52
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WISTON-CLARKSTON
and the Clearwater Country
I
Washington
Le wiston - Clarkston
and the
Clearwater Country
Idaho — Washington
The Land of Sunny Skies,
Where Fortune Waits to
Help the Man Who Tills
the Soil, Trims the Tree
and Trains the Vine
1
Q
Issued by
General Passenger Department
Northern Pacific Railway
1911
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ENTERPRfSE
J/ap of the Clearwater Country
APR 10
Iftoiston-'dtar&sttm mtfc tlif (fflrortaratw (Joimtre
HAT would they think, what would they say, those
old explorers, hunters, and trappers of fifty or a
hundred years ago, could they now see the old
Clearwater country in its wonderful transforma-
tion! What, too, would the old Chopunnish
Indians, the forbears of the present Nez Perce,
think and say, could they see their descendants
living side by side with an alien race, the skin
and brush tepee practically gone, the hunting
almost a thing of the past, the Indian pony herds
vanished, the "quamash" and "cowse" but little
gathered, and in their stead the Indian grain and
timothy fields and fruit orchards, the neat and comfortable homes,
not to forget the churches and school houses, the herds of fine cattle;
the thoroughbred draft horses, and potatoes, pumpkins, melons,
vegetables and fruits in abundance.
A beautiful and wonderfully rich and fertile region is this old
Clearwater country, so recognized from the beginning by every man
who ever traversed it.
The Nez Perce Indians have always been ranked the highest
among Indian tribes, in religious fervor, intelligence, honor, man-
liness, bravery, industry, morality and physical perfection. And one
is convinced, from what one sees of their country, that their environ-
ment, the land in which they lived, with its delightful climate,
fertile soil, magnificent rolling prairies and pastures, pure water, fine
timber and imposing landscape, had no small part in making these
people the superior tribe.
That those scouts of civilization, the explorers, hunters and
missionaries, could foresee, even remotely, what this land would
blossom into in the twentieth century, is, of course, almost incon-
ceivable, considering the startling changes wrought by time in the
last quarter of a century. Even though Dr. Whitman, at his mission
at Waiilatpu, near where Walla Walla now stands, as early as 1841
was raising crops by irrigation, and, presumably, Spalding was doing
the same at Lapwai on the Clearwater a few miles above Lewiston,
yet the tremendous possibilities of irrigation in the West were not
even imagined. It was not until 1847-1849 that the Mormon people,
A Home on the Nez Perce Prairie
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY <?
in Salt Lake valley, driven by necessity, began to demonstrate to any
considerable degree, the practicability of raising bountiful crops by
simply turning the waters of streams and lakes upon the parched
land through small canals.
The Region Historically
The first white men in the Clearwater region were Lewis and Clark
on their memorable exploration of 1804-6. In the early autumn of
1805, having successfully crossed the Bitter Root mountains and tasted
the hospitality of the Chopunnish-Nez Perce Indians at Weippe
Prairie, Idaho, bordering the Clearwater River, these explorers
camped at the junction of the main stream with the North Fork.
There they constructed canoes from pine trees and in them floated
down the Clearwater (Koos-koos-ke) past the sites of the present
Lewiston and Clarkston, on down the Lewis, or Snake River, and
the mighty Columbia to the sea. On their return in 1806, leaving
the Clearwater River near the present stations of Agatha and Lenore,
on the Clearwater branch of the Northern Pacific Railway, they
struck fairly across the Nez Perce prairie on an old Indian trail that
made direct for Kamiah, or Lawyer's Canyon, and passed down that
canyon to the Clearwater where they remained about a month.
From this point, their Camp Chopunnish as it is known to historians,
near the present town of Kamiah, they sent out bartering and
hunting parties in all directions, even to the Salmon River.
Again in 1811, one of the unfortunate and wandering Astorian
parties of William Price Hunt worked its way across the mountains
from the Snake to the Clearwater River, on foot, and followed the
Columbia to Astoria.
The hundreds of trappers in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Co.,
with headquarters at what is now Vancouver, Wash., threaded the
trails of the region in the early years of the 19th century.
In the early '30s the well-known movement for establishing
religious missions in the region west of the Rocky Mountains began.
