The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21
COLUMBIA,

The county OF Columbia is distfnc.sve,v
q whea. producing section. and perhaps
nowhere within he confines OF the state
of Washington are the soil and climatic
conditions more favorable to the success
ful cultivation CT this cereal than Il the
foothills OF the Blue mountains and on
tns uplands that stretch away 10 the
north % the Snake river. Never YET.
since the soil was firsi broken--some
twenty years ago-has there been Al alb
soiu'e failure OF crops. snd yields OF
thirty. forty and Atty bushels per acre
are considered only as fair crop.
Barley ana oats do equally an well,
though barley Is more extensively grown.
OF recent years considerable attention
has been paid TO raising brewing barley.
and the returns have been very satissac-
tory.
Corn Is not grown to any great extent
here. because OF the cool nights but un-
der proper cultivation Il yields az high a.
forty and fifty bushels per acre.
Fruit Reaches Perfeceien.
Apples. pears. prunes peaches and cher
ries. as well as strawberries. blackberries.
currants, etc. grow TO perfection in the
valleys. great and small. throughout the
county. The Snake river peach orchards
are known far and wide for the excellence
and quantity of their product. II Is only
within sha last TWO years. however. that
fruit has been shipped from tho southern
part OF tina county. Recently several
hundred acres in the Fouchet valley were
planted 10 apples, prunes and cherries,
and II IS supposed thesA experiments will
demonstrate beyond a doubt the profit
ableness OF fruit growing.
The shipments OF live stock including
cattle, hogs and sheep. form no inconsld-
erable part OF the county's resources. The
mountainous part Of the county affords
mi
the wheat and barley fields making fall
pasturage.
Dayton. a modern city Of 1850 inhahi-
tants. is the county seat Two branch
lines Of railroad terminate here. the
Northern Pacific and o. r. d N. giving
a choice Of two sea ports for shipment
OF produce. The city owns q splendid
irrigation and domestic purposes and az
fords good protection against fre-Day-
tons deadlsest enemy. The streets. busi-
ness houses and residences are lighted by
electricity. In the way OF manufacturing
enterprises the county has three Touring
mills. two 1T Dayton and one at Hunts
vile. with q capacity of GO barrels per
day. brewery and mai. house az Day
ton, furniture factory, a half dozen saw
mills. foundry, etc. are among the enter
pr.ses that supply the needs OF the COM
munity
VIII supply All Human Needs.
The resources OF this prosperous and
naturally rich section are rs yet only par
TALLY developed. Indeed. under favorable
conditions, Columbia county might pro-
duce and supply most of The needs of her
citizens. Here is wood. bread. fruits.
meats, clothing, vegetables. enough and 10
spare.
The Fouchet river, now furnishing power
for the mills and factories. Is only par
italy harnessed, and OF Itself offers many
opportunities for the employment Of cap
ital, with a surety OF good returns.
Among the enterprises most needed at
the present time ara a sugar and beet
factory starch factory, woolen mills end
creamery. Experiments have proven thai
sugar poets can be successfully grown
here. and potatoes grow and Yield abund~
antly with never Il fear for potato bugs"
and similar pests
Never Had Boom.
The people are, generally speaking hap
never has been. place where everything
turns 20 gold. and the boom" with It's
attendant imitation and shrinkage OF yaI-
ues, did not come this way II Is rather
a place where industry is rs~ardsd in
proportion 10 thu outlay of capital or
labor The climate is n healthy one,
heving neither extreme heat or cold. the
sol $ productive and severe droutns
cyclones or foods are not considered
among the probabilities for the future.
having never been experienced IN the
past. r. :. S1'ROHM.