Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-01-06
ALL NORTHWEST STATES RE-
MARkABLE FOR THEIR
new PEOPLE.
During Last Year Nearly 100000 People
Settle Up This Way-Wheat Crop
$4,000, ooo-Development of Mineral
and Agricultural Resources Is Phe-
nomenal-Growing of Fruit DE- relops.

during the last few years, perhaps the
greatest problem now confronting the
people of Washington, Oregon, Idaho
and Montana is the necessity of max
ing productive the vast areas of unde-
veloped lands.
More general farmers and dairy
men, fruit, live stock and poultry grow
ers and other classes of desirable set
tiers are needed. There is also need
for manufacturers to convert the raw
materials of mines, forests, ranges,
farms and orchards into finished prod
ucts; in fact, the opportunities, advan-
tages and possibilities for thrifty men
and women with some capital are prac-
tically limitless. The four states will
support a population of 50,O00,000.
Between 10000 and 100000 pros
pective settlers have come into the
western country during the last ~
months. .se.
Big Exhibition Gives Aid.
The National Apple shows in Spo-
kane and Chicago last November and
December and the annual gatherings
of the International Dry Farming con-
gress last summer and the National
irrigation congress in the fall of 1909
did much toward arousing interest in
the agricultural, orcharding and truck
farming possibilities of the far west
ern country. Exhibitions of western
products in other parts of the country
also were factors.
On the whole, 1910 was greater
year for agricultural development in
the northwest than was 1909, remark
able as the land settlement was during
that period. The movement also was
more substantial than during any
previous year. True it is there were
more inquiries in 1909 and previous
years, but large proportion of them
came from persons who were more
curious than determined. Last year
Extent of Western Movement.
The extent of the land movement is
reflected in way by the figures given
out through the United States census
department as to the gains in popula
tion in the western states. Washington
led every state in the Union, with an
increase in population amounting tc
1904 per cent. Idaho's gain was 1913
Oregon showed gain Of 62.7 per cent
while Montana's gain was 54.5 per cent
The population of the four states was
2,516,4O2, according to the federal cen
sus taken last April.
The total acreage devoted to wheat
in the state of Washington in 1915
was 1,486,000, the production being
25,603,000 bushels. Oregon produced
16,414,000 bushels of wheat from 1854,
600 acres of land. Idaho IS yield from
$4,000 acres was 1903 900, and Mon
tana reported 1O,56O,oO0 bushels from
100000 acres. The total is much less
than in 1909.
Wheat Crop, 1910, $4,000, oe0.
The apparent loss in the production
of wheat is made up by the grair
held over from 1909. In the state o.
Washington alone it was matter o.
more than ~ per cent. The whea
crop in the Inland Empire was valued
at about $54 900, 900 the season of 1909
but 10 per cent was held over. Bank
ers estimate that the crop of 1910 hal
a money value of about 100000.
The greatest Offset to the decreas,
in wheat production is the enormous
increase in the yield of commercial
apples. Fourteen per cent of the valu
of the entire apple crop of the United
States, estimated at $s0,0OO,O0O, wa
produced by commercial orchardists il
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon
tana. The yield is placed at 100000
boxes, apportioned as follows:
Washington, 4,725 700; Oregon, 2,250
900; Idaho, 100000, and Montana, $50
600. The output in 1909 was: Wash
ington, 2,414,261; Oregon, 100000
Idaho, $4,000, and Montana, 100000.
.. Orchard Returns Good.
The average price in the orchard
ranged from $1.25 to $1.65 box, Will
the cost Of production, picking pack
ing, grading and hauling to the rail
way platform was less than so cent
box. The average yield for mature
trees was $50 boxes, but in many in
stances the crop on five, 10 and &c
acre orchards was as high as 1, 140 boxe
the acre, an average of 16 boxes
tree. '
There is need for not less than 300
900 cows to supply butter and othe
dairy products, for which the peopl
of the Inland Empire are contributin
annually between $12,000,000 and $15
100000 to growers in the middle wes'
ern states.
Agricultural Opportunities Open.
Poultry and egg farming also is
matter that requires attention, Will
the pork industry is another. Thes
two branches of agriculture, if brougl
up to what they should be to NEE
the needs of the people today, mea
that about $4,000, 900 now sent int
states east of the Rocky mountain
would remain in the Inland Empire an
the northwest.
w. ]. Langdon of the Washingto
State Dairymen IS association estimate