The Methodists located on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers,
the Presbyterians on the Walla Walla and Clearwater rivers and in
the region north of Spokane, and the Catholics on the Umatilla river.
Following closely on the installation of these missions came the
Oregon emigration fever and the gradual settlement of the "Oregon
Country" by Americans. The name Oregon then comprehended
all the region west of the Rocky Mountains between the present
British Columbia and California, Nevada and Utah.
Oregon became a state in 1859, Washington acquired statehood
in 1889, Idaho in 1890.
Inasmuch as we are to describe the Clearwater country as it is
today, it may be of interest to read what Lewis and Clark, the first
known white men to see it, said of it a century ago.
Page Five
4 CLEARWATER COUNTRY
In crossing the prairie from the Clearwater south to Lawyer's
Canyon in the spring of 1806, they wrote as follows:
"This country would form an extensive settlement; the climate
appears quite as mild as that of similar latitude on the Atlantic
coast, if not more so, and it cannot be otherwise than healthy; it
possesses a fine, dry, pure air. The grass and many plants are now
upwards of knee high. I have no doubt but this tract of country if
cultivated would produce in great abundance every article essen-
tially necessary to the comfort and subsistence of civilized men. To
its present inhabitants nature seems to have dealt with a liberal
hand, for she has distributed a great variety of esculent plants over
the face of the country which furnish them a plentiful store of pro-
vision. "
We shall see whether this judgment of Lewis and Clark was an
accurate one or not.
The Geography and Topography of the Country
The name "Inland Empire" has been given to the wide extent of
country lying west of the westernmost range of the Rockies, east of
the Cascade Mountains, south of the British Columbian boundary,
and north of the Blue Mountains and the elevated region east of
them which forms the divide between the Clearwater and the Sal-
mon rivers.
This area comprises parts of Eastern Washington, Idaho and
Oregon, and is subdivided into several well defined basins, or sections,
with, originally, local designations, now become general and well
known. The region is drained by one great river system — that of
the Columbia, the old "Oregon" of Jonathan Carver which Bryant
has immortalized. The prominent streams to be noted, aside from
the trunk stream, are the Snake, Walla Walla, Yakima, Palouse,
Clearwater, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Pend d'Oreille rivers. Those
to be particularly considered here are the Clearwater and Snake.
The principal divisional names of the important parts of the
Inland Empire are the Yakima, Wenatchee, Big Bend, Okanogan,
Colville, Spokane, Palouse, Clearwater, and Walla Walla regions, or
valleys. Generally speaking, there are but slight differences between
these various sub-divisions of the Inland Empire in soil, climate,
physical characteristics, products, markets, etc. Irrigation is more
or less necessary to successful intensive agriculture in some of these
sections and is not practiced in others, and one's choice of general
location depends more upon personal preference rather than upon
any marked advantages in climate or agricultural conditions.
Of this region Spokane is the chief city. It is one of the most
delightful residence cities in the United States, wealthy, a great rail-
way center, has 104,402 population (1910 census) and is growing
very rapidly.
Page Six
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
Q
As the Inland Empire itself is thus sectionally divided, so are
these different sections themselves further subdivided, locally. The
name Clearwater country applies to the region west of the Bitter Root
range, in Idaho and Washington, at and contiguous to the junction
of the Snake and Clearwater rivers and it is drained almost entirely
by the latter stream and its many and far-reaching tributaries.
Immediately north of it lies the rich and rolling Palouse and Pot-
latch country, to the west that of the extensive and fertile Walla
Walla region, and to the south the rough tributary mountain region
drained by the Snake and Salmon rivers.
There are several well-defined local designations for the various
parts of the Clearwater country. These are the Lewiston-Clarkston
region, the Clearwater valley, Nez Perce prairie, Cam;^> prairie,
Weippe prairie.
The topography of the region is simply stated. From the junc-
tion of the Snake and Clearwater rivers at Lewiston-Clarkston,
each stream runs in a deep canyon. The Snake comes in from the
south and the Clearwater from the east and south. These canyons
range from 1,200 to 2,000 or more feet in depth and are cut through
a great lava flow that forms the surface of the whole region. Rising
from both these streams, on each side, and sloping upward to the
more or less distant and diverse mountain rai ges are wide, rolling
plateaus that form the prairies before named.
