The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-06-14
S. B. SMITHS LETTER
OCt0genarian Writes Interestingly of
Spokane and the Palouse VAL
ley on Pacific Coast.
No Good Farming Lands in State of
Washington Within Reach of
Men of Small Capital.

those who live there, but before de-
scribing that valley wish to speak of
one thing more about Spokane that
interested me. In city of $4,000 in
habitants they must necessarily use
large amount of water, and I had the
pleasure of visiting the waterworks
from whence the city obtains it's sup
ply. A dam is built across the
Spokane river five miles above the
city. A little below the dam is
large building that contains seven
pumps that run night and day pump
ing water into the city. Two of these
pumps each have a pumping capacity
of l20 gallons a minute, the other five
have capacity of sixty gallons
minute, but the city grows so fast that
they are now putting in more pumps.
AS I have not visited the Palouse
valley, I can only write what others
that live there and have worked there
tell me. I have sufficient evidence,
however, to prove that the statements
that make are truthful. This valley
lies south of Spokane and by rail at
the present time is over 100 miles dis
tant, but company is now construct
ing an electric line across the country
40 miles to the nearest point in the
valley, and extends to the central
part of the valley, so miles from
Spokane. This road is nearly COM
pleted, will be in operation soon and
will be of great benefit to Spokane.
am told that this valley is very rough
and billy, and I think it would not
look we'll in print to repeat what has
been said about the methods of culti-
waiting these steep hillsides, but they
put heavy weights on their binders to
prevent them from tipping when cut
ting grain, and Notwithstanding this
inconvenience these hills are being
extensively cultivated and produce
large crops. It would be folly to deny
the fertility of the soil in this valley.
It's great wheat growing country,
and it is considered a small yield if
less than 80 bushels per acre is
reaped. From 80 bushels to IS BUSH
els per acre is the average, and man
that worked there last season told me
that the farm upon which he worked
had 100 acres of wheat and that the
yield was 6, 720 bushels, or az bushels
per acre.
Mrs. Smith has just brought in a
dish of Bremerton strawberries, sliced
like tomatoes, with sugar on them, !
and as could not resist such tempt
ing dish, I had to lay this article
aside for few moments of indulgence,
and now that the strawberries are dis
posed of I will return to the Palouse
valley #''::.. -
When the electric line is completed
the wheat in this valley will find
market in Spokane, where there are
two large flour mills. All other CON-
modities, of the farm also find a
market there. The price of land in
this valley is very high, in fact it is
so high in the whole state that:it is
beyond the reach of the poor. The
speculator is the first man to come to
new country, and his business is to
boom the place and fill his pockets.
The only place in the state where he is
not found is on the Cascade or
Olympia mountains, which are COW
cred with snow. If there is anv cheap
land it is not desirable land, and it is
in location where but few would be
willing to live. In that part of Wash
ington through which the Great North
ern runs there is some excellent farm
ing land between Spokane and the
Columbia river, and there are a num-
Der OF thrifty towns through which the
road passes. It was the last of April
when [ passed through and farmers
were finishing their spring seeding,
but there were many fields of winter
wheat, and the dark color and rank
growth was evidence that the soil was
rich. This section of the state is the
best for general farming purposes
that I have seen. I became acquainted
with a man who is selling farm ma
chinery and he owns farm in that
section. He informed me that there is
plenty OF land along that road for
sale and homesteads can be obtained
by going back little distance from
the railroad, am of the opinion that
this is as good farming country as
Minnesota, with the advantage of
more timber than is to be found on
Minnesota prairies. The country from
the Columbia was of no special inter-
est to me except it's wild scenery, SO in
my next communication I will give a
somewhat detailed account of Bremen
ton, its settlement and surroundings.
Bremerton, Wash. S. B: Smith.