Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-01-07
SHOWSBIGINCREASE
ALL NORTHWEST STATES RE-
MARkABLE FOR THEIR
NEW PEOPLE.

P<~tSUe,oVO -DoNCAopLltnJ OF n1lucIdl
and Agricultural Resources Is Phe-
mountaineering of Fruit D. 7elops.
Rapid and substantial as has been
the growth and progress of the In
land Empire and the Pacific slope
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 5O,OOO,OOO
Between 10000 and 10000 pros
pective settlers have come into the
western country during the last IL
months.
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 a 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
most of the inquirers meant business.
Extent of Western Movement.
The extent of the land movement is
reflected in a way by the figures given
out through the United States census
department as to the gains in popula-
ton in the western states. Washington
| cd 90 -, ho TT,,o
increase in population amounting to
1904 per cent. Idaho s gain was 1913,
Oregon showed a gain of 62.7 per cent,
while Montana 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 1910
was 1,4s6,OOO, the production being
25, 100000 bushels. Oregon produced
16,414,o0O bushels of wheat from 1884,
900 acres of land. Idaho IS yield from
$4,000 acres was 1868, 900, and Mon
tana reported 10,560,0o0 bushels FROM
100000 acres. The total is much less
than in 1909.
Wheat Crop, 1910, $42,0o0,OO0.
The apparent loss in the production
of wheat is made up by the grain
held over from 1909. In the state OF
Washington alone it was a matter Of
more than IL per cent. The wheat
crop in the Inland Empire was valued
at about $4,000, 900 the season of 1909
but 10 per cent was held over. Bank
ers estimate that the crop of 1910 has
a money value of about $40, 100000
The greatest offset to the decrease
in wheat production is the enormous
increase in the yield of commercial
apples. Fourteen per cent of the value
of the entire apple crop of the United
States, estimated at $sO,OOO,OO0, wa
produced by commercial orchardists il
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon
tana. The yield is placed at 7,5OO,0OI
boxes, apportioned as follows:
Washington, 4,725,OOO; Oregon, 2,25O,
600; 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 il
stances the crop on five, 10 and %
acre orchards was as high as LAO boxe
the acre, an average of 16 boxes
tree.
There is need for not less than 300
600 COWS to supply butter and othe
dairy products, for which the peopl
I of the Inland Empire are contributin