Cutting into these plateaus are many lateral canyons from the
main Clearwater and Snake canyons. Aside from the numerous
forks of the Clearwater — the North, Middle, South Fork, etc.,
which flow for most of the way among the heavily timbered Bitter
Root mountains, the principal streams with their canyons that thus
penetrate the high prairies are the Asotin, flowing from the west
into the Snake river, and Lawyer's creek, running from the west
into the Clearwater. The canyon of the latter, a deep, narrow,
precipitous, and very picturesque lava gorge, acquires importance
from the fact that as it bisects the great prairie and plateau between
the Snake and Clearwater
rivers it has become i n
arbitrary line of division;
the prairie to the north
being called Nez Perce
prairie, and the one to
the south, Camas prairie.
Except for the names
there is little or no differ-
ence between them. The
windings of the canyon
also constitute a part of
the boundary line be-
tween Nez Perce and
Idaho counties, in Idaho.
Lapwai and Big canyons
Page Seven
Wheat Warehous
at Waha Landin
Steamboat at
Waha_Landing
Q
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Craig Mountain are two of several other
Forest SL 'rl i f'l '±. J J
quite deep canyons de-
bouching into the Clear-
water.
Trending in a general
northeasterly direction
from the angle formed
by the junction of the
Snake and Salmon rivers,
is a low range of moun-
tains called Craig moun-
tains. This hill country
is a very conspicuous and
attractive feature of the
Clearwater landscape,
and the head-streams and
canyons that debouch into and are the origin of Lawyer's and other
streams and canyons, have their sources there.
The plateau country between the Clearwater and Snake rivers —
Nez Perce and Camas prairies, etc. — is largely undulating, thus
forming not only a pleasing landscape but a well-drained farming region.
Along the bottoms, or floors, of the stream valleys, both main
and lateral, there are moderate areas of very rich land, and the
terraced slopes of the canyons are equally available and valuable for
agriculture and horticulture, and are thus used.
The Craig mountains are well clothed with yellow pine, red fir
and tamarack, and the cut-over timber lands produce the finest
quality of timothy that can be grown.
Wieppe prairie lies on the eastern side of the Clearwater river
and extends eastward to the foot-hills of the Bitter Root range. It
is limited on the north by Oro Fino creek and on the south by Lolo
creek — the Collins creek of Lewis and Clark — and is thus compara-
tively restricted in area.
It was on the Weippe prairie that Lewis and Clark first met the
Chopunnish, or Nez Perce, Indians in 1805, and it was the hunting
ground of the explorers in 1806 before recrossing the mountains.
In general, it is much like the prairie country on the west side of
the Clearwater and it is as yet thinly populated. The Indians still
gather a few "quamash" or camas roots there, and the old Indian
trail, the Lolo trail, across the Bitter Root range into Montana, has
its western terminus on the Weippe prairie at the Clearwater river.
General Advantages
It may be well to here epitomize the general advantages of the
Clearwater region as a whole before referring to each district in detail.
The country is, in common phrase, new. It is as yet sparsely
settled and, in consequence, land is easily obtained and at compara-
Page Eight
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
Q
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State Normal School at Lewiston, Idaho
tively low prices. This is particularly true as regards general upland
farming lands.
Transportation facilities are now good and are constantly being
improved. The Northern Pacific Railway has a direct line from
Spokane to Lewiston, and branch lines up the Clearwater valley to
Kamiah and Stites, and up Lapwai creek and across Nez Perce
prairie to Grangeville at the southern edge of Camas prairie. A
line following down the north bank of the Snake river from Lewiston
gives direct connection with Portland, Tacoma and Seattle.
Good markets, locally, are found in the mining camps of Idaho,
Washington and Montana, while the coast cities and Spokane take
much of the general farm produce, and large quantities of the various
products are shipped to Alaska and the eastern markets.
Educational facilities are of the best. Besides the common
schools, which are found everywhere, there are, at Lewiston, Idaho,
a State Normal school; at Moscow, Idaho, the University of Idaho;
and at Pullman, Washington, the Washington State College. These
institutions probably have no superiors of their kind anywhere in
the United States. They have ample lands, fine buildings, good
faculties and are thoroughly equipped with expensive and up-to-date
apparatus and educational facilities.
