The Greeley tribune., 1911-03-16

country. solne alfalfa. But land is
from $IoV 70 5000 per acre and an
abundance OF that world farad uaa
alkal. The sheen mon n,ara soa,i' ieu
on what littie alfalfa was left, which
was a very limited supply. 1t does
not compare with Creelav as -,
ING couh'i! ana the same can be
saia OF CHaWell and Weiser. If
that sage brush was on1y yo1robIa
that ~oulo De the richest state in
the union. saw on1v ono stron,
stack betwoen Pierce colo ora
BAKER, ore. As We struck the state
line of OregOn we also strncl, tho
Blue mountains which wore coyorod
with snow and very beautiful valleys.
On up the road TO Huntington, which
Is division and railroad town in a
very marrow valley. The surround
ing country is noted only as a stock
country for summer range. AS I
got to DurRee was another nice val
ley, larger than the previous one.
but was surprised as | found Baker
In a large valley twelve miles wide
and 25 miles long with beautiful
farms and contented farmers, of
which the products are hay, grain
and fruit. Some land is subirrieated,
which grew three tons of timothy to
the acre, 81 bushels of oats, 40
bushels of wheat, co bushels of bar
ley per acre. Alfalfa makes two and
half tons per cutting. Spuds made
last year rs to 11O sacks without
water. Vegetables do equally as
we'll. One gardener made $1,000
from ten acres last year.
Prices OF land run, for improved
three to five miles from town, $50 to
$3.50 per acre, SIC to $40 for unim-
proved. Five TO nine miles from
Baker the soil is dark color vol
canic ash, four to eight feet deep,
easy to cultivate, with a clay subsoil
and gravel ten feet below surface.
The climato is comparatively mild,
no sudden changes. Would say it
is a more damp climate than Greeley,
more snow In winter. But we don t
have the hard winds as the hills
shelter the valley. Have sufficient
rain in fall to wet the ground for
fall wheat. Country is healthy A
fine drinking water is obtained in
the valley from Is to 90 feet.
There is government land yet to
be had, but at this time l cannot say
as to the nature of land or distance
from Baker But will say about 10
per cent OF land on government
homestead can be cultivated, balance
Is quite rough rocky hills with a
very little grass, unless one goes rs
to 30 miles near the heavy timber.
Baker is on main line of o. R. &
N. line, 365 miles east of Portland
has a claimed population of 10000
with good business blocks and pub
lie building Here are headquarters
for the Great Sumpter mining dis
trict. two saw mills. an alfalfa mea
mill and al business ahtt goes tt
make a wide awake and up-to-dat'
town. Wages are IS for teams
Hands, common labor, $3.50 to $
per day. sHorses. weight 14o0 t
1900, five to eight years old, $40
to $500 a team. Cows $50 to s73
Horses, weight 1000 to 1900, tiv
to eight years old, $500 per team.
| would say to the homeseeke
come and investigate, But to tn
well-to-do farmer near Greeley VIII
has a farm paid for will say to bet
ter conditions is no easy matter
We have the moisture here in fal
and winter to insure early start o
all crops. There is plenty of timbe
for milling purposes from l5 to y
miles northwest and southwest, oil
TRANSFORMATION via Sumpter Vale
route. A good grade OF lumber i
obtained. Sugar beets are not grow
here for commercial value but wher
they have been tried on an expert
mental scale have made % tons pc
acre with sugar contents of II pc
cent The grade of horses and cat
tie and sheep are the best. No grass
hoppers or sand, or spud bugs here