The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1908-07-25
The Kettle Falls Railroad

The construction of railroad up the Columbia
river from Miles City to Kettle Falls is planned by
Jay P. Graves, head Of the Inland Empire system
of electric railroads, in case he is aided and en-
| couraged in his efforts to construct line from
Spokane to the Columbia river.
Mr.. Graves plans do not stop here. He is work.
ing to secure irrigation for the rich lands in the
Columbia valley, in the section named, which have
been proved to be admirably adapted to fruit raising
Mr.. Graves would have every acre of ''teeming
intervale and fruitful upland' planted to orchards
| and vineyards He says the soil and climate are
equal to any of the fruit producing sections of the
state and the opening of the tract will materially
increase the wealth of eastern Washington. Sev-
eral producing orchards in the territory afford the
best proof that the soil is we'll adapted for fruit
raising and that the climate is all that need be de-
sired Mr.. Graves states that he and those assoc-
ated with him will contribute to the opening of the
section
This is project for the accomplishment of
which every citizen of Spokane ought to boost, -
stated Mr.. Graves in discussing his plan. If the
rich valley of the Columbia, lying between Miles
City and Kettle Falls, is irrigated and the lands
covered with orchards and vineyards, Spokane will
have at her very doors fruit producing section as
great as that at Wenatchee and one that would
possibly rival Yakima
If the road to the Columbia is built it will bring
the rich tract have mentioned within two and a
half hours of Spokane. The line to Miles will be
about 70 miles long and the journey could easily be
made within the time stated. The opening of an
irrigated tract in the vicinity of Wenatchee has
suited in the building up of city of about 1000
inhabitants, which statistics show contributes
fifth as much business to the Great Northern rail
road as Spokane. Irrigated fruit trees have made
Lewiston a prosperous city of 1000 to TO- 900 in
habtants, and since the irrigated tracts at Yaki-
ma started that city has grown until today it
has population of over 10, OOO
There can be no doubt that if transportation is
afforded the section that we are planning to de-
velop and all the available rich lands are cultivated
Spokane would be tremendous ganer not only in
population but in increased trade in line which is
now limited. Every progressive citizen who is
boosting for greater Spokane can not serve the
city better than to aid, by every at his
mand, the accomplishment of the project | have
outlined"
Mr.. Graves stated that if the projected line to
the Columbia is built, and he has little doubt that
it will be if he is aided in securing liberal franchises
and rights of way it will be an extension of the
line which is soon to be built to Nine Mile bridge
He said that after building to the Columbia the
proposed orchard tract might be served with trans
portation facilities by means of boat lines on the
river, but his own opinion is that it could be best
served with a railway. Chronicle.
J. P. Curre of Evans has about $50 boxes of
cherries this year. He had one Royal Anne cherry
tree which produced 20 boxes of cherries. He will
have at least 1900 boxes Of fruit altogether this
year. All fruit producers along the river say that
the yield this year will be heavy.