The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-08-12
Boomers T erry.


inquiry about of Boomers Ferry and the country
surrounding it, by people anxious to Idaho and To-
is for the benefit of those and of patrons OF the
HERALD who have friends whom they wish to send
descriptive matter of tie country that the following brief
and conservative article is written:
Bonners Ferry is the commercial center of the upper
portion of the Panhandle of Idaho 1t is located at the head
OF navigation on the Kooena River 20 miles from the In
ternational line 1t is situated the line of the Great
Northern Railway and at the American terminus of Koots
mai Valley Railway, extending into the mining camps of
British Columbia 1t is at present town of about 800 pop
uaton which is increasing with the development of the
country.
The of the country surrounding Bonners !
Ferry in its timber ranches and mines The country
contains vast forests of pine FIR and CEDAR which capable
of manufacture into excellent quality of lumber aid shin
giles There two mills at Bonners Ferry besides
millions feet of logs and RATED down the KOoena
river annually to the mining towns Kootenai lake in
British oumbia-givng employment to many persons As
agriculture the Kootenai Valley is of the fertile
and in the Northwest. 1t from three to five
miles wide and so miles long There many broad mead
utilized for ranchng But the best ranch
ing land is usually found along the foothills owing to the
overflow of the meadow land Almost every variety of crops
be raised but gardening and fruit raising have proven
the profitable owing to the demand for these products
in the mining camps where all products of the ranch bring
prices that in would fabulous. The
mines of the Kootena country the last but not least
be named famed world wide and need special
ton in these columns The three principal
toned above all in their ioancy compared with the
great possibilities of the country
Tributary to Boomers Ferry other smaller valleys
than the Kooena and thriving settlements at Cow
creek, Paradise valley, Moavia Naples Deep Creek Moyea
Meadows Round Prairie and number of other places and
the remarks made herein apply to them as well as the
greater valley.
Port Hill is a thriving town located at a point in
the valley where the Kootena the international Line
incidentally speaking frnit culture is receiving great
Apples pears plums peaches apricots and all
the small fruits The quality the fruit is fine ard
the quantity all that could be asked has been demon
stred by actual results AS an instance last year gen.
tIeman sold 500 worth of strawberries from quar-
ter of of ground.
Stock raising ana the dairy business is also profitable
Rnchers have sold pound of butter in Boomers Ferry
in the last for less than % cents and ranch eggs bring
% per dozen.
AS Illustrating the possibilities ranching take the
item of raising hay Many rnchers own fine meadow
lands which grow fine crop Of wild hav after the overflow
of the river 1t makes good feed and sells we'll
in the market But hay yields enormously ground
suited for its culture and is ALWAYS ia demand At good price
We instance where the crop (inohy) five
to the acre and timothy hay has been worth less
than $40 in Bonners Ferry and up az high as $5 1t cost
500 clear the ground referred TO and put
in cultivation At prevailing prices the ground Welded $50
the KCotenai Valley that be made productive.
All products find ready market at good price The
mining camps within easy reach furnish home market
The climate of the Kooena country is remarkably
mild considering the latitude This is demonstrated by the
tender fruits that be raised here 1t s net an unusual
thsg for the thermometer not to get below zero the whole
The srerc beauty Kootpnai country unrivaled
and nowhere in the world is there finer hunting and
fishing close to transportation lines.
The Kootenai is "a navigable and many fine
, steamers ply upon it.
Boomers Ferry many of the qualifications for good
the least of which is the feet that electric
may be obtained from Moyea Falls only six miles distant
There thousands OF of railroad and government
land suitable for agriculture yet be had railroad land
he homesteaded No of land is required.
10 piece of grou"d for fruit and garden, with your
grazing the hills will yield more in actual profits
Whole quarter secUoh in prairie countries The
greatest expense in clearing the ground but get start
profits few well cultivated will do the
rest Wages always fair and industrious aboer
nearly always get enpoymen oggers get $50 to $40
month aud board; ranch hands, %25 to $50 ana board
miners SO to 50 80 day. day rbores $3.50 to So
pntr 50 80 50 80 per day. Board is 81 80 per week.
. no including lodging.
Bouners Ferry has large d" country from which
td draw trade and does immense business each year.
Nearly every line of business well represented and the
population made up of exceptionally enerising class
people 1t has splendid public school and there