The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-05
PE0P ! |. The WEST
Over $1,000 Homeseekers Reached
Spokane In March.
THOUSANDS OF ACRES TAKEN UP
April Arrivals VIII Make a Good
Sized Army-FiEures Are
Conservative.
Special to The Journal

special to The Journal.
Spokane, Wash, April 5.-Despite the
blockade of transcontinental railway traf-
ac in North Dakota, which has occurred
twice during the month, practically sus-
pendlng the movement of trains for about
week In each instance, immigration to
Washington and the Pacific northwest
has been unprecedented. From the time
of the arrival at Spokane Of the advance
guard OF prospective settlers on March 3
until March 22, total of 1878 left the
trains tere. From March % to March
81, inclusive, which included the period of
the second blockade q total OF 1.1S4
for the mcnth of 6,057.
| The figures are made by the immigra-
ton committee of the Spokane chamber
OF commerce. They are regarded as con-
sentative and represent but the actual ar
| rivals at Spokane. Taking into consider
alton the number of people who passed
| through to destinations, and the number
| who left the o. R. & N. trains before
| their arrival at Spokane, 1t is estimated
that fully 10000 people have visited the
Inland Empire during the month.
| Careful inquiry demonstrates that out
! Of this large army but small per cent
| have sought to locate elsewhere. The
majority We! e accompanied by their fam
| tl'es. and have secured homes. Those
! who were not accompanied by their fam
! lilies have secured locations and have re-
4 turned 10 the east preparatory to NOV
| ing their families here.
10000 Acres Homesteaded.
The report of the Spokane land Office
alone shows that over 100000 acres we're
( hcmesteaded during the month while re-
ports Of the leading real estate dealers
1 Indicate that more than three times that
amount has been purchased outright or
contracted for. The effect of the immi-
grafton movement has been to advance
the price Of land in particularly desirable
localities, but in no locality has land sold
for more than $35 an acre, except in the
! immediate vicinity of Spokane and in IT.
| rigated districts around North Yakima
and lewiston. The average price has
been from SO to $40 per acre.
| The class of immigrants coming this
spring is regarded by the immigration
committee as much better from a hnan-
| cia1 standpoint than in previous years.
| There have been more cash land sales
and larger tracts sold than ever before
! The states which have contributed to-
ward this immigration movement are
| Minnesota. the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa
Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
| New York, the Virginias, North Carolina
and Colorado. The majority of immi-
grants are from Iowa, Nebraska, Mis-
souri,, Minnesota and the Dakotas
| Outlook for April.
The outlook for this month, based
on information received from the immi-
! grafton departments of the transcon-
tiuental railroads and from the immi-
grants already arrived, is that more thar
twice the number Of March arrivals Is vel
to come. 1t is significant that fully x
Fer cent of the total immigration has beer
to the state of Washington, and from
40 to so ner-cent of the Washington immt.
grafton has located east of the Cascades