The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-07
SEATTLE, MONDAY, MAY :.
Facts for Farmers.

In recent number of the Western
edition Of Farm and Fireside" appear
ed the following letter. If 1t was really
sent by any resident of Seattle. his ig-
norance Is stupendous or his maievo-
lence great For a more reckless mix
ture OF Misrepresentation and down
right falsehood it has rarely been our
lot to encounter:
From Washington would advise any
man who has fairly good job. or a facm
where he Is making a fair living to let
good enough alone. Sawmils ana log.Iny
camps only run steady during the sum
mer months.
AS 1t rains here about seven TO eight
months In the year, out-of-door work is
not very pleasant.
In the eastern part OF the state land
sells at from ss5 to $500 an acre, and has
10 BIO irrigated. which costs sl.25 an acre
year Fruits. wheat and hops do wcll
but the freight rates eat mp the profits
There is land advertised for sale at ST. Is
an acre hut there Is water or irr'ga.
tion canals on it, and without water ii is
of no value
Western Washington has too much rain
for wheat-raising, aud the nights arc too
cool for wheat and corn. Vegetables do
well here but the business liz In the hands
OF Cinnamon and dasoes. and they asve
run prices down, \, +.
Seattle. Wash.
There are five charges set forth In
this against Washington as a state for
farmers TO seek Objections alleged are
ineessant rains in Western washington.
high prices Of farm lands, exorbitant
freight rates, want of adaptablity OF
ths coast section to grain raising. and
the competition of cheap foreign labor.
We viii note the actual facts under
each head, gathered not only from per
sonal Information but from careful in
quiry among farmers ana others who
are in a position TO know them.
As to rainfall in Western Washing
ton. the facts are OF record and easily
accessible TO any one who wishes 10 as
certain them. Rains start In earnest
in November and are over by April. ex-
eept that there are enough occasional
showers through May and June to lay
the dust and keep vegetables In good
condition. Saw and shingle mills run
all the year around except about from
Dec. 10 70 early in February. The shut
downs that sometimes occur then are
not due 20 the climate. and many log
ging camps and mills are busy every
working day IN the year.
As 20 land in the eastern part Of the
state, irrigabls land sells there for about
$50 an acre. and Is being disposed Of a,
that price at the rate Of about os0
acres month This IS among the best
land IN Washington The sage brush
car be gruheet out and the ground lev
eled, plowed aud furrowed for Arlsat-
ing, putting It In FIRST class condition.
for sl2 an acre There is a very large
amount og this land remaining ior sale.
Irrigation costs about 81 an acre pe-
wear. ana ore mar can irrigatc % acres
per day, lrrisauur hos to I've done onlv
few ttunes taree perhaps ia q season
Irrigated land In Yakima valley viii
produce tons of alfalp, per wear. sell.
ms at stSe pvt ton The fruit 81 the
region is famous ana brings the htshAs,
yrtccs In the market
Freight rates from wenstrboe and
Eastern Washington points ir general
where produce rs marketed. t5 Puget
sound aro about so cents per hundred
ip carload lots. and a. cents in smaller
quantities Thls IS the fruit rate II
costs about l2 10 n cents a bushel &
carry wheat 20 tldewater Vegetable.
pay tower freight charges than fruit
on the west side frclgh, rates for IL,
miles VIII run 10 cents per hundred ,tol
carloads and IL for smaller lots
Western Washington makes no spe
cialty OF raising wheat or corn. II =
not the country for farmers who wisl
a. devote themselves exclusively I,
those cereals. They flourish better IL