The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-09-02
M|SSOUR|AN LIKES
PALOUSE COUNTRY
CLEMEN BUTLER, OF ALBANY,
MISSOURI, WRITES TO HIS
HOME NEWSPAPER

An interesting description of Idaho
and Washington, written from Moscow
by Clemen Butler, of Albany, Mo-, to
his home paper, the Albany Capital,
and published in that paper has been
received in Moscow. The letter fol
lows:
Writing from Moscow, Idaho, Glenn
en- Butler, formerly of near Berlin,
this county, says:
Editor Capital: Some time ago
promised to furnish you write up of
this country, but find myself con-
fronted with too great task, when
it comes to describing the splendor of
the scenic wonders of the states of
! Washington and Idaho, where nature
has dressed the lofty mountains with
the different varieties of tall pines
and cedars and dotted the country
with lakes and streaked it with
streams in which the mountain trout,
salmon and many other kinds of fish
abound. This is great country for
an outing both by hunters and fisher
men, there being bear, elk and deer
and other kinds of game in the forests,
as well as fish in the lakes and
streams. But better than the scenic
grandeur and the desirable outings
here for sportsmen and tourists, is
the vast wealth in the way of fertile
soil for farming, the timber interests
and mineral resources of these great
states. The Palouse country embraces
the whole of southeast Washington
and central-western Idaho, where the
soil is volcanic ash of great fertility
and drouth-resisting qualities. No
rains have fallen here since the early
part of May, but the harvest of both
winter and spring wheat, it is estimat-
ed, will run from 25 to 40 bushels to
the acre, spring wheat having been cut
short about one-third by the drouth.
The oat crop runs from 40 to 60
bushels to the acre, and barley DO to
go bushels. The alfalfa, clover and |
timothy crops were cut short by the |
drouth, yet we saw many fields yield |
ing 27s to tons to the acre. Much |
spring wheat is also cut here for hay, |
making from 2 to 3 tons to the acre, |
and selling from $25 to $50 per ton.
With the probable exception of Cali
fornia no other state in the union can
boast so great variety of fruits as
are grown in Idaho and Washington,
their fruits entering all ports of the |
world. The Walla Walla and Yakima
country hold the blue ribbon as being
the most wonderful fruit country in
the great northwest. We also have
good grain country, but diversified
farming is practiced only on limited
scale. Not as many cattle could be
counted in the whole Palouse country
as could be found in a single county
of Missouri. Besides fruits, grains,
and hay, many varieties of peas end
field beans are grown, giving good re-
for the labor, besides leav-
ing the ground enriched with nitrogen
for future crops of wheat.
Great varieties of trees, shrubbery
and flowers adorn the parks and
yards Of homes in these western :
towns. In summer we have cool !,
nights and pleasant days-a most de- !,
ightful place to live, especially as we !
nave fine spring water coming from :
he snow-capped mountains. The
country is we'll girded with electric
md steam railroads. Spokane, Wash,
S beautiful city of 100000 popula-
ion, lying on both sides of the dash I
ng waters of the Spokane river. Mos y
ow is city of 5000 inhabitants, and t
extends a hearty welcome to the
many citizens who are coming from t
he east to settle here. The mountain Ii
cenery to the north, east and south Q
make this most enchanting spot to a
he newcomers. Close to Moscow is e
ound one of the largest saw and
laning mills in the world, situated in
he edge of great white pine forest,
living the people here the cheapest r
nd best of lumber, as is shown by n
ne fine improvements that are to be c
ound all over these states. Many of 7