Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-04-08
LETTER FROM CO(BURN

llIILn lnUM WULDU[Nl
Graham, Wash, April 4, go. |
Editor Record:
As so many people from both Haz-
elton and Linton have requested me to
write to them giving my impression
of this country and the possibilities
as see them, l believe the best way
to satisfy them all, and also save my
writing arm, which is now quite out
of practice, is to beg little space
in your paper to tell them all at the
same time.
We arrived here on the 25th of
March, and ever since that time the
weatherman has been on his worst be-
havior. 1t has rained every day-not
steadily, but in ,showers-and this
morning when we arose there was
over three inches of snow on the
ground However, it is not cold and
the snow will all be gone before night.
Owing to the weather conditions,
and the fact that have been partly
on the shelf with the la grippe, have
not yet had much of an opportunity
to get around over the country.
Right in this vicinity the poultry
and dairy business are the chief pur-
suits. I find that the poultry bus
mess is one of the most fascinating
as we'll as one of the most complicated.
It requires much study, system and
care to be successful.
Yesterday, while on our way to Ia
coma, we stopped at one Of the hatch
cries where we ordered a thousand
baby chicks, which we will endeavor
to raise and force into laying eggs
by the time they are five months old.
In this hatchery were two long incu-
bators each containing 10000 eggs,
and a third contained. about 5000.
Many of the incubator sections were
just Matching, and it certainly was a
sight to watch the process. The two
lareg incubators, we were informed,
were installed at cost of about $780,
900. Other poultrymen make bus
mess Of producing only eggs for hatch
ing, selling them to. the hatcheries,
while still others produce eggs for the
markets, while others raise poultry
for market, so there are innumerable
branhes to the business.
We are purchasing a poultry and
dairy ranch here, containing % acres
of ground and splendid set of build
ings, including poultry house, brooder
house, etc., and expect to take pos
session in the course of a couple of
weeks, at which time yours truly will
have to get to work. We will prob
ably be as awkward as farmer would
in paint shop, but believe we are
going to like it fine when we get
started.
This particular section of the coun-
try we are located in is practically
new and reminds one good deal of
pioneering.
Land sells all the way from $25 for
the cut over timber land to $500 for
the improved, and in the Puyallup val
ley about ten miles distant all land is
worth from $1,000 an acre up. This
latter is berry and hop land, also used
for poultry ranches. AS for myself
I would rather be up on the higher
land where you do not get the fogs,
and the upland will also grow berries
-raspberries, blackberries, logan
berries, etc.. also the same kinds of
fruits including apples, plums, cher
ries, peaches, pears, etc., and I believe
offers just as many possibilities for
making money, besides it will be only
a few years until it is as fully settled
and improved as the valley land, and
will then be worth about the same
money.
At some future time, when we are
not so "green" we may explain more
fully the intricacies of the poultry
business, and how we are progressing.
Respectfully,
R. C.. COLBURN.
P. S.-There are no Nonpartisan
i