The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-08-14
Opportunities at Boomers Ferry.

Bonners Ferry is the principal town in
the north end of Kootenai county, Idaho,
beautifully situated at the head Of navi-
cation on the Kootonai river. with about
500 population. 1t n the commercial and
social center of the great Kootenai valley,
on the main line of the Great Northern
railroad, the northern terminus OF the
Kootenai Valley railroad, and about 80
miles from the British possessions.
The surface and character of the coun-
try tributary to Boomers Ferry are agree
ably various Beginning with the great
alluvial flats along the river, comprising
about so 00O acres, of natural meadows,
prairie and grass lands chiefly valuable
for stock raising, dairying and kindred
industries. Then the great table of bench
lands extending back to the mountains,
covered with one of Idaho's greatest for
ests of pine, fir. tarnarack and cedar. The
Northern Pacific Railway company own
ed all the odd numbered sections, and
has sold most of its holdings to settlers
In the last few years; the even numbered
sections, or government lands, are being
rapidly taken as homesteads, and few
file under the timber and stone act On
these bench lands the soil Is good, with
plenty of good water, plenty of rainfall
and no irrigation needed. On most or the
claims there Is a spot where there Is HI
tie no neaVy umDeTs where IL 10 cdS-
ily cleared; here the settler commences
farming operations. Some of the older
settlers have splendid orchards, bearing
all kinds of northern grown fruits OF most
excellent quality, and the newcomers are
all setting out young orchards. timothy
clover and the cereals are yielding abund-
antly, as we'll as all root crops and ber-
ries Rich grass grows all through the
timber and on the bald hills. furnishing
unlimited grazing for cattle. There Is at
least one wagon road on every township
surveyed in the valley leading to and
from Boomers Ferry. Settlers wisely leave
the heavy timber stand on their claims
to sell to lumbermen when wanted. There
is yet a great deal of government land
in the valley subject to entry under the
homestead and stone and timber acts
with more or less timber on all OF IL, but,
naturally, the best locations and the best
timbered claims are taken and those re-
naming are chiefly suitable for home
steads rather than timber claims. These
are to be found from to 20 miles from
the town and from IA to miles from a
railroad and large river.
Some of the main valley and most OF
the lateral valleys are yet unsurveyed. In
these unsurveyed localities are to be found
some splendid farming and timbered
lands, with some fine bodies of white pine
and cedar.
Now is the time to take up claims
the time for selling them has not yet ar
rived Just as soon as some OF the pro
posed sawmills are built and operated
at Bonners Ferry there will be an unlim
tied market for timber, and the supply
will be as unlimited the demand. Th'
numbering industry has not yet begun
there is no timber being cut or market
ed 1t Is all awaiting the erection and op
Grafton OF sawmills here.
There are great opportunities for In
dustrious people to get cheap homes her
and to engage in agricultural, hOrticultu
raj and stock raising pursuits on an.
scale, large or small: there are still
greater opportunities for sawmill men L
engage In the manufacture of lumber o.
any scale, but especially on a large scale
good quality of yellow pine, red fl
tamarack and cedar can be bought 4
large or small quantities at 81 per 100
stumpage, or the timber land can b
bought for from 50 to $40 per acre, a.
along as fine a river as flows anywhere
Splendid facilities for manufacturing an
shipping exist at Bonners Ferry. wit
good freight rates, we have the worl
for a market Don't write too much 10
information, but II you want anythin
come and get IT.; that is what the rest q
them are doing. II you don't do 1t 80
will he too late.
There Is no room now for any bus
ness that does not utilize the natural r.
sources of the country Yours truly,
BUSINESS MEMS ASSOCIATION.
Runners Ferry Idaho