The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-02-23
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fectly safe to say that he grows bet
| ter and more abundant crops now
than he did 20 years ago or when
the land was new. This soil has the
necessary chemical elements, which,
combined with the right altitude and
| temperature and the almost eontinu-
Gus sunshine, produce a wheat said
/ to be the richest in gluten of any
in the world. Vegetables do well, es-
pecially the old reliable staples-po-
tatoes and cabbage
Asiatic Market Helps Farmer.
1t is not claimed that Washington
grows more wheat than other grain
growing states, but it does grow bet
ter wheat, which usually sells for a
higher price The reason for this is
that besides the better quality, Wash
ington is but an overnight run for
a manifest freight to tide-water,
which brings the great Asiatic mar
ket right to our doors, and our wheat
at coast ports brings a higher price
usually than Minnesota and Dakota
wheat brings at Chicago after haul
Of 500 to 700 miles, and it must still
be carried several hundred miles be-
fore it reaches ocean shipping.
The irrigated orchard districts of
Washington are all east of the Cas-
cade range, and not a few of them
dot the banks of the Columbia in the
Big Bend country, being irrigated by
springs or by pumping water from
the river.
However, fruit growing in Wash
ington does not depend on irriga-
ton. The more famous sections are
irrigated, yet a great quantity of
fruit is grown without irrigation.
This is true of the Big Bend as of
any other section. Part of the equip
ment of many of the older farms is
for the care of orchards, and fine,
thrifty trees laden in season with
luscious fruit abound throughout the
Big Bend, grown without irrigation.
The Big Bend country has the
| largest sections of settled country
with inadequate railroad facilities.
But this will not be for long, as sew
eral railroads are surveyed and in
short time the ranchers and farm
ers will have all the transportation
facilities necessary.
Douglas county has 1913 school
districts and employs 125 teachers.
One hundred thousand dollars an
nually--nearly a third of the taxes
is devoted to the support of schools.
Towns of the Big Bend Country.
Waterville, the county seat of
Douglas county, is town of 1900
population, where all kinds of bust
ness fourishes. This little prairie
city has its own water-works AMI
electric lights.
The electric current is brought
from the beautiful little Entiat river
on the Columbia, and furnishes pow
err to operate the Waterville mills,
which grind up 100000 bushels of
Bluestem wheat each season. Local
merchants carry stocks from 100000
to 100000, and sales run to $780,
600 and $125,000. The two banks
have deposits of over 100000, and
amply care for the financial needs of
the community.
Other banking towns are Douglas
and Bridgeport, each with one bank,
and Mansfield, with two. Bridgeport
is on the Columbia and supports lum-
Der and -four mills. Douglas, Mans
field and Withrow are on the new
railroad and have good future.
Between each town is a siding, which
gives shorter haul to many ranches
and is a great convenience.
When the contractors turned the
new line over to the company, it was
estimated that the following amounts
of wheat were on platforms and in
warehouses awaiting shipment:
At Douglas .450, 900 blu.
At Supplee 100000 blu.
At Withrow .......... $4,000 bu.
At Jones ............. $4,000 bu.
At Mansfield 100000 bu.
The good crops, high prices, with
the added convenience of a railroad,
are determining factors in land val
ues. In spite of that fact, well-to-do
ranchers are buying more land, re-
firing to live in towns and cities, edu-
eating their children in colleges, and
investing some of their surplus in
automobiles. The people of the Big
Bend are of a high grade of citizen
ship. They are much interested in
educational matters and the towns
seem to vie with one another in erect
ing fine brick schoolhouses and in
supporting splendid schools. Most
/ churches are organized; law and or
der prevail, and men of leading in
! fluence In the communities, both in
: business and politics are found ar
rayed on the side of temperance, NOR
atty and religion.