Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1899-03-17
By J. NJ. WoLBERT,
AS The Oregonian Sees Us.

~ AZ tAA"hJ q uoy c1ilSO A VI Gldhu
has had an opportunity to add to its
scommercial territory a country SO
rich and extensive as that now
opening in Idaho. 1t is likely to
be many day before another such
opportunity to extend its trade
shall be offered this city; possibly
never again, for the virgin acres of
the Northwest are growing less and
less as the years &C by, and there
are no considerable agricultural
tracts remaining without adequate
trade connections and facilities for
marketing products. ~-~.
There are large tracts OF grazing
lands remote from market or trans.
portation facilities, some promising
mining districts that are waiting for
railroads to assist in their develop
ment, and even small areas of gen
eral farming lands tucked away in
more or less accessible places be-
tween the mountains; but no broad
prairies, watered and warmed by
nature into marvellous productiv-
ness lie inappropriate elsewhere
In the Northwest. In no other i'm
portant quarter do the lines Of com
merce remain to be drawn. From
no other Quarter is the invitation so
strong for Portland to hustle for
business. By far the largest and
richest body Of agricultural land in
the state of Idaho is to be tapped
by the railroads projected UP the
Clearwater river through the Nez
Perez reservation and Cafnas Prai-
fib. The soil is OF the same nature
Rs that of the famots Palouse coun-
-friable, productive and of last
Ing fertility. Crops thrive without
Irrigation and yield bountifully.
The mercury seldom falls below
zero in winter; and it is UNUSUAL to.
have two weeks Of sleighingy while
the altitude, 5000 to $500 feet above
the sea, makes, the summer season
one OF unfailing delight.
These are characteristics of a roll-
Ing expanse Of farming land that's
greater in area than the entire state
Of Rhode Island, numbers more
acres than are cultivated in the
hcate of Delaware, and more than
ktalf as many as are under cultiva-
hon in all Connecticut. 1t has
tieen q stockmen's paradise, because
battle and horses would transport
shemsslves on hoof to market. The
animals certainly lfourished but
ths country was worthy OF Better
development, worthy of as close
cultivation as the valleys of the
Connecticut, the Mohawk or the
Susquehana, or Of the Miami or
Wabash. This was not to be ex-
pected, Of course, when there was no
means of getting surplus produce to
market So the people raised gen.
eral products sufficient for their own
needs and gave over the remaining
acres to the numerous herds. Now
comes the spur TO development. a
way to get produce to market is to
pc provided. The herds must leave
the prairie lands, which are to be-
turned with the pillow and planted
Ia crops. The horses will be put to
work, and the cattle must retire to
the slopes and canyons, where they
will still, however, find abundant
forage.
The adjustment will bring new
activities into play. industrial
development will bring advance
pent along. all the lines of social
Iite. Towns, local markets and
trading cepters will spring, up.
Connections with the. commercial |
world will be established. And |
which way twill those lines lead2
VIII some Eastern metropolis take |
The cream? Will it go to the as
piring cities of Washington? Or |
will Portland exert herself suffi-
GENTLY to pluck the fruit that is all |
put dropping into her lap? A chip
dropped into any Of the streams of
that budding country Of Idaho
you'd float past Portland's front
door Thus would be indicated the |
natural movement OF commodities /
and trade. Movement many other
channel would mean the overcom-
ing of natural barriers, which in
yolYes cost to somebody. The ag-
cicultural character Of that country
leaves no doubt of the permanence.
# the new development. The
world still gets its living from the
soil. and must continue to do so,
ind he who feeds mankind has the
most enduring business
, But the possibilities Of. that .coun,
sfy are by no means confined to
me industry. What gives great
{iEE,QQnaise q. speedily becoming one Of