The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-22
HELPED OUT BY SEATTLE.
EXPANSION As VIEWED IN THE IA
LOUISE COUNTRY.
Already the Results of Foreign
Trade From This Port Have In
creased the Price Of Farm Prod
ucts and Its Confinuatfon Wanted

Special Dispatch 70 the Post-Tn.eilisencer.
COLFAx. Aug 2l.-The anti-expan-
sionist will meet with a cold reception
in Whitman county this fall. His argu-
mcnts will be met with cold. hard facts
that will be hard to dodge. The people
OF Whitman county are beginning to
taste the fruits Of expansion and they
like the sample. They want more and
Il IL hard to find a man I'm this county.
especially a farmer, who does not desire
the expansion idea carried out to the
fullest extent. Already the markets OF
tho Paiouse country are feeling the ef-
fects OF the opening of foreign markets
for the products of the farms. orchards
and ranges OF this country. and increased
prosperity among the producing class Is
everywhere apparents
Instead OF seeking a market east Of
here, where they come In competition
with the producers OF the middle west.
the farmers OF the inland empire have
learned that in Seattle IL a growing mar
ket for all their products which are
shipped flynn there to the syew markets
Of the far East.
Now, instead Of having difficulty In
finding a market for their produce, the
farmers find difficulty in supplying the
demands made upon them at prices high
er than have heretofore prevailed. In
former years the mining camps to the
n
ket for the hay produced in the Palouse
country. but this was small and the
prices obtained would scarcely justify
the production This year 1t Is quite diff
fcrent. Buyers are securing the country
contracting all the hny they can buy at
better prices than have prevailed for
years and Il all goes to Seattle
Farmers are receiving $3.50 per ton
for timothy hay, delivered at the railroad
- H. St.a xrvf<x L. tai 70, ~
vance In the near future. At this price
timothy Is one Of the most profitable
crops Eastern Washington farmers can
raise and large acreage will be grown
IN the future. All kinds Of feedstuffs.
fruits and live stock find ready sale in
Seattle, nj prices higher than have here
tofore prevailed.
During the past year hundreds OF draft
horses have been bought In Whitman
county and shipped 10 Seattle ana the
prices paid for these were from 80 to 100
par cent higher than had been received
for several years. In fact the prices had
been 20 low for years that farmers had
abandoned tina raising OF horses almost
entirely. The opening of markets In
Alaska and the far East created such a
demand for horses that the industry has
been revived and during the past eigh-
has been paid 10 whitman county farm
ers for horses which were shipped to
Seattle.
seme Price DsHerences.
The same Il true OF cattle, hogs and
sheep. Carfhad after carload OF live
stock has gone from this county to So
attic during the past eighteen months
and the prices paid 90 the farmer left him
neat pront that encouraged him to
produce more OF these than ever before
and have made him a firm believer in
the expansion idea.
with the single exception Of wheat
there II not farm product produced
In the Paiousc country but IL bringing
n ~. pricss ana and, !, II srsatsr demand
years. and the prospects are that this
condition will be permanent. In conse-
quence OF this farmers are devoting more
time and attention to diversified farming
than ever before and this part OF WASH
ingfon was never so prosperous as at
A comparison OF prices prevailing here
four years ago and now gives some idea
Of the reasons farmers have for rejoic-
ing over the changed conditions. In
1888 good COW sold for from 50 to SIS
A three-year-old steer brought t2n. Hogs
were worth about ! cents per pound on
the foot. Sheep and wool were not worth
the cost Of production. Good work horses
were . drug on the market. at from $50
70 10. the latter price huying the very
beat. Everything the farmer produced
sold for proportionate prices and there
was little demand
Now COWS bring from ss5 TO $50 steers
are worth from sss 90 SiS. Hogs 80 in
demand at cents per pound. Sheep and
wool are worth more than twice the
good draft horse sells readily for from
u& 10 uTs, and all other farm products
but wheat show proportiouate advance In
both price and demand,