The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-11-11

THE HERALD constantly in receipt of letters making
inquiry about the of Bonners Ferry and the country
surrounding it. by people anxious to to Idaho and To-
is for the benefit of those and of patrons of the
HERALD who have friends whom they wish send
descriptive of the country that the following brief
and conservative article is written
Boomers Ferry is the commercial center of the upper
navigation the Kootenai River % miles from the In
ternationa line. 1t is situated the line of the Great
Northern Railway and at the American terminus of Kooe-
mai Valley Railway, extending into the mining camps of
British Columbia is at present town of about 800 pop
uaton which is increasing with the development Of the
country
The resources of the country surrounding Bonners
Ferry 10 its timber ranches and mines. The country
forests pine cedar, which capable
Of manufacture into excellent quality of lumber and shin
giles There mills at Boomers Ferry, besides
millions Of feet Of logs cut and RATED down the Kootena
river annually to the mining towns Kootenai lake in
British Holumbia-gving employment to persons As
to agriculture the Kooena Valley of the most fertile
and attractive in the Northwest 1t is from three five
miles wide and so miles long There many broad mead
utilized for hay land and 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
the profitable owing the demand for these products
in the mining camps, where all products of the ranch bring
prices that in eastern states would fabulous The
mines of the Kootenai country the last but not least resource
to be named, famed world wide and need special
ton in these columns The three principal
toned above all yet in their Infancy compared with the
great possibilities of the country.
Tributary Boomers Ferry smaller valleys
than the Kooenai and thriving settlements Cow
creek Paradise valley, MOrava 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 Kooena the International Line
incidentally speaking frnit culture is receiving
attention Apples pears pums peaches, aprcots and all
the small fruits thrive. The quality of the fruit is fine ard
the quantity all that could be asked has been demon
straed by actual results AS instance last year gen.
teman sold 500 worth of strawberries from
ter of of ground.
Stock raising and the dairy business is also profitable
Rancher have not sold pound of butter in Boomers Ferry
last
% cents per dozen.
AS illustrating the possibilities Of taachng take the
item of raising hay Many ranchers fine meadow
lands which grow fine crop Of wild hay after the overflow
Of the river each 1t makes good feed and sells well
in the market But hay yields enormously ground
suited for its culture and always in demand good price
We know of an instance where the crop Noothv went five
the acre, and timothy hay has been worth less
than $40 in Boomers Ferry, and up high S5 1t
about $25 clear the ground referred to and it
cultivation. At prevailing prices the ground yielded $50
last And there still unclaimed ranches in
the Kootena Valley that can be made as productive.
All products find ready market at good price The
mining camps within easy reach furnish home market
The climate of the Kootenai country is remarkably
tender fruits that may be raised here 1t unusual
thing for the thermometer get below whole
scenic beauty the Kootenai country unrivaled
and nowhere in the world is there finer hunting and
fishing 81 close to transportation lines.
The Kootenai is a navigable and many fine
steamers ply upon it.
Ferry many of the qualifications for good
town not the least of which is the gct that electric
may be obtained from Moyea Falls only six miles distant
There thousands OF OF railroad and government
land suitable for agriculture yet to be had railroad land can
be had cheap and easy payments Government land
may be homesteaded No great of land is required.
10 acre piece OF ground Tor ult ana garden with your
grazing the hills will yield in actual profits
than whole quarter section in many prairie countries The
greatest expense in clearing the ground but get
and the profits from few well cultivated will do the
Wages always fair and industrious laboer
nearly always employment Logger get $50 to $40 per
month aud board; ranch hands, $25 to $50 ana board
9 miners SO SO 80 per days day labore $3.50 So
peners SO so SO 80 per day Board "a S. per week.
o not including lodging
Ferry has large of country from which
to draw trade and does immense business each year
line of business IS we'll represented and the
population is made up of exceptionally enteprising class
of people has splendid public school and there