Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-12-09
oAKEsDAlE, WASHINGTON.
An Interesting Letter From a
Former Citizen of Tazewen.

thinking somo of the people of South
west Virginia would like to hear from
one who was not long since one of her
citizens, will write you short de-
scrlption of my new and far away home
in the State cf Washington.
Oaksdale has a population of 1900, is
forty six miles south of Spokane, at the
junction of the Northern Pacific and
Oregon Railway and Navigation Com
pany. Spokane is the second largest
city in the State. 1t is growing rapid
iy, and has now population of over
$4,000, and bids fair to be, in few
more years, one Of the largest cities in
the Northwest.
1t is situated on tho Spokane river
and has sufficient water power to run
all the manufacturing establishments
in Virginia.
The noted Spokane Falls are in the
heart of the city, and it is said they are
excelled in power, only by the great
Niagara Falls.
In Oaksdale there are eight dry goods
stores, two hardware, three grocery,
three drug, two jewelry and two har-
ness shops. Also two meat markets,
six churches, three barber shops, and
four saloons, all doing good business as
there are no stores scattered through
the country. 1t L as twelve warehouses
with storage capacity of 100000 bush
els of grain.
The free school system is very fine
and extends into the colleges. In Oaks
dale we have graded free school with
an enrolment of over $50 pupils, and it
runs for a term Of nine months. Now
as to the great Palouse Valley and her
products:
In her early days she was covered
with bunch grass, but the gang has
about destroyed that excellent pasture
where the buffalo, the elk and the wild
ponies use to roam in countless herds.
And now the Palous 10 one vast wheat
field.
This part of Washington is rolling
prairie, and the ground is very rich, ev-
en- to the summit of the hills. OF tho
vegetables, will say that the world car
not beat us in size, qnanity and variety.
Apples never fail and to give you an
idea of their abundance, Whitman clun-
ty sold and shipped over five hundred
car loads at cent pound this fall and
have plenty left for home use Apple
trees bear when only four or nYe years
old, and there is no such thing as dis
eased fruit trees, or apples with worm
holes in them. Peaches of the finest
quality and the largest / evor saw.
Pears grew to perfection. The other
fruits are, Strawberries, black and red
raspberries, prunes, plumbs, cherries,
apricots, and smaller fruits, such as
currants, gooseberries, etc.
saw at the Fruit Fair in Spokane
cabbage that weighed little over 100
lbs, o pumpkin that tipped the scales
at 125lbs., and apples weighing 24 or.
The wages are much better here than
in the east. No one ever thinks OF
working for less than $1.00 dey, ard
during harvest the waves run fromS1.50
to $3.50 per day. The hired female help
receive from $1.00 to $500 per day.
We have about six inches of snow.
The sleigh bells tinkle all day and far
in the night you can hear the merry
parties. The yonng and old enjoy
themselves immensely, and skating Is
one of the principal enjoyments of the
young people. One can see from 80 to
40 cutters aud tob-sleds at time. AS
to my family they have had good sup
ply of measles. Only nine of them down
within the last three weeks, but are all
about over them now. All are reason
able contented, and hope some time in
the future to pay a visit to our loved
Virginia and meet the many dear friends
who dwell beneath her sunny skies
]. NJ. sNAPP.
Mr.. Masterson's Lecture.
The lecture of Hon. w. w. Ma :