The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-10-16
Opportunities at Boomers Ferry.

Bonners Ferry is the principal town in
the north end of Kootenai county. Idaho,
beautifully situated ~ the head of naV
cation on the Kootenai river, with about
500 population. It - the commercial and
social center of the great Kootenai VALLEY.
on the main line of the Great Mo- thern
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 $1,000 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, tamarack 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 homes leads 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 bes
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 o
the lateral valleys are yet unsurveyed. IL
th-se unsurveyed localities are to be foun'
some splendid farming and timbere'
lands, with some fine bodies of white pin
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 operate
at Bonners Ferry there will be an unlim
tied market for timber. and the suppl
will be as unlimited as the demand. Tn
numbering industry has not yet begun
there is no timber being cut or market
ed; 1t Is all awaiting the erection and OF
Grafton of sawmills here.
There are great opportunities for In
dustrious people to get cheap homes heT
and to engage in agricultural, hOrticultl
raj and stock raising pursuits on an
scale, large or small; there are sti
greater opportunities for sawmlll men
engage in the manufacture of lumber O
any scale, but especially on a large seal
A good quality of yellow pine, red fl
tamsrack and cedar can be bought
large or small quantities at 81 Pc 10
stumpage, or the timber land can
bought for from SO to $40 per acre. a
along as fine a river as flows anywher
Splendid facilities for manufacturing ar
shipping exist at Bonners Ferry. Wi
good freight rates, we have the wor
for a market Don't write too much f
information, but II you want anythir
come and get it, that Is what the rest
them are doing. If you don't do it W
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,
Bonners Ferry, Idaho