The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-09-23
Boomers Ferry.


inquiry about the of Boomers Ferry and the country
surrounding by people anxious Idaho and To-
1t is for the benefit of those and of patrons of the
HERALD who have friends to whom they wish send
descriptive of tie country that the following brief
and conservative article is written:
Bonners Ferry is the commercial of the upper
portion of the Panhandle of Idaho 1t is located at the head
Of navigation the Kootena River % miles from the In
ternatonal line 1t 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
ulaon, 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
contains vast forests of pine 6r and CEDAR which capable
OF manufacture into excellent quality of lumber aid shin
giles. There mills at Bonners Ferry besides
ons o. eet OF logs are cut and rated down the hooena
river annually to the mining towns Kootenai lake in
British 9oumba-giving employment to many persons AS
to agriculture, the kootenal 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
ows utilized for hay land and ranchng But the best ranch
ing land is usually found along the foothills owing the
overflow of the meadow land Almost every variety of crops
be raised but gardening and fruit raising have
the profitable owing to 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 Kooena country the last but least
to be named famed world wide and need special
ton IN these columns The three principal resources men
toned above all yet in their Infancy compared with the
great possibilities of the country.
Tributary Boomers Ferry other smaller valleys
than the Kootenai and thriving settlements at Cow
creek Paradise valley Moravia Naples Deep Creek Moyea
Meadows, Round Prairie and number other places
the remarks made herein apply to them as well as the
Port Hill is thriving town located at a point in
the valley where the Kootenai the international Line
Incidentally speaking r"it culture is receiving great
attention Apples pears pums peaches apricots and all
the small fruits thrive The quality of the fruit is fine ard
the quantity is all that could be asked has been demon
srated by actual results As instance last year
eman sold o"er 800 worth of strawberries from quar-
ter of an acre of ground
raising the dairy business is also profitable
Rancers have sold pound of butter Ferry
in the last year for less than % cents and ranch bring
% per dozen
Illustrating the possibilities raaching take the
one item of raising hay. Many ranchers fine meadow
lands which fine 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 Tor Its culture and always IN demand al good price
We know of instance where the crop (tinohy) five
to the acre. and timothy hay has been worth less
than SO In Boomers Ferry and up as high l5 1t cost
about $25 clear the ground referred and
in cultivation At prevailing prices the ground yielded $50
an acre last year And there still unclaimed ranches in
the Kootenai Valley that can be made productive
All products find a ready market IA good price. The
mining camps within easy reach furnish home market
The climate of the Kootenai country is remarkably
mild considering the latitude. This demonstrated by the
tender fruits that be raised here unusual
thing for the THERMOMETERS not to get below the whole
D winter through.
The scenic beauty of the Kooena country unrvaled
and nowhere in the world is there finer hunting and
= fishing close to transportation lines.
Q The Kootena is a navigable and many fine
. steamers ply upon it,
Boomers Ferry has many of the qualifications for good
town not the least of which the feet that electric power
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
be had very cheap and easy payments Government land
DE hOmesteaded NO great OF land required
10 piece of ground for fruit garden, with
stock grazing the hills will yield in actual profits
than whole quarter section in many prairie countries The
greatest is in clearing the ground but get
and the profits from few well cultivated will do the
rest Wages always fair and industrious borer
nearly always get employment Loggers $50 to $40
month aud board; ranch hands S25 to $50 AMI board
miners SO to So 80 per day. day horers $3.50 3d.
penters $3.50 $3 so day Board $4 50 per week.
o including lodging.
Boomers Ferry has large Of country from which
to draw trade and does immense business year.
Nea every line of business IS we'll represented and the
population is made xeptionaly enerprsng
of people 1t has splendid public school and there