Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-06-24
OPENING SPO=
KANE RESERVE
Drawings Will Take Place in
Occur d'AIene

Il
Enough the Spokane reservation In
the eastern part Of Washington
10 De open to registration OF an.
phcants for homestead entry, July Ii
to August 5, at the United States land
ONCE in this city, contains I55, OOO
acres, Of which $4,000 have been al
iotted to the Indians, only 5000 &C
res classified as agricultural lands
VIII be thrown open to settlement
during the drawing at Occur d'Alene,
Idaho, August 9. The remaining S3.-
900 acres are timber and mineral
lands. The timbered lands cannot be
entered. The reservation is 80 miles
northwest Of Spokane. AS proximity
to markets makes those lands desir-
able, 1t is expected that thousands of
homeseekers will file applications.
The land surrounding the reser-
walton, which is served by the Col
umbia and the Spokane rivers, has
been occupied for years. There are
several towns at distances OF from IA
to 20 miles on the south. These are
Reardan, Davenport and Creston.
Miles is on the reservation boundary,
where the waters of the Spokane and
Columbia rivers meet. The town was
formerly Fort Spokane. Captain John
A. Webster is the Indian agent In
charge. Springdale is taree and one
half miles from the northeast corner
of the reservation. At each of these
towns there are general stores and
hotel and livery accommodations,
while Reardan, Davenport and
Springdale have banks. These towns
may be reached in few hours ride
from Spokane and from each is
good wagon road to the reservation.
The land is level and is covered
with a scattering growth of yellow
pine trees, which will yield from
5000 to 10000 feet, board meas
ure, the quarter section. There Is
little underground. There are two
sawmills, each within a mile of the
boundary of the reservation. The soil
is sandy with a little white clay in
termingled. 1t should probably be
rated as agricultural land of the sec
ond class The altitude is 1900 feet
above sea level, or little lower than
the city of Spokane. The climate Is
similar to that of other portions OF
the Inland Empire. There are no
high winds, as the valley at that point
is protected by mountain ranges on
both sides.
The land is best adapted to fruit
raising. Soil, climate and altitude
render it especially available for APP
pie growing and small fruit culture.
To insure crops, irrigation should be
provided. There is no water availa-
BILE to be supplied by gravity, but
wells from 20 to 80 feet in depth |
should provide ample supply.
Much of the land allotted to the
Indians has been and can be leased |
the Indian agent. When an
Indian dies his allotment. on appli- |
cation of the heirs, Is sold by the Ind
ian agent to the highest bidder and
the proceeds distributed among the
heirs. Lands belonging to Indians.
who are unable to utilize them by |
reason OF age. illness or disability.
may be sold in like manner.
Many of these allottments are IT.
rigable from springs and creeks eros
sing their own boundaries and are
suitable for the production OF all
fruits grown in this climate. Peaches
and pears equal to the choicest fruits
exhibited in our exposition, are
grown on these lands.
Chamokane creek, which bounds
the reservation on the east, is one OF
the best trout streams In the north
west. The reserve is a natural haunt
for pheasants. grouse and quail. and
there Is some big game. Heretofore
whites have not been permitted 10
hunt on these lands without permits
sion from the Indian agent, and as
an Indian never carries q shotgun.
game birds are plentiful.
The mineral lands have never been
opened to prospecting. The mineral
belt, containing the great lodges OF
the Deer Trail country. crosses the
The tungsten mines At /
are on its border. Sam
Piles OF copper, silver and tungsten
pre- of remarkable richness have been