Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-06-02

the Inland Empire, about 100 miles north
east of Spokane, Wash 1t is rich in natural
resources and offers unsurpassed opportuni-
ties for the homeseeIcr of moderate means,
as well as for the investment of capital in
large or small amounts.
Three railroads now enter the valley. TWO
Of these, the Great Northern and the Cana
dian Pacific, are transcontinental roads and
the Kootenai Valley railroad is a local with
its southern terminus at Boomers Ferry
where all these roads connect. making this
city the gateway and commercial center of
the valley
The Kootenai river, a large navigable
branch of the Columbia comes down from
the mountains in British Columbia and Mon
tana, flows pacidly through the center Of the
Kootena valley in Idaho, and upon reach
ing Bonners Ferry, which is at the foot Of
the swift water and the head Of navigation,
Lroaders out to a regular width of 100 to
GOO feet Ii is navigable for large steamers
for distance of so miles northward from
Boomers Ferry, to and across the British
lire and forms one of the best natural COM
mcrcial highways between the Great lakes
ard Puget sound.
T he Kccteuai Valley. railroad with its
southern terminus at Boomers Ferry, paral-
les the river the full length Of the valley into
British Columbia thus giving this locality
the lenefit Of both rail and water transport
tation to the famous mining regions of the
West Kootcnai, in British Columbia, a re-
gion which produces little but consumes inn
mense quantities of the products Of the soil
This favored position Of the farmer, stock
man, dairyman and poutryman in the Koot-
enai valley is the reason why he gets better
prices and more ready sale for his products
the year round than his neighbors in less
favored localities
THE LAND-THE SOIL.
Until about 10 years ago the Kootenai
valley was one vast public domain, with title
in the United States government Prior to
that time few settlers had squatted on land
and made some Improvements. After the
extension of the government surveys the
even numbered sections were opened to entry
under the homestead and timber and stone
laws, and the odd numbered sections Except
those classified as minera), were patented
to the Northern Pacific Railway company
under its grant. During the last six years
most of the government lands that are sur
veyed have been filed on under one or the
the same period the Northern Pacific Rail
way company disnosed of about all its sur
veyed lands in the valley to individual pur-
chasers Many of these settlers have made
final proof on their claims and all will have
made proof during the next two years Thus
It will lie seen that about all of the land is
in the hands of the individual owner; but
owing to the rewness of the country a very
large percentage of it is still unimproved; in
TACT, there is at least two-thrds of it unoc-
cupied, and although its quality is frst-cass
Il can be bought for less money than similar
lands sell for in most other localities
WHAT IT IS LIKE.
About $4,000 acres between Boomers Fer
~ and the British line, along the Kootenai
river is low, fiat lands, comprising what are
called the Kootenai bottoms These bottoms
formed evidently by the flow of the river,
silted up during by-gonc ages, are enriched
by the sediment carried down from the
mountains of British Columbia and Mon
tana and deposited here for the benefit of
modern civilization, are in many respects
similar to the famous valley Of the Nile
These bottoms are very little higher than
high water mark and in fact large portion
OF them overflow with the rising of the river
Tor from four to six weeks each year in MAY
and june Iwo-thirds or more of this area
IS open, natural meadow, and the remainder
contains punches Of cottonwood timber. will
lows and other small brush When the wa
ter recedes from the overflow portions a
line crop of wild, nutritious hay is cut, and
from this source winter fodder is procured
for the growing stock raising and darying
industries in the valley While all of this
land has passed TO the individual. it is a fact
that not more than one-third is being util-
ized, for the reason that many large owners
10 not live on the land and many who do live
there have more land than they can CON
veniently use, and for the further fact that
some Of it is marslly and needs ditchine to
put 1t in shape. In fact all it needs is actual
industrious settlers to improve with com
paratiNey little expense or labor. The high
er portions that have been cultivated produce
immense crops of timothy, clover. grain.
vegetables and fruit, the yield per acre be-
ing Wild hay, I to TONS timothy and
clover, ? to 3 tons; clover exclusive. two
crops. 3 to 4 tons. This is essentially a stool;
raising and dairying locality. but these in
Custries are only in their infancy. The next
few wears will brino rao;d ~l,,r,,o. =. H..