity that I was able to become thor
oughly acquainted with the Pacific
coast country. A little more than three
years ago l seteled in this state-the
beautiful Walla Walla valley-and l
will venture to say that If any Of my
| Dakota friends will live on the Pacific
coast q year they will not be satisfied
to live east OF the Rocky Mountains
again. AS soon ss I became acquainted
with the country and the ways of the
people, l found that my first opinion of
this country was formed from what l
had seen while passing through it has
tily. which is a very unreliable and un-
satisfactory way of learning anything
about any country.
As to the first of the two commodities
of which Charlie finds an abundant sur
plus, Washington Is noted for it's M
NOUS, forests of pine, fir and cedar. One
of the largest and best bodies of timber
in the world Is located in the states of
Washington and Oregon. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the timber of Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota will soon be
completely exhausted, and this body Of
timber will be the most available for
supplying the demand. The quality OF
the timber 10 not to be questioned, as a
ready sale for it Is found in all the mar
kets of the world. Why, last month a
shipload of racoma-made doors was
shipped to England. This is sending
homemade doors q long way. The out.
put Of shingles is enormous. In the
year 1895 100000 worth were sold to
eastern parties alone. The timber we
find all over our state is q valuable pro.
duct, and furnishes employ ment fol-
many men.
In reference to the number Of idle
men, it is all the fault of The delightful
climate and productive soil which we
have. They gather here, for nowhere
outside of the Pacific coast could they
stand such decided out-of.door life az
we'll as they do here, for the winters are
short and not at all severe. Surrounded
by such q great abundance as is pro-
duced here, and any amount of fish and
game, they can obtain the necessaries oil
life without much effort.
In regard to the resources Of this val.
ley, I will give you ono illustrator;
George Barber, a contractor OF this city,
owns Q ten-scre tract Of land two miles
from town. 1t 10 planted to fruit and
vegetables and the fruit trees are four