While, as has been stated, the country is not yet thickly settled,
this should be understood as in a relative sense. There are settlers
everywhere and more are constantly going in. They represent all
parts of the Union and form a good and desirable class of citizens,
progressive, moral, industrious.
Page Nine
*
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
With the development that is sure to come to this region in the
next few years and with the splendid opportunities at hand, no one
having an intention of moving into the West should fail to visit and
investigate the Clearwater country.
Lewiston-Clarkston
The most important and advanced portion of the Clearwater
country is that part at and near the junction of the Clearwater and
Snake rivers generally known as the Lewiston-Clarkston region.
Lewiston, in Idaho, lies in the angle formed by the above named
streams, was founded in 1861, and was named for Captain Meri-
wether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark. Clarkston, in Washington, on
the west bank of the Snake river opposite Lewiston, was established
in 189G, and was so called in honor of Captain WTm. Clark, of the
same exploring expedition. On October 10, 1805, Lewis and Clark
camped on the north bank of the Snake river where [it turns from
the north to the west and just below the mouth of the Clearwater, or
Koos-koos-ke, river, as they called it, so that the naming of these
cities most appropriately perpetuates an historical fact.
What may properly be called the Lewiston-Clarkston region lies
south of the Clearwater, and east of the Snake, river, west of Lapwai
and Sweetwater creeks, and north of the Craig Mountain foothills,
in Idaho, with a more limited area in Washington in the angle formed
by the bend of the Snake river and extending to and about the
headwaters of Asotin creek.
In the river bottoms of these streams there are considerable
areas of tillable land noted for their productivity. These are
irrigated from the streams themselves or from springs in the hills
bordering them. Where the bottom lands and the hill slopes are
easi'y irrigated, that is, can be irrigated by individual owners without
£.
Steel bridge across Snake River between] Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Wash.
Page Ten
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
Q
too heavy expense for irrigation works, they have been under culti-
vation for years and, in the Clearwater valley above Lewiston
especially, there are some very noted old orchards and vineyards.
Large areas of the bench, or plateau, lands about Lewiston-
Clarkston have been devoted to grain culture; these lands have been
taken over by syndicates, or companies, platted into orchard tracts
of various and convenient sizes, extensive irrigation works con-
structed under competent engineers and at heavy expense, and the
tracts are being sold out in small intensive holdings to purchasers,
at fair prices and on convenient terms.
St Stanislaus
Church
Lewiston
Christian
Church
Lewiston
The fact of previous cultivation should carefully be borne in mind
in connection with these uplands as this obviates, entirely, the
necessity of the purchaser , clearing the land, as he usually must,
before planting his orchard, vegetables, or berries. These lands are
clear of sage brush, chapparal, or timber and need a little leveling
here and there only, to make them ready for planting and irrigation.
Lewiston was originally built on a fairly wide piece of bottom
land at the junction of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, and here the
business section of the city is still found. This locality is the lowest
in elevation of any point in Idaho, being 738 feet above sea-level.
Back from the streams a bench with a vei deal bluff rises 100 to 200
feet above the river, and this has become the residence part of the
city. This bench is about a mile wide, generally level, and commands
a fine view of the surrounding region. Well back of this rises another
and very much larger terrace which forms a part of the undulating
plateau that slopes upward to the Craig mountains, some 20 miles
Page EUten
0
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
distant. This second terrace lies beautifully at an elevation above
sea-level, near Lewiston, of 1,400 feet, approximately, increasing in
altitude as the mountains are approached. It is well drained, and
is rapidly being transformed from wheat fields into magnificent
orchards.
Clarkston is directly opposite Lewiston in the midst of a wide
bottom-land plain and well above the river. It is connected with
Lewiston by a high, steel, cantilever bridge across the Snake river,
and also by wire ferry. This bridge is 1,485 feet long and cost over
$100,000.
Two miles back from Clarkston, as on the Lewiston side, there
is found a bench, or terrace, of large area which is being divided into
small orchard tracts. These Clarkston lands are in all respects
similar to those around Lewiston. The land in the valley below the
higher terrace is known as Vineland, and Clarkston is the town and
postoffice of the district. The high terrace is called Clarkston
Heights. The lower lands lie from 50 to 300 feet above the river;
Clarkston Heights is considerably higher, lying, generally, from
1,000 to 1,250 feet above the *ea.
