The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-02-22
BENTON WRITES
OF THE WEST.
Mlnot Man Secures a Fine lrriga-
tion Farm at Redmond, Oregon
--MiDot People to Locate There.
Redmond. Ore. Feb. II, %

| Redmond. Ore, Feb. -, 'OG.
Friends Truax and Colcord-
Thinking Il few lines relative to
this part OF mother earth would
be interesting to readers, and in
answer to many questions from
friends there, | will give you a
short sketch OF this country. |
in comp my with four young
men from Granville, left Minot on
the 9th, inst, went through the
rockies by moonlight which was
a beautiful sight. Arrived in
| Spokane the following morning.
Spokane is pleasantly located on
a high plane just outside the pine
forests on the beautiful falls Of
Spokane River. We left Spokane
at 4:3O p. m. for Biggs, Oregon,
going through the famous
Palouse wheat country arriving
at Biggs in the early morning,
where we climbed the hills and
We're delighted in picking flowers
and hearing the meadow .larks
and other birds giving voice to
their sentiments in beautiful
song. We left Briggs in the after
neon going up the canyon where
we saw many fine fruit orchards,
the trees getting ready to bud
and the grass. all pretty and
green.
The little towns up this valley
are all new and pretty. Brick
buildings OF good size and fine
residences only to be seen. We
arrived at Shaniko, the terminus
OF the Columbia Southern rail
road, at which place we stayed
all night. Shaniko is a rather
small place and somewhat desc
late, but is the greatest sheep
market in the world. We lett
ShanikO at a. m. via stage Tor
home. The first. twenty miles OF
that stage ride is something
fierce" travelling over a vast
plain te-totally covered with
stone and rock and to stay in
the seat is out OF the question as
one is constantly humping up
and down. After getting over
this internal plain we go down
the canyon lined on either side
all the way for fifty miles with
great huge rocks and boulders
and one is wonderfully filed with
enthusiasm with the peculiar
works OF nature. We arrived at
Primvillo. the county seat OF
Crook county, where we stayed
over night, then by stage again
for our destination, Redmond, Il
new town plated last summer
on the desert which already is
a nice flourishing little burg.
Yesterday in company with our
friend B. 4. Kendall, forlnerl = OF
Minot, we went to Cline Falls,
four miles west of here On the Des
Chutes river. This snow fed
mountain stream is about $50
feet wide at the falls, where it
plunges over a rock ledge 40 feet
down and goes rushing on down
the rapids over and around great
rocks and pinicles leaving agreat
train Of ioamy white and green
III it's wild rush for liberty. This
stream is filed with mountain
trout and are easily caught in
fishing season.
Four snow capped mountains
OF the Cascades are always visible
from here. This desert" Is d
vast plain covered with sage
brush and juniper trees and is
being irrigated by an eastern
syndicate known as theD DesChntes
Power < Irrigation Co. 1t is
thrown open scttleInentunder
the Carey act OF irrigation and is
rapidly being taken up. The soil
is a decomposed lava rock and is
wonderfully productive. 1t is a
great project and a fine PROPOSE
ton for those who want "a home
in fine climate at no expense
other than the cost OF putting
the water on the land and one
dollar per acre OF maiutainance
OF the same.
| We will leave here in a lew days
for the Dallas where we take the
boat for Portland, thence by
rail to Tacoma. thence by boat
to Seattle and then home.
| Yours very truly,
Asa w. Benton.
Frank Bros. Coming.
| Pete Ellr has rented the Grand