The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-10-09
Opportunities at Boomers Ferry.

Boomers Ferry is the principal town in
the north end of Sootenai county, Idaho,
beautifully situated 1t the head of navi-
cation on the Kootona river. with about
300 population. 1t Is the commercial and
social center Of the great Kootenai valley,
on the main line of the Great Northern
railroad the northern terminus of the
Kootena Valley railroad, and about 80
miles from the British possessions.
The surface and character of the coun-
try tributary to Bonners Ferry are agree
ably various. Beginning with the great
alluvial flats along the river comprising
about $4,000 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 IdahOs 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 a 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 of the
claims there is a spot where there is lit
lie OF no HtdNy llHlDGIr WiltIt IL 10 cos
lily cleared; here the settler commences
farming operations. Some of the older
settlers have splendid orchards, bearing
ell 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 well 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 vet 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 it, 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 5 miles from
railroad and large river.
Some of the main valley and most or
the lateral valleys are yet unsurveyed. In
the unsurveyed localities are to be found
some splendid farming and timbered
lands, with some fine bodies of white pine
and cedar.
rived. Just as soon as some Of the pro
posed sawmills are built and operated
at Bonners Ferry there will be an unlm-
tied market for timber, and the supp.
will be as unlimited as the demand Tn,
numbering industry has not yet begun
there is no timber being cut or marke.-
ed; it is all awaiting the erection and OPP
Grafton OF sawmills here.
There are great opportunities for In
dustrous people to get cheap homes here
and to engage in agricultural, horicultu
raj and stock raising pursuits on ans
scale, large or small; there are ST..
greater opportunities for sawmili men %
engage in the manufacture of lumber on
any scale but especially on large scale
a good quality OF yellow pine, red I'm
tamarack and cedar can be bought II
large or small quantities at 81 per 100
stumpage or the timber land can b
bought for from SO to $40 per acre, al
along as fine a river as flows anywhere
Splendid facilities for manufacturing anC
shipping exist at Bonners Ferry. VIII
good freight rates, we have the work
for market. Don't write too much 70
information. but If you want anything
come and get it; that Is what the rest o
them are doing. If you don't do It yo'
will he too late.
There is no room now for any busi
ness that does not utilize the natural re
sources of the country. Yours truly,
BUSINESS MEMS ASSOCIATION.
ROnners Ferry. Idaho