The towns and contiguous country recognize the fact that their
aims and interests are identical and they work harmoniously to-
gether toward a common end. Some who live in Clarkston do
business in Lewiston, and vice versa. The combined population of
the two places is about 10,000.
These towns occupy a position of strategic importance socially
and commercially. They are the social center and the natural
depot of trade for a large and very rich section of territory. The
places themselves are advanced and modern in every particular.
Fine store buildings, residences, school houses and churches are
found. The hotels are good, there are parks and public libraries,
a Commercial Club, several strong banks and trust companies,
department stores, wholesale establishments, water works and
sewage systems, several fruit canneries, a 250 barrel flour mill, etc.
JThe State Normal School at Lewiston, with ample grounds and
imposing buildings, imparts an educational flavor of decided advan-
tage to the community and the moral tone of the locality is of the best.
Automobiles are common and
auto trips into the outlying plateau
and mountain towns are of daily
occurrence.
The Northern Pacific and
Oregon Railroad and Navigation
companies have recently com-
pleted a Union Station at a cost
of $75,000, and a new steel rail-
way bridge used jointly by both
railways spans the Clearwater
river at Lewiston.
Page Twelve
Carnegie Library, Lewiston
NORTHERN PAG I FIG RY 0
While Lewiston had been a trading post and base of supplies for
trappers and miners wandering over a wide territory for many
years, the real commercial history of the region began with the
advent of the Northern Pacific Railway a brief ten years ago. Whole-
sale houses quickly followed, and today there are over thirty traveling
salesmen who make Lewiston their headquarters. They radiate in
all directions: to the Nez Perce country, Clearwater, and Bitter
Root points; the Elk City, Buffalo Hump, and Thunder mountain
mining regions; the Salmon river country, Asotin country and other
points in Washington, and regular trips are also made to the Paradise
country, and other Oregon points more conveniently reached from
Lewiston than from Oregon jobbing centers. The Lewiston-
Clarkston merchants also secure a share of the business from the
Palouse country.
Since Lewiston-Clarkston became an active commercial center,
with houses devoted exclusively to wholesale business, the obstacles
incident to such a position have been met and conquered. Keen
competition from other wholesale markets, including Pacific Coast
merchants, has been survived; whether crops have been large or
small the community has gone right ahead; the recent panic of 1907
did not disturb it, the banks issued no cashier's scrip in the time of
financial stringency, nor did a jobber or merchant retire or fail.
On the contrary the business for 1908 was larger than ever before
and a feeling of prosperity today permeates all branches of com-
mercial activity. There are new industries in prospect and with
the recent completion of the Camas Prairie Railroad down the
Snake river, giving quick connection with tide water for the products
of the territory, a new expansion of trade is imminent and the sub-
stantial and immediate growth of Lewiston-Clarkston as the com-
mercial metropolis of a region of much magnitude, may be anticipated.
There are now located here two large wholesale grocery and
three fruit commission houses, four canneries, a fruit preserving
plant, one wholesale liquor and one wholesale cigar house. The
large retail houses also do more or less wholesaling. Lewiston
also profitably supports the only wholesale drug house in Idaho.
The bank clearings aggregate about $9,000,000 a year. The bank
deposits exceeded $3,000,000, on an average, for 1910.
Aside from the fruit center that Lewiston-Clarkston is bound to
become, the place offers good promise for the future to the manu-
facturer or man looking for a location in a coming commercial city.
The production of grain in the surrounding country and the opening
of a water-grade route to the Coast leaves no doubt, apparently, of
its future as a coming grain and flour milling point. New grain
firms are making headquarters here, and it is estimated that grain in
excess of 10,000 cars annually will soon pass through Lewiston-
Clarkston down the new line, this being the natural point for assemb-
ling shipments from the contiguous territory.
Page Thirteen
Q CLEARWATER COUNTRY
With a quality of oats superior to those of South Dakota, which
have ranked highest for cereal mill uses, possibly the manufacture
of rolled oats and other cereal products will enter into the future
activity of Lewiston-Clarkston. It is certain that with milling
rates in effect, flour milling offers inducements to men of experience,
and in a manufacturing way there will gradually open up fields for
many other enterprises. These opportunities await men with
energy and capital.
