The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-12-16

THE HERALD constantly ia receipt of letters making
inquiry about Ferry and the country
surrounding it, by people anxious to Idaho and To-
1t is for the benefit of those and of patrons of the
HERALD who have friends whom they wish send
descriptive matter of the country that the following brief
and conservative article is written:
Boomers Ferry the commercial center of the upper
portion of the Panhandle of Idaho 1t located the head
Of navigation the Kooena River 25 miles the
ernational line 1t situated the line of the Great
Northern Railway and at the American terminus of KOos
Valley Railway extending into the mining camps of
British Columbia 1t is at present town of about 500 pop
ulaon, which is increasing with the development of the
country.
The of the country surrounding Boomers
Ferry in its timber ranches and mines. The country
contains vast forests of pne FIR and CEDAR which capable
of manufacture into excellent quality of lumber aid shin
giles. There mills at Boomers Ferry, besides
millions OF feet of logs cut and RATED down the Kootena
river annuay 10 'ne mining towns on hootena lake IN
British COMMUNICATING employment to many persons. AS
agriculture the Kootenai Valley Of the fertile
and attractive in the Northwest 1t is from three five
miles wide and 50 miles long There many broad mead
utilized for hay land and ranchng But the best ranch
ing land usually found along the foothills, owing to the
overflow of the meadow land Almost every variety crops
be raised but gardening and fruit raising have proven
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 Kooena country the last but not least
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 to Boomers Ferry other smaller valleys
than the KOotenai and thriving settlements Cow
creek Paradise valley Moravia Naples Deep Greek, Moyea
Meadows Round Prairie and number of other places and
the remarks made herein apply to them well as the
greater valley.
Port Hill is a thriving town located at point in
the valley where the Kootenai the International Line
incidentally speaking fruit culture is receiving great
attention Apples, plums peaches aprcots and all
the small fruits thrive The quality of the fruit fine ard
quantity is all that could be asked has been
strated by actual results As instance last
teman sold 500 worth of strawberries from
ter of of ground
Stock raising end the dairy business also profitable
Rancfers have pound butter in Boomers Ferry
% per dozen.
AS illustrating the possibilities of aachng 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 But hay yields enormously on ground
suited for its culture always demand good price
We know of an instance where the CROP nothv went five
the acre. and timothy hay has less
than $40 in Boomers Ferry and high $15 1t
about $25 an acre to clear the ground referred TO and mt it
cultivation At prevailing prices the ground yielded $50
last year And there still unclaimed ranches in
the Kootenai Valley that can be made productive.
All products find a ready market 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 may be raised here 1t ie unusual
thing for the Thermometer to get below the whole
The srenc beauty of the Kooena country unrivaed
and nowhere in the world is there finer hunting and
fishing close to nsporation lines.
The Kootenai a navigable stream and many fine
steamers ply upon it.
Boomers Ferry many of the qualifications for good
the least of which the 9ct that electric power
may be obtained from Moyea Falls only six miles distant
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land suitable agriculture yet had land can
be had very cheap and payments Government land
may be homesteaded No of land required
10 piece of ground for fruit and garden with your
grazing the hills will yield actual profits
than Whole quarter section in many prairie countries The
greatest expense is in clearing the ground, but get
and the profits from few well cultivated will do the
Wages always fair and industrious abore
nearly always get employment Logger get $50 to $40 per
month aud board; ranch hands, S25 to $50 AMI board
miners So to SO so per day. day aboers, $3.50 So
penters 80 SO so per day. Board "a SO per
including lodging
Ferry has large of country from which
to draw trade and does immense business each year
Nearly every line of business IS we'll represented and
population made of exceptionally enterprsng class