Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-12-12

sea level, Just nlgn enough 10 escape Tie pro-
tracted rainy seasons so common to localities
little farther west, and just low enough SO
as not to partake of the severe cold winters
of the higher Rocky mountain regions.
Winter usually begins in Decsmber. The
snow fall varies from 10 to 20 inches IN the
valley, making good sleghing for about two
months The thermometer seldom goes be-
low zero The soft Chinook winds of the
Pacific ocean find their way up the valley OF
the Columbia and its tributaries and are ct
fectively felt in the Kootenai valley, where
they temper the cold air of winter and fresh
en- and cool the hot atmosphere OF summer,
thus preventing extremes OF temperature.
The valley is protected from bllzzards and
wind storms by the surrounding hills and
mountains The snow in winter and the
copious soft rains during the fall, spring and
early summer furnish sufficient moisture for
the soil, rendering irrigation entirely un-
necessary. During the spring and early sum-
mer, the growing season, rains are plentiful,
while during the ripenlng and harvesting
season, for a period of from four to SIX
weeks the weather is usually quite dry.
Spring usually commences in the fore part
of March with ideal weather. Taken the year
round, this is as nearly an ideal climate
as can be found anywhere. During the hot
test weather in summer the nights are in
variably cool enough to sleep under heavy
wooden blanket with comfort
STOCKRAISING AND DAIRYING.
With plenty of nutritious grass growing
all through the timber and in the bottoms,
summer grazing is unlimited, and the ease
with which winter fodder can be procured
al.
and dairying. Winters are short and mild
Beef and dairy products always bring top
prices on account of the special advantages
here in having good local and foreign mar
kets. The farmer gets rs to IS cents per
pound for his butter; rs to 40 cents per doz-
Ell for eggs, and cannot supply the demand
at these figures. The demand for beef is
still greater than the supply, while the grass
is wasting for want of cattle to eat it. No
where else are there such splendid oppor-
tunities to engage in these industries A
good creamery at Boomers Ferry would be
a money maker.
MINING AND MINERAL.
In the background stand the great rugged
mountain ranges, and wherever these have
been we'll prospected numerous deposits OF
gold, silver-lead and other minerals have
been found. While most of these are in an
undeveloped state, few have been sufficient
ly developed to give promise of being bo-
nanzas, and enough has been done to war
rant that mining will soon be one of the big
industries of the Kootenai valley. Placer
gold is found in paying quantities in the
Kootenai and its tributaries Granite of
light gray color, of splendid quality, is found
in unlimited quantities near Boomers Ferry.
GAME
Less than one mile from Boomers Ferry,
on the beautiful Mirror lake, it is common to
see thousands of Mallard ducks and geese
for five or six weeks each spring and tall,
making it their home and lodging more or
less successfully the sportsmans lead. This
lake, with an area of about 1000 acres, is
often literally covered with these fine birds
local and visiting sportsmen. What is true
of this lake is also true of all the lakes in the
valley. Pheasants and grouse are plentiful
and furnish splendid sport during the open
season. Deer abound everywhere in the val
ley and we'll up in the mountains. Under
the protecting laws of the state they are not
being extnguished Elk, mountain goat and
mountain sheep are found farther up in the
mountains Black and brown bear are very
numerous, and over 80 of these hne pelts
were brought into Boomers Ferry by local
trappers during the last six months. Cougar
can also be found, more remote but quite
plentiful. Any one having the desire to hunt
this kind of game can do SO here to his
hearts desire Fish of several kinds are
caught in the Kootenai river, the most no
table of these is the sturgeon, these weigh
ing from 100 to 800 pounds and are COM
mon sight in Boomers Ferry. In the smaller
tributaries of the Kootenai the abundance of
speckled trout is attracting the attention of
the tourist and sportsman. Boomers Ferry
is the headquarters and QUILTING point for
these recreations.
THE TIMBER
The timber in the Kootenai valley is the