The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-07-16
NsA FAIR COMPARISON
AFavorablc View of Oroville
BY a Distnterested \
Observer. \ |
THE MAKING OF 4 LARGE CITY
The Material Backing is Here and
Il is Up to Man to
Finish the Job.

A pentlemen who has lived in east
srn Washington many years, and who
Is perfectly familiar with every locali-
ty in that portion Of the state, re-
marked to the writer Sunday that there
was no reason why Oroville should not
b . second Wenatchee, indeed there
we're no reasons why 1t should not sur
pass in size that fiourishing city. The
gentleman has no personal interest in
Oroville, hence his opinion was not
fsvorably biased by the possibility of
individual benefit In case Oroville
should attain the size he predicted it
would. It was simply view Of the
situation based upon a comparison of
the natural backing and advantages
tho two places possess and command.
This voluntary expressed opinion by
one competent through opportunity and
observation to speak authoritstively
merely comedies with what this paper
hes always claimed, and the party Is
quoted - confirming the statements
published from time to time. To any
one who will carefully consider the
relative location Of the two places, and
the country and resources back of them,
this opinion will fairly appeal. II
Wenatchee could be builded up to its
present size and Importance upon the
strength Of its tributary country, and
that is the foundation of the prosperity
Of oil town that prosper, then Oroville
should catch up and out strip her upon
the strngth Of similar support, only
more Of It.
Wenatchee is situated at the junction
Of the Wenatchee river with the Col
umbia. Mountains incompsss an, en-
largement Of the valley in a semicircle
to the west, and on the east the Col
umbia river is the string Of the arc.
The territory embraced in this arc is
comparatively small, but is in a high
state Of cultivation, almost every avail
able aero is in orchard and the land
owners enjoy the blessing Of an abund-
anoe Of water. There is no country to
the west but the Wenatchee valley
proper, which is quite narrow, and
tributary to Cashmere and Leaven-
worth. On the east side of the Col.
umbia is the sloping side, or end, of
Badger mountain, and while there are
numerous farms on that elevation not
. great deal of the country is tributary
TO Wenatchee. That city is built up
almost wholly upon the fame of its
fruits, which are indeed most excel
lent, yet in no way superior to fruits
raised in other fortunately situated
sections of the state. Fruits and veg
etabies alone are the resources that
have contributed to the upbuilding of
Wenstchee. They have been potent
10 accomplishing results as is shown in
. eustling, thriving, steadily growing
city that promises in a few years to
~ke its place among the leading cities
Of the state.
Now, on the Other hand, consider the
location and situation of Oroville, and
draw your own conclusions as to its
future prospect with its varied backing
Is compared with the limited inhu-
ences that have made q rattling good
city OF Wenatchee. Oroville is situated
On a huge irregular triangle of land
almost as level as a table, between the
placid Okanogan river on the east. and
tne swift and boistrous Similkameen
On the west, the two streams joining
and intermingling at the south, with
me beautiful Osoyoos lake at the north.
"A more perfect, or slightly, townsite
could not have been fashioned by the
nand OF man. Here the valley opens
out into large basin, probably at one
lime the bed of lake, with mountains
rising to n considerable highth on both
'loes. The character of the soil and
Ihe uniformity of the site is such that
public improvements will be easy and
inexpensive, and all the streets could
% brought to grade for less than the
sost OF grading a single street IN Spo-
KANE Or Seattle. There is, water for
aomestic or irrigating purposes, the
purest to be found out doors, on every
nand. Toward the north to the inter-
national line, and far be Jond, and for
miles down the valley are hundreds OF
acres that can he sssilv and cheapfy