Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-08-06
WASHINGTON.
Diversified Agricultural Resources.

The Washington farmer may choose
practically any type Of agriculture that
he desires The diversity Of agricul-
ture is due to the great difference in
altitude, rainfall and soil to be found
in the state, and to the great variety
Of natural vegetation. The rainfall
in the most arid portions of the state
is only from five to eight inches per
year, while at points on the northwest
coast a precipitation of ten feet is re-
ported Land at every elevation from
sea level TO the snow line in the Cas-
cades, is farmed; and every quality OF
soil from marsh-bog and heavy clay
20 loose sand is cultivated.
The cultivation of the semiarid
lands Of eastern Washington, which
comprise about three ffths of the total
area of the state, is comparatively re-
cent, following the construction Of the
transcontinentsl railways. The early
settlers located in the western humid
section of the state, where they chose
the beautiful valleys and protected
spots. The western Washington farmer
often began as a logger or fisher
man, since logging and fishing were two
of the earliest industries of the state
and two Of the present greatest. The
logged off lands were also transformed
into dairy farms, and dairying is now
one Of the great industries. Later ex-
periments proved the heavy lands suit
able for growing small fruits; and the
beaver dam lands of the former swamps
have been utilized as unexcelled eel
cry growing land. Cranberries are now
grown in former swamps, and straw
berries on the clay hillsides. The large
Puget sound cities and Alaska afford
nearby market for the product of
humid western Washington. The sec
lion is fast being developed into a d.
@ersihed farming, market-gardening,
orchard section, and the tendency is
toward the small intensely cultivated
farm.
Fruit, grain and hay are the chief ag.
gleultural products Of eastern Wash
sngt0n. This section Of the state is
comprised largely Of treeless prairies
ana rolling hills. The soil is Of vol.
eanie ash and practically inekhaustible
under diversified crops and proper
methods Of cultivation The past ten
deney has been toward large wheat
farms, ano larger stock ranches, but the
land AZ becoming more valuable for d.
Yerslhed crops and fruit growing, 30
ltbore Is y decided movement toward
subdivision into tracts varying fr0m
ave ~ fouy acres. Great irrigation
apfojeetf are being developed in thls
part VI Che state, ano land values have
Advanced FeIy rapidly ip the well
hnonp ffpii gfoplne eeetlouf thai often
setufp pfonf VI ~ 900 ~ aere pef
)eaf hlip railway ektenal0ns apd one
aeselopmeni NJ d. flaming practice
neF afeas VI land afe bong brought
INTO eulilfRiiop. Washington laa a
hogderu saiely NJ resource anord
lnR many pppeliuplilea NJ loufheekels
aro capitalist. a eQmpfelenslff sum.
mary VI az land. timber. mlnofal ana
hAfff Hfa|tl VI az alaif may le found
Az = lQph entitled " y lfoNen hi az
iie.quleeN Hpd laaualllNf vi Washing
fpn, lyplIs|iaa nilf RlaluiiQualy IN.
flllpio1 VA ~ aiaie bureau ~ alA
i.s'ie. agriculture sne ln9la slailep "
Olympic
Alesg Ae,ti Eaas
NNi'Nf illN pal lNlef w fNpi uQnilI
fNNif W. Nf0N WpfN QlNNala develop
H'ei alpNF ~ hqlu lianl z la'l
fpao
iAf apneei l.slspe4n Kiape0 a4f|
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lNaNslN0 ~ ftnN NJ iNNNIl NN AZ
pf'N. lN Az N4lllHfai ~ ItaN \
lA blla Nnfl WAY saiaH lWa y
fcanlla0l Hff wool