Lewiston-Clarkston is also the base of operations for a wide
region in mining and in lumber.
Large deposits of minerals are known to exist in the mountains
and in case of certain new districts are believed to be rich beyond
conception, and mining activity is increasing.
Lumbering is on the increase and the demand for the yellow and
white pine of the Craig and Bitter Root mountains is making this
an important industry, although as yet almost in its infancy.
There is a large area of fine timber tributary to Lewiston-Clarks-
ton in the mountains adjacent. A lumber railroad from Craig
junction to Winchester opens up a valuable timber zone in the
Craig mountains. All the timber lands are very valuable and in
demand.
The water power of the various streams is an asset that will
eventually prove one of very great value This is estimated at
200,000 horse power, only a trifling part of which is as yet utilized.
A few miles above Clarkston on the Snake river at the mouth of
Asotin creek, is the town of Asotin, the county seat of Asotin county,
Washington. It is one of the older towns of the region and is con-
nected with Lewiston-Clarkston by good roads and by river
navigation. Snuggled among the bluffs of the Snake river and
Asotin creek, with its wide shaded streets, amph lawns and yards
ornamented with large cherry, mulberry and numerous other beauti-
ful trees, the creek r'ppling merrily through the town, it is one of
the most delightful, refreshing and attractive towns in that part of
the country. It has schools, churches, business houses, flour and
sawmills, grain warehouses, a free library, electric lighting, water
supply, etc. It is a good business point, having tributary to it an
extended and fertile agricultural territory which is now principally
devoted to grain farming, but the Cloverland country, on the north-
ern slopes of the Blue mountains, has proved to be well adapted to
the growing of late fruits, particularly, and is now rapidly developing
into a horticultural region. The Anatone country, farther south
between the Grande Ronde river and Asotin creek, is a good farming,
stock-raising and lumbering section.
Besides the three important towns of Lewiston, Clarkston and
Asotin, there are, here and there, at opportune and favorable locali-
ties, smaller towns and hamlets, the embryo cities of the future.
The towns and country are reciprocal factors in the evolution of a
region that, ten years ago, was scarcely known to the outside world
Page Fourteen
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
A four-Year Old Apple Orchard, Burrell Avenue, Lewiston
and, ten years hence, will be known wherever fine fruits and their
products are eaten and good wines are drunk.
That the Lewiston-Clarkston region is specially adapted to
intensive irrigation farming has been well proved.
Fruits and most vegetables are less hardy than grain and grasses,
and far mor particular as to their requirements of soil, climate
and culture. We have always known that soil drainage was im-
portant; in these latter days, and especially in connection with
horticultural irrigation enterprises in the West, we have learned
that air drainage, frost areas and dates, altitude and wind currents are
to be carefully reckoned with in fruit culture. Obviously, it requires
a little time to become acquainted with these conditions, — for any
given locality to "find itself." This precise ascertainment of local
conditions and how to handle them has now largely been attained
in Lewiston-Clarkston, and the newcomer may thus learn by the
experience of a neighbor familiar with conditions, not to set out
peach trees where winter apple trees should be placed; not to plant
early strawberries or lettuce where poor air drainage will allow a
possible late frost to nip them and where potatoes or alfalfa should
be planted.
Some of the more detailed problems at Lewiston-Clarkston will
be more fully worked out in the future, but, in general, the proper
zones for apples, pears, apricots, peaches, grapes, berries and the
delicate vegetables and the proper methods of handling them have
now been well determined and those who now invest here may do so
confidently and intelligently.
The Lewiston-Clarkston region, with its long, dry, warm summers
and short and mild winters; its varied altitudes — between 700 and
2,500 feet above sea level; its deep, rich volcanic soil; its 14 inches,
approximately, of annual rainfall and its ample supply of water for
irrigation, is an ideal region for fruits and vegetables. These soil
products do exceedingly well here.
Page Fifteen
o
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Apple Orchard, Showing System of Irrigation and Cultivation
The general conditions are practically the same around both
Lewiston and Clarkston. The surface soil is a rich dark loam,
underlaid with a lighter colored warm sandy loam many feet deep.
There is an absence of hard pan as a rule, there is good underdrainage
and water storage capacity; there is no alkali and no sagebrush,
and the land is easily worked. According to the authority of Prof.
Severance, Professor of Agronomy, Washington State College,
Pullman, Washington, the soil is first class fruit land, especially well
adapted to apples, plums, peaches, pears, grapes and various berries.
The mean annual temperature for this locality is a little under
54 degrees Fahrenheit; the mean temperature for July and August
is about 74 degrees, the mean temperature for the months of Decem-
ber, January and February, is 37 degrees. There have been three
winters in the last ten years when the mercury dropped to zero or
below, but it remained there but a short time. Frost rarely comes
early enough in the fall to do any damage. The average latest date
of killing frosts in the spring is April 8th. These frosts, however,
are apt to affect vegetation only on the lowest lying lands and even
here experiment has proved that, by being prepared and by promptly
and unitedly setting smudges of wet straw and similar materials
more or less saturated with coal tar and thereby filling the valley
with a dense smoke cloud, all damage to vegetation may be avoided
and the crops saved. This smudging experience and remedy has
been used successfully in other irrigation valleys, for all of them
must be prepared to expect and fight an occasional late frost. Or-
chard heaters made of metal and specially for this purpose are rapidly
coming into general use in western orchards.
The diseases and insects common to deciduous fruits and which
it seems must be met with sooner or later in all orchards, are to be
found here, but by systematic use of the various scientific methods
of spraying and the other well known means of protection, they
are successfully combatted and controlled.
Page Sixteen
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
The Lewiston-Clarkston region is fortunate in having located
so near it the University of Idaho and the State College of Washing-
ton at Moscow and Pullman, respectively. The Agricultural
Departments are important parts of both colleges.
It may be stated here that this region is, practically, free from
mosquitoes, reptiles, and similar pests that so often afflict commu-
nities and make life a burden. It is also free from malaria.
Irrigation Projects
The Lewiston-Clarkston Company
The oldest orchards and vineyards of this section are found
along the Clearwater river above Lewiston. These are mostly
private enterprises, many of them begun much more than a score of
years ago. It is only within the last ten or twelve years that efforts
have been made to establish irrigation works on a large and system-
atic scale. The first attempt to bring wide areas under irrigation*
cultivation and induce extensive settlement on small orchard and
vegetable tracts was in Vineland, Wash., across the Snake river
from Lewiston.
The Lewiston-Clarkston Company, that began this work, was
organized in 1896. It was composed largely of eastern men. The
holdings of this company were taken over recently by the Lewiston-
Clarkston Improvement Co., headed by E. H. Libby, president, the
founder of Clarkston- Vineland.
The company's lands, both those sold and those still held by
them, are thus classified:
Clarkston 640 acres
Vineland 1800 "
Clarkston Heights 3000 "
Miscellaneous acreage 350 "
Total 5790 acres
The company began selling its lands in Vineland in 1897 at $100
an acre. At that time Vineland was a vast sagebrush patch with
hardly a house to break the monotony. Now it is widely covered
with orchards, vineyards and gardens with comfortable and, in
many cases, expensive houses scattered among them. The indi-
vidual holdings range from one acre to five, ten, fifteen acres, and
in some few instances there are larger holdings. Although the farm
units are small, the cultivated areas are well massed, and the rustic
picture as now seen from an elevated spot overlooking the wide
expanse of orchards is a most beautiful one. These small orchard
holdings mean, necessarily, contiguous neighbors; in effect a rural
town, or urban community, with telephone lines, rural free delivery,
and all such modern conveniences. The average size of these ranch
homes, outside of the townsite of Clarkston, is less than three and
one-half acres.
Page Seventeen
Q
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
/
The present population of Clarkston-Vineland is estimated at
3,000. Unimproved lands now range in price, according to location,
from $275 to $500 per acre, terms of payment being, for five acres or
more, one-fifth cash down and one fifth payable at the close of the
second, third, fourth and fifth years with interest at 7 per cent.
The price includes a perpetual water right with service under pressure.
The lands thus far sold have been largely in Vineland, those on
Clarkston Heights having been but recently placed on the market.
The lands farthest away are about three and a quarter miles distant
from the Clarkston postoffice.
The gravity system of irrigation is employed, and originally
comprehended the use of the usual open main surface canals and
lateral ditches. These open canals are gradually being superseded
by a gravity system of closed pipe lines supplying the water to each
land owner cool and under pressure. This method saves the loss by
seepage and evaporation consequent upon the open canal system
and, where it is also employed by the individual irrigator as it now
increasingly is in Lewiston-Clarkston, it greatly simplifies and
lessens the work of irrigation.
The source of water supply for the Vineland-Clarkston lands is
Asotin creek, a pure mountain stream rising in the Blue mountains.
At a point some twelve miles distant from Clarkston the Company
has constructed a concrete dam to bedrock at sides and bottom,
forming a balancing reservoir with a capacity of 20 million gallons.
The minimum flow of Asotin creek, government measurement, is 40
cubic feet per second, an amount claimed to be more than ample
for the lands owned by the company. The company has the right
to the entire flow of the stream less two cubic feet per second owned
by prior users.
r
j®
"rPw^fw?
Peach and Cherry Orchard of R. U. Barr — 5 Acre*, 16 MonUu Jrom Planting — July, 1908
Page Eighteen
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
0
Demonstration of Force of Water Brought from Craig Mountain!
The water is conveyed to the lands in large wooden steel bound
pipes. The first seven miles of pipe, from the dam, are 48 inches in
interior diameter. A portion of the water is then diverted to an
electrical power house and after using is returned to the creek.
Page Nineteen
9 CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Below the power house the pipe is 40 inches in diameter to the point
of distribution over the lands where it again changes to a 32 inch
pipe. Another power house and balancing, or pressure reservoir,
are found at this point. The general system of distributing pipes to
the many ranch homes, including mains and laterals, varies in size
from 20 inches to 4 inches. The cost of these reservoirs, dam, water
rights and conduits, all told, was $575,000.
As has been indicated the Company has in connection with its
irrigation rights and plant a valuable and extensive electric plant.
There are two water and one steam electric plants, with a combined
capacity of 4,000 horse power. There are five substations and 50
miles of high tension transmission line serving eight towns. These
combined electric plants cost $350,000 in round numbers. The total
investment of the Lewiston-Clarkston company, therefore, in irri-
gation and electric plants and the Snake river bridge considerably
exceeds one million dollars.
In the deeds given by the company the purchaser obtains the
right to an amount of water, annually, equal to one foot of water in
depth over each acre purchased, or, as it is commonly stated, one
acre foot of water. With an average annual rainfall, mostly from
November to April or May, of nearly 14 inches, this acre foot of
water has proved to be more than sufficient, and therefore the annual
maintenance charge for water — common to nearly all irrigation
enterprises — is based on two-fifths of an acre foot, this charge being
$2.00, and for each additional one-fifth acre foot the charge is $1.00,
an entire acre foot costing, if used, $5.00.
The Lewiston Land & Water Company (Limited)
The success of the Lewiston-Clarkston Company at Vineland, and
the extension of the Palouse branch of the Northern Pacific Railway
into Lewiston in 1898, thus giving that locality for the first time
direct railway connection with the rest of the world — via Spokane-
drew especial attention to the entire Clearwater country. A company
of Portland, Oregon, gentlemen saw the tremendous possibilities of the
wheat growing plateau above Lewiston, for fruit culture particularly,
if water for irrigating it could be obtained. A year's careful study
and investigation proved that the water supply was available and
that it could be easily conveyed to the lands.
The Lewiston Lan 1 & Water Company, Limited, was organized
in 1905. They own 8,000 acres of land on the broad, high bench above
Lewiston and to this they have given the name of "Lewiston
Orchards," and there are now under irrigation, 4,000 acres. The land
is gently rolling, faces north, is clean and clear of obstacles to culti-
vation, is convenient to Lewiston, and is a most sightly and valuable
property in every way. Prof. Severance, who made a very thorough
investigation of the soil of Lewiston Orchards and submitted a most
commendatory report thereon, closes his remarks thus: —
fage Twenty
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 0
"The reputation of the Lewiston-Clarkston valley is well estab-
lished and the writer can say with a clear conscience that the Lewiston
Land & Water Company, Limited, is offering for sale some of the
very best land in the valley."
The water rights of the company comprise four creeks having
their sources in the Craig mountains to the south. Twelve miles
of