The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-05-30
An Interesting Western Letter.

Mrs. w. H. Howard, of this city, has
received the following very interesting
letter from little friend, Genevieve
Knapp, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. G. A.
Knapp, former residents of this city,
which we take pleasure in publishing,
as it is we'll written for little girl:
Lewiston, Idaho, May 3, 1907.
DEAR MRS. HOWARD:-ThiS is such a
beautiful place l want to tell you about
it. 1t is the lewiston Charleston country
where live. 1t is located in beauti-
full little valley overlooking the Snake
and Clearwater rivers, which join below
the bridge. Lewiston is on one side OF
the river while Charleston is on the
other, and they are connected by a
large bridge, one mile long and cost
near 100000. Decentralization is
seven hundred and thirty seven feet
above sea level. 1t is surrounded by
hills over two thousand feet high, and
is one of the oldest and richest towns
on the Pacific coast. Ever since the
gold hunters of 1861, established their
winter quarters at the confluence of
the Snake and Clearwater rivers this
valley has grown very rapidly. They
are called the twin gateway cities"
lLSWloOOI III luailo NhiiS SioAhS
ton is in Washington, but are practical
ly the same town.
We have beautiful climate, and the
winters are mild and in summer the
nights are cool. The rain falls in the
winter and early spring and then long
dry season. The valley is scented for
miles around with the fragrance of the
orchards which are found all over, but
mostly in Charleston. 1t is very healthy
place to live and many people come
here for their health.
The soil is very rich and the farmers
have great success at raising fruits and
grains. Water from the springs is led
in bitches or canals and is taken over
the land where the crops are grown, by
the process of irrigating, but in some
places dams are built across the small
streams, making reservoirs to hold the
water, then the water is distributed
over the fields in several different ways.
A reservoir is being built here and the
men, machinery and material are swarm
ing over the work and raising the wall
of the dam to heighth of one hundred
feet in length, three thousand eight
hundred feet in length, five hundred
feet thick at it's widest point. Seven
hundred and fifty thousand yards of
material are being put into it. Men
of Colorado, who have studied the
famous reservoirs for quarter of a
century, are working on this dam.
They say it will take two years to COM
plete it.
Mining is also carried on extensively
in this valley, gold, silver and copper
are the chief minerals. But quarries
of granite of grayish color, with a
wonderful high polish is found here.
This country is bounded on three
sides by the white pine belt, and is
known as the largest and best in the
world. There is also the largest saw
mill in the world found at Potlatch.
The raising Of grapes, will become
one of the greatindustries of this valley
The net returns per acre amount tc
about $475, but to estimate the expense
Of raising and packing of one acre at
S75 and the actual profit per acre are
about $500. We also make a consider
able amount of wine. Tomatoes will
net $500 per acre if properly taken care
of; dewberries will net from $500 tx
$500 per acre, while Strawberries will
yield from $500 to 5000 worth per acre
| ii we'll taken care of. Lettuce alst
sells at profitable rate, as high as
thirty cents per pound. Peaches ant
cherries average from $500 to $500 pei
acre, as trees are set about ninety tx
an acre. Nine year old cherry trees
will produce about eight boxes to the
tree. and you can get from 70 cents t.
$1.25 per box.
The chief occupations are fruit rails
ing and farming. Among the fruit
raised are peaches, pears, apples, cher
ries, plums, grapes, apricots and berries
Melous, tomatoes, onions and larg
potatoes are grown.
We have good schools such as tn
Normal school, High school, publ
schools, convent and parochial schools
seven churches, state supreme court
county seat, public library, hospital an
good banks.
| hope this will interest you. and yol
will come and visit if lot to live.
Yours sincerely,
| "