The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

great freak of nature was formed re-
mains yet to be answered.
The arabic land which constitutes by far
the greater portion of the county, is an
undulating prairie, covered in its natural
state with bunch grass. The soil consists
OF decomposed basalt, enriched with allu-
vial wash and underlain with q clay SUBJ
soil. The basaltic soils wherever found
are highly productive; they are the char
acteristic soils of Italy and other coun-
tries bordering the Mediterranean. In
Washington they have produced wonder
full crops for many years without appar-
ent exhaustion. Few countries enjoy such
varieties of climate as are found within
the limits of this section; that Of the pla-
teau is mild temperate, the elevation
(Which is approximately $500 feet above
sea leveD, together with the prevailing
winds. which are from the northwest
across the snow-capped Cascades. freeing
it from the blighting effects of hot wind
in summer and the danger Of early and
late frostS. The winters are particularly
enjoyable, snow lasting from sixty to
ninety days, with a temperature seldom
below zero. The heavy snowfall followed
by the June rains always guaranteeing suf-
ficient moisture for good crops. A few
miles drive from the plateau to the river
below takes one into an almost semi
tropical climate and country requiring
irrigation. Here the elevation is but 600
feet above sea level, which is 400 feet low
er than the elevation of the renowned
Yakima country. On the plateau wheat,
oats and barley are the staple products:
wheat yielding from 20 to 80 bushels per
acre, oats from 80 to so bushels, and bar
ley from 90 to 60 bushels, varying accord
ing to the style Of farming and the nature
Of the season, more depending on the
former than the latter Up to two years
ago the bulk of these products was
f6rnc hnd and chf he
our farmers have turned their attention
more to diversified farming and stock rails
ing; cutting the principal part of their
crops for feed. At the present time car
loads of cattle, hogs and poultry find
market on the Sound from this section.
Garden vegetables of all kinds and of the
best quality are grown here in abundance.
Favorable conditions of soil and climate
and freedom from rains during the harvest
season, tend to develop a bright, perfect
seed, strong in terminating power. Free
also from the insect pests, so common in
the East, with comparatively little labor,
the soil can be kept free from weeds and
foul growth. Eastern seed houses discov-
ering these facts are contracting for
large quantities of seeds for Eastern use
from this section. Potatoes of the Big
Bend have justly earned reputation.
Sugar beet grown here has aiven wonder
full returns. Diversifying his crops, the
farmer has met with splendid success. In
his experiments in fruit-growing, the re-
suits have been so hattering that now
most of the well-appointed farms have
thrifty young orchards. On the plateau
apples, pears, prunes, plumS, cherries and
all small fruits do well.
In this connection take the liberty of
quoting from the article of N. H Durham
that recently appeared in the Spokesman
Review. Among other things concerning
he MI,
fine agricultural and fruit-growing region
All kinds of grain, including corn, do well.
There has never been a failure of crops.
Most of the wheat oats and barley are so
excellent in all respects that they are SOLD
on the markets for seeding purposes. Wa
terV1lle and the foot Of Badger mountain
are very prosperous, as their products for
seed bring a premium over ordinary mar
ket prices. Taking it all in all, the Big
Bend region is one of the most desirable
Tor agricultural purposes in the North
west. The climatic conditions are exceD-
tlonally fine. The temperature is remark
ably even. There are no sudden changes,
no pllzzards, no cyclones. Spring, summer
and autumn are fine. Winter always af-
lords good sleighing. The melting SHOWS
AIDED to the spring rains give plenty of
moisture for the crops. The summers are
usually dry and even in temperature. The
nights are invariably cool and refreshing
to all forms of life. The character of the
SOIL is the same as that in the Palouse
region, while in other characteristics the
country is similar to the prairies of Iowa
and Illinois. There are more than 1900, 600
acres now open to entry. Douglas county
ofIers TO the settler as good opportunities
as can be found in the Northwest
Fuliy developed the northern Big Bend
country is capable Of producing annually
lo,O00.OOO bushels of wheat or it's equivalent
bench lands of the Columbia, the fruit
output OF which will some day more than
equal IN value the total of all the hay.
gram and cattle of the great plateau. That
frult raising on the Columbia is a most
gratifying success has been shown So
oIten by actual trial in widely separated
localities that the fact needs no further
demonstration. Hundreds of miles of the
pench and bar lands of the Columbia await
only the touch of energy, combined with
capital, TO make generous response with
every variety of fruit grown in the tenn
perate zone. Mr.. Maxey, of the State Hor-
tlcuItural society, has f1attering things to
say oI thlS sectlon. A great deal Of mon
ey mas been expended in irrigation bitches
the past year. The Entiet Improvement
Company, consisting of Waterville citi
zens, has built a large ditch seven miles
long, Which carries water to develop zoo
horsepower on the banks of the CoIum-
ola ana lrrlgates 800 acres of fruit land.
non. II. w. Starr register of the United
States land office at Waterville has com
pleted ditch near the mouth of the Meth
ow, seven miles in length, that covers sew
eral hundred acres. Hon. Charles Rovn
ton has f1umed water down Foster creal,
ana covers about 700 acres. Many smaller
dltches have been built. making a total of
twenty-five to thirty miles of ditch com
pleted last year. Time is not far distant
when the Columbia valley, with its won
derful climate and beautiful homes, made
possible by irrigation, will be to the cities
OF the Sound what Southern California
is to San Francisco.
The mineral resources Of this section are
varied. Lime of the best quality is made.
ana large deposits of mineral paint exist
also fine quarries of building granite. Pot.
terry, brick and fire clays are common.
Coal has been discovered in the southern
part, near Moses coulee. A number of
silver prospects have been found along tho
breaks Of the Columbia.
The gravel bars on the Columbia and i+s
branches have been worked for eold for
the past twenty years. This section has
no great amount of timber but Radger
mountain In the western part and the tim
Der along the breaks of the Columbia river
Will furnish fuel and building material for
some years to come. At present the min
cipal settlements are northeast from Cou-
rSo lily ia Inc eastern part Of the Big
Beno country. back of Bridge ort. in fine
northern part, and about Wateryille in tho
western part. The latter is the nrinc;na1
town of the Big Bend, is the seat of the
United States land Office, the county seat
OF Douglas county and place of remark
able vigor and enterpri~n Between tho
settlements above mentioned lie great
stretches of country, much of which IS vet
open to the homesteader. A sure indica-
ton of the enlightened public sentinen+
of the people is found in the large number
OF neatly painted, well appointed school
houses that are scattered all over the SET
tied portions of the territory Ano+ho