The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-05-05
More About The West.
Business Opportunities and Climates Con-
sidered. California Given the Preference.

Business Opportunities and Climates Con-
sidered. California Given the Preference.
BILLINGS, Mont, April, 1910. The
writer is here again, on his fourth trip
among some of the largest Western
States and two Territories, Arizona and
| New Mexico, and wants to caution your
readers, who have an idea of going some
where to better their condition, to investi-
gate thoroughly before coming or going
north Of the Union Pacific railroad NV
observations lead me to believe they are
better off where they are. The big sto-
ries they hear of fabulous wealth taken
from these deserts and mountains of
| rocks are, to say the least, susceptible
of good deal Of pairing down. l listen
to them and when fully investigated find
it is merely windy talk to sell land.
| cannot say that of the chances south of
the Union Pacific R. R., for there are
great opportunities in Arizona and Cal
ifornia and Nevada, California taking
the lead. But man should not think of
going there with less than one thousand
dollars in his pocket after he arrives on
the ground, unless he wants to work
hard at small wages for a few years. 1t
is the man with money who makes
money. A man capable of making money
in New England farming and milling can
make money anywhere, and little fas-
ter in the right places West. l have
spoken before Of the wheat crop failures
in Oregon the last two years and of the
apple crop in Idaho. No one can tell
when they will repeat. If this year, it
will send East good many farmers. In
sections where hot winds do not blow, or
frost kill the crops, things are different
and man has twelve months in which
to grow crops, in place of 4 to months
as in the Northwest I heard the other
day from that wonderful country across
the B. C. line called Alberta, and at once
decided that Maine people were better
Oft in Maine. A man went there with
over hundred head of horses to start a
horse ranch, and after two years had
horses enough left when he sold to get
back to the States, which he says are
good enough for him. He said the cold
weather, the deep SHOWS which laid long
on the ground, prevented him from secur-
ing feed for his stock and when he saw
only remnant of his flock left he got
what cash he could for them and left
before they starved. If one has the
fever and must emigrate let him 90
where buffalo coats are not needed the
| year around.
This is a good State for mining for
the man with capital. Idaho, but for it's
cold winters and late frosts, would be
good farming country. Last year,, out
of season, frosts did much damage.
Washington is all right for the lumber
! man with capital, and has good farming
land for man young enough to outlive
the stumps, but he must have courage
and not be of the homesck kind. Some
! parts of Oregon are all right for farming
and numbering near the coast, but sand
drifts like snow in southern and eastern
Oregon and the land owners want to sell
and are telling all kinds of stories. Some
may be true. have talked with men who
have been down into the sand deserts of
Oregon to take up land within year that
returned Disguised, with eyes full of
sand. Any one DESTROYS of going to these
places be sure and take money enough to
bring them back.
lfyou like the taste of oranges, and want
to see the yellow fruit on the trees, 90 to
Southern California or Arizona. It is
/ rather hot in Arizona in summer, 100 to
! $50 in the shade, but for nine months it's
not bad and nine crops of alfalfa can be
taken from irrigated land. Then YOU
can go to Los Angeles county or Orange
county, California, for the three hot
months. Imperial Valley, California, is
about the same as Arizona, fully as hot.
1t is 264 feet below the level of the ocean
and very rich soil. Beets, carrots and
parsnips have been grown there six feet
long, requiring two men with crowbars
to get them from the ground. l am
afraid spoke of that before, but perhaps
everyone did not see it. People living
there go to the coast, or near there, to live
during July, August and September They
have found ways of getting water for
the land, but cannot as yet change the
climate. Now in these areas are most all
kinds of climate in the United States, and
one can take his choice. For me, South
ern California just pleases, and l am
native Of the old Pine Tree State. Don't
take my word for it, nor the other fell
lows. See for yourself; seeing is believ-
ing Respectfully,
JOHN KNOWLTON BROWN
Los Angeles, CAL, when at home.
Can you believe your senses?
When tuyo If than +os+, o,J cali