The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-08-07
Opportunities at Boomers Ferry.

Boomers Ferry is the principal town in
the north end of Kootenai county. Idaho,
beautifully situated 1t the head of navi-
cation on the Kootenai river, with about
500 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
Kootenai Valley railroad and about 30
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 IdahO's greatest for
ests of pine, fir, tanarack 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
tie or no heavy timber where 1t is cas-
lily 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 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 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 1t, 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
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 sawmils are built and operated
at Bonners Ferry there will be an unlim-
tied market for timber, and the supply
will be as unlimited as the demand The
numbering industry has not yet begun;
there is no timber being cut or market
ed; 1t is all awaiting the erection and OPP
Sration of sawmills here.
There are great opportunities for in
dustrlous people to get cheap homes here
and to engage in agricultural. hordcultu-
raj and stock raising pursuits on any
scale, large or small; there are still
greater opportunities for sawmill men to
engage in the manufacture of lumber on
any scale, but especially on a large scale.
A good quality of yellow pine, red fir.
tamarack and cedar can be bought In
large or small quantities at 81 per 1000
stumpage, or the timber land can be
bought for from SO to $40 per acre, all
along as fine a river as flows anywhere.
Splendid facilities for manufacturing and
shipping exist at Bonners Ferry. With
good freight rates, we have the world
for a market. Don't write too much for
information. but If you want anything
come and get it; that is what the rest OF
them are doing. If you don't do 1t you
will he too late.
There is no room now for any bust
ness that does not utilize the natural re-
sources of the country Yours truly,
BUSINESS MEMS ASSOCIATION.
ROnners Ferry. Idaho