The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-02-03
EXPECT GREAT RUSH
Of HOMESEEKERs
OFFICIALS OF TRANSCONTiNEN-
tai LINES PREPARING FOR
WESTERN BUSINESS.
Mississippi and Missouri River Valleys
rxnected to Furnish Large Proper
+ion-Work of Commercial and
npooster" Organizations Showing
It's Value as Never Before.

Spokane, Wash, Jan. 2s.-"Officials
Of transcontinental railroads and con-
Meeting lines declare that the move
ont of homeseekers from the Missis
sippi and Missouri rivers valleys into
washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon
iona this spring will be the largest in
tho history of the western country,
and heads of banking and bond houses
IN Chicago estimate that more money
will find it's way into the new sections
&C we'll as the developed districts this
wear than ever before
Angus Wolf, secretary OF the pub
,;oitv and promotion committee of the
cnokane chamber of commerce, who
ic in Chicago in the interest of the Ma
+ional Irrigation Congress, says this
~ q letter to the chamber of COM
merCe.
Most from Missouri Valley.
"Probably the Missouri river valley
is furnishing and will continue to send
more people and more money to the
new districts than any other territory"
he adds, "but many from other parts
NJ the middle western states will make
their homes on small tracts near towns
and cities. There is keen interest in
mixed farming, fruit growing, dairying
and chicken raising and hundreds will
take up these lines in their new homes
in the western country.
while at Des Moines, few days
ago. | met scores of well-tO-dO Iowa
farmers and not a few tradesmen who
are arranging to go to the Northwest.
Most of the farmers I talked with are
men who homesteaded or bought their
lands at low figure and are now able
to sell out at big profit, the prices
ranging from $3.50 to 5000 an acre;
naturally, they figure on doing the
same thing over again in the new
districts.
These people are going to invest
their money in land somewhere in the
Northwest Some will buy small
tracts to practice the more intensive
form of agriculture, while others will
take up grain and hay lands. Then,
again there ar some who are figuring
on acquiring developed orchards or
berry fields in the older districts.
Of 20 oi1ior wifi n tho
Northwest as are our people and they
are going into the country to make
money, believing that the four north
western states offer greater opportuni-
ties, advantages and possibilities than
the middlewestern and southwestern
states
Booster" Work Shows Results.
The work of the commercial organ
izations railway companies and indi-
Vidual boosters gives promise of show
ing its value this year more than ever
before. The people appear to have
greater confidence in the exploitation
literature distributed by these agen-
cles, and where there is the least
question of doubt as to crops, climatic
and other conditions they do not hest
tate to write to bankers to verify the
statements.
Apple growing, of course, is the
chief topic of conversation among the
farmers in the middle western states.
lhey are vitality interested in what is
pelng done in the Northwest, and not a
Jew talk of introducing the Northwest
efn methods into their home districts,
believing that by systematic pruning,
spraying and working of the soil they
can improve their product.
Favored Territory for Fruit.
lhere are many others, however.
VINO have reached the conclusion that
tne Northwest is the favored territory
iof growing standard varieties of com
nierclal apples. They have tried prac-
Ideally all the approved means of com.
oallhg pests and overcoming adverse
sui and weather conditions with the
result that while the fruit is of higher
e,aue than grown under former slip.
'nou methods the average crop gath.
eied did not justify the labor and ex.
pense involved.
Some explain this by saying that
'ne work was done in old orchards
"niie others admit they have no pre-.
,-ouS experience as orchardists and
snes could not get in touch with any
one familiar with the modern orchard
e'nods practiced in the Northwest
our largest orchards are merely
SIue issues said veteran farmer in a
u'ersatlon at the state house in Des
noiiies' while out in the Pacific coun.
ss even the smallest tract is money
.'ory' turning out dollars every year
VI course, I'll admit that care has
aeI to do with orcharding, but
H 'ei all it's what's in the soil and
*ndts overhead. Sunshine and fertil
ny Oh the soil do wonders for apples
MAJ nal why the apple industry in the
tS is one of the wonders OF
TIE present time
Never Such Interest as Now.
on representatives of land companies
poiatlng in Chicago said there had