The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15
THE BIG BESD COUNTRY.
Four Counties OF Vast Grain Fields
orld-lroned with Railroads.

-Four Counties 0f vast Grain Fleius
Grld-ironed with Railroads.
A. l.. Rogers. Of Waterviiie. read paper
on the resources and possibilities OF the
Big Bend country that was something of a
revelation TO the convention Mr.. Rogers
was so much IN earnest that he occasion
ally declaimed the rolling periods which
here and there dotted his manuscript. and
the facts he gave in relation 70 this not
very weli-knowu portion OF this great
state were enthusiastically received by the
delegates who were strangers TO the vast
resources of the Big Bend on the Column
hia, Ills paper read:
Skirting the foothills OF the Cascade
range OF mountains on its way 10 the sea.
The Columbia river describes a grand
sem-cireular sweep. over 400 miles in
length. beginning al the mouth OF the
Spokane river and ending at the mouth OF
the Snake. This peculiar cOnhguration of
the rivers course Is known ak the BIG
Bend OF the Columbia. and gives name 20
that vast region embraced within II. called
the Big Bend country. and which has been
SO aptly termed the Inland Empire.
With an area greater than that OF either
OF the states OF New Hampshire. Vermont.
Massachusetts. Rhode Island. ConHect-
cut. New JerseY, Delaware or Maryland,
with a soil OF inexhaustible fertility. with
a climate invigorating and healthfui. anf
with proximity to that greatest Of all the
oceans which Is destined 10 become the
seat OF the worlds most important com
nierce. Il would be strange indeed n the
dwellers within this imperial domain were
not filled with enthusiasm over It's vast
resources and confidence In It's great dcs-
tiny unrefled by the rise and fan ~ pollt-
teal parties: undismayed by the clash az
monetary standards. and undaunted by
financial crises and the arrangements and
the depressions Of values that go there
With.
In the popular acceptation OF the term
the Big BEND country comprises the coun-
ties OF Douglas, Lincoln. Franklin and
Adams. Correctly stated. however the
Big Bend country consists OF that portion
of the Columbia plateau lying west OF
line drawn from the mouth OF the Spo-
kane river 20 the vicinity 81 White Bluffs
on Che Columbia. This Is the line adopted
~ lieut. tnow CaptD Synous in rs re-
port on the upper Columbia. and thus de-
fined the counties Of Franklin ADAMS and
the major portion uf Lincoln would be ex-
Guided while Douglas with au area al
most as great as ail three N the other
counties. would he included I'm what "a
properly the fiiR bend country with this
narrowing OF the subject ~ my papyr a
vii he understood that what folIoWs re-
lates 60 the Big Reaa country as eove de-
fined. II may not be auliss however %
remind YOU that after al thaffs said that
can b. said about this great region every
statement ana every figure utds3 AZ least
he doubled i'm order that Won max get a
correct conception 81 the magnitude AND
;lfe possibilities ~ that portion az Interior
Washington tyiuG between The Sookqn,,
FalouSe ard WBlla Walls ceIutries on the
east. and the Columbia river ON tae west
Douglas IT, enc Of tht newer counties of
the state. II has within its boundaries
almost SoooosN acres on land n is nearly
rs large aS She state of Connections. more
than three times as large as Rhode Islaus.
ard covers a stretch of country GREATER
tn extent than the distance between NV
York and Philadelphia. In topowranhN.
soil. climate aod production. 81 Possesses
tae characteristics of both the counties ~
whitman ana Waila Waia The fame, az
both those localities for the production 81
fruit ana the cereals is wOyld-w{.se nrl
the average Of pFodurtivsntss IS greater
than any Ike area ln the Casei Statts
Grid-inonod as then. Are VIA rsitr1s .tS.
each recurring harvest nevertheless.
taxes beyond tbVir rsfacitv the various
lines % transportation doing business ga
those counties
Wigh similar soil AMI conditions ga
Douglas county. ana with an area rr,.st
enough To- equal twc counties lA~ Whit
man ana oue-atth 20 NalR WaHa. or
thvee counties Nkc Waits Wala ans 7oe-
quarter 20 Mailman. 80 g. easy "a sea fhs
Immense possibilities ys th, BIS Re-d
country. sparccly settled though II Is ana
urtN rcce1;y attracting htt u<t}e arEe--
tor from the outside wcr]l. Torre--s-,r.-
eauv anj eeoloei eat5y causit'frga tsa 1889
Bend country S. a rerson 90 r-seb Ir,t,--
est.. rac northern pa~t is htgh roHin-
pla ~ ferJ}I7 prairse lana broken
here and tAere hr CANYONS Of 4resfr~. or
i.eSs sige. the 49, s~la re7s "a which ara
ofsen covered with scattering ftau.-vr. con-
vsuient 90 abe settlers an the aefsf,ss~.
prairie MANY springs ef she u,i~s-Sf waite
shoua8 ia teeee localities. sai the rough
lana in fhe immediate Nieirftges aRserfa ~
cattle and hersee~ n tha waits ~ f{-se
CANYONS are perpe1ii .'a4}sr IS Sometimes
happen. thsy &re tatn called cou5es< The
greatest nj cheese IS Grand ras.tee This
great c3e5I iR ghe .aSS ~ ghe Ssrth X ends