The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

Many Young Women School Teachers Are Now
Homesteading in the Northwest

Spokane. Wash, March iS.-Mueh of
the romantic and historic in conquer
ing new country has its locale IN the
Spokane. district. embracing Eastern
Washington. Northern Idaho. Northeast
ern Oregon. Western Montana, and
Southeastern British Columbia where
the homesteaders are building a verft-
able empire on the sage brush fats ana
river benches. and in the virgin forests
unknown. which has sent thousands 70
the Pacific Northwest. has been pro-
Guctive Of the fighting spirit. and those
who have vim and energy and red blood
In their veins are making successes
Most Of them are from the congested
eenters in the East They came West 20
Improve their conditiOn-to win. and by
persistency, perseverance. and applica-
ton they are gaining homes and inde-
pendence- Some have had battles In the
West. which. while the settlers are open
hearted and hOspitabie Is no place for
drones or for the easy going, who look
! 70 the winds 10 blow success IN their
pathway.
| Probably the most ambitious and
plucky settlers IN the district. called the
Inland Empire OF the Northwest, are
fifteen young women school teachers
who are homesteading on tracts OF Land
near Moses Lake. west OF Spokane.
where they are gradually bringing under
cultivation what was the stamping
ground OF the hardy buckaroose with
I their big herds OF cattle less than a
dozen years ago. It required a lot OF
nerve 10 get down grUbbing the sage
brush.
Job for a Strong Man.
Il isn't a game for a gutter. this pur-
suit OF fortune in the wide expause where
the coyotes nirt with the Jackrabblts. II
Is a Job for strong men. But hundreds
have made successes, and as many more
are working with the same goal in view.
Thousands more VIII have to come into
the Pacific Northwest before all the land
available for settlement under the home
stead law IS taken I'd
TYPICAL OF the plucky young women to
the new country. who have faith IN them
selves and confidence In the districts in
which they live. is Mrs. Margaret Cross.
who IS holding a homestead and teaching
a school twenty-five miles south OF VII
son Creek. Wash She Is a graduate Of
! the University OF Minnesota and was
reared amid comforts. While IN school
she was wooed and won by F. n Cross.
then studying law IN Minnesota. After
graduating he came West and sought
fortune by the homestead route He To-
Gated a claim and built a cabin. and
when a school was opened near his place
he was chosen to teach the youngsters In
the neighbOrhOod. Opportunity put on its
best smile when the second school was
organized. and Cross dispatched a long
letter 10 the girl n another State. urEing
her 20 come % Spokane, where they were
married.
Woman Hunts and Fishes.
II was planned that both could teach
school and prove up on the homestead
After passing a few days at a nearby
lake. Cross fell sick and died. Hundreds
Of miles from home and among strangers
the young widow buried her dead. after
ward looking over the homestead Mrs.
Cross took Up the work where her huS-
band had left IT, and now she Is teaching
, his school and acquiring ownership 10 the
claim. She viii be rich fin a few years.
for as soon as moisture Is scientifically
applied 10 her holding the farm VIII bring
I from $50 70 $50 an acre as orchard land.
I The Misses FOgarty, formerly OF Bos-
| ton, are proving Up on a joint claim OF
] 800 acres in the Sullivan Lake district in
Stevens County. Wash where they
are also teaching the ranchers' children.
/ These young women pass much OF their
/ time IN the open. fishing and hunting
! Both are experts with the rife Their
I parents are with them tv-o months IN the
! summer and three months IN the winter
i Their cabin is more pretentious than
Z those in Central Washington. being built
/ OF logs and chinked- They are on the
/ line OF communication with Spokane and
/ Colville and are frequent visitors in both
places.
I Mrs. L. 8. Anderson also has a home
stead in the Sullivan Lake district. This
\ plucky young woman is proficient with
rod and gun, among the trophies Of the
| chase being several bear and deer killed