The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-04-30

Prodigal Homdward Bound
(cont from page one)
be seen that all Of the Grant county
people here are prospering notwith.
standing last years drought.
The little town of Willow Cree k
has made considerable Improvement
since we were here a few years ago
and is preparing to cree: q $50. 600
school building this year. The pre-
sent school building was erected
only a few years ago, but as in the
case of nearly all new countries,
the school population rapidly out
grows the provisions made for it.,
and our western people pretty gen.
orally demand the best possible pri-
vileges for their children, new
buildings and equipment are neces-
sary.
The genral drought of the past
two years of course has seriously
affected the development of this
country, but the government rec
ords clearly indicate that the drouth
in this part of Montana is an alb
normal condition not likely to be
permanent. The great loss during
the past year has been the lack Of
hay, much Of it having to be ship
ped in from the east, and selling at
s27 and $28 a ton. The local alfal
ia brings from $50 to $32. Not
withstanding the serious set back
Of the past year there is an opto-
mistc feeling prevailing that is
characteristic of western commune
ties, and both farmers and mer-
chants are looking forward to the
coming eason for a good crop. and
the general development Of the
country that is bound to take place
when normal weather conditions are
again secured in this portion Of
Montana.
Some four weeks ago we left Will
low Creek for Winatche. WASH,
while enroute spending q day in
Spokane, where we enjoyed a short
visit with the James Kerr family
and also called on Mrs. l.. O. Al
drich and her daughter Mrs. Ruby
Hindman, all of whom were former
residents of Milbank. Mrs. Al.
drich. who had been seriously i'll
with the influenza, was GONZALES
cent and we'll on the wsy to eco
cry and was be ing tenderly cared
for by her daughter at the lasters
home. Mr.. aud Mrs. Kerr had but
recently moved to Spokane from
Clarkstown, Wash. Their Vol
Walter is keeping books for a Seat
tie firm, Clinton is in a bank in an
Idaho town, and Mr.. Kerr expected
shortly to be engaged with the
Standard Oil co Spokane is a fine
~rogressive city. with a valuale wat
err power and a population of 1885,
900 The business portion of the
town comprises many fine blocks,
the Davenport hotel being cosider-
ed the most elaborate hosiery in
the northwest, and one of the finest
in the whole country The Old Ma
tional bank being another particu-
larly fine institution We spent a
couple Of weeks in the little city Of
Wenatche, at the home Of Mr. and
Mrs. r. ?. Showers, the latter will
be remembered by Milbank people
as Miss florence Hajnes. Wenatche
is four hours ride from Spokane,
and is located on the Columbia
river where the Wenatchee river
flows into the Columbia The city
has a population OF about 5000,
and is steadily growing. It is sup
ported almost entirely by the fruit
industry. the climate and soil be-
ing particularly adapted to apple
growing. A number of factories
drying and preserving fruits and
the manufacture Of packing boxes,
are in the city and give employ
ment to numbers Of its people.
Some 10, 900 carload of apples were
shipped from this city last year.
and the value Of the fruit Of the
locality amounted to over SIS, OOO,-
600. Other than apples, pears,
peaches, cherries. aprlcots. plums
and prunes are extensively raised
and shipped. The orchards are
valued at from $500 to So, coo per
acre, and are said to earn an in
come on these figures when proper
" cared for. The fruit men have
undoubtedly been getting good re-
turns for several years past, as or
chards are set out on the high
est lands wherever the water and
A., :..:-cr- l;<oH no~ ho con,,rol