The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-09-29
A BIG LAND DEAL.

During the past week Dell Hart ne
gotiated one of the largest and most
Important real estate deals that has
ever taken place in the county, both
from the acreage involved and the
iamount of money required to swing the
transfer. The property that changed
hands with this sale and purchase are
the Vic Champneys ranch, owned by
7. L. Irwin. who bought 1t from V. w.
Champneys last winter, and the Al
Riste ranch. an adjoining property, and
both located In the Similkameen valley,
few miles west of Nighthawk, and
some twenty miles from Oroville. The
purchaser is G. F. Schrock, a wealthy
cattle raiser living at Okanogan, and a
pioneer of Douglas and Okanogan
counties. The amount Of land taken
over is 1910 acres, and the purchase
price was $115,00O. $4,000 for the Ir-
win ranch and $4,000 for that Of Mr..
Riste, Included in the Irwin transfer
were $50 head Of cattle, AZ head Of
hors and large amount Of machiu-
Jerry necessary Tor operating large
lraneh.
The two farms that Mr. Schrock has
best known stock ranches on this side
of the International boundary line In
the Similkameen valley. V. w. Cham
pneys and AL. Riste took up their orig
inal places as hOmesteads many years
ago. gradually increasing their hold
ings by the purchase of adjoining
lands. Mr.. Riste continued his resi-
dence upon his place all these years.
Mr.. Champneys disposed of his hold
ings, as hereinbefore stated, last win
tier. When these pioneers fled upon
their land there were few settlers in
the country, and no market except
what the local mining industry In the
country furnished. OF late an easy
means Of reaching markets has been
provided, as the Great Northern road
runs through both ranches. Messrs.
Champneys and Riste turned their at
tention largely to raising cattle and
both met with financial success in that
line. When they took up this land,
most Of which Is on the rich, aluvial
bottoms of the Similkameen river,
much Of it was covered with dense
growth of underbrush. With infinite
labor and patience this brush was
grubbed out, and the land thus clear
ed is considered to be the best hay
land in the northwest. An immense
tonnage of hay is raised every year,
sufficient to feed many head Of stock,
and with the vast National forest re-
serve adjoining for grazing purposes liz
summer the combined property makes
an ideal cattle ranch, and that Is what
Mr.. Schrock will use 1t for. /;
T. L. Irwin, who was resident OF
Seattle at the time, purchased the
Champneys ranch last winter with tho
intention of following the stock busi-
ness, but he was offered such a tempt
ing advance on the original purchase
let the profit. What his future inten-
tions are is not known. Mr.. Riste has
lived so long on his valley ranch that 1t
will be difficult for him to adjust him
self to new surroundings. By years of
hard work be has earned a rest, and he
may ele,t to transfer his residence to
|Croville and take life easy for a time.
Mr.. Schrock has arranged to put a
manager in charge Of his new puc-
chase. He is already the owner Of some
1900 head of cattle, and the stock 60
ing with the Champneys place greatly
increases his herd. He is rated as one
OF the most wealthy men in the county
and that wealth is not going to shrink
any with this additional means of ac-
formulation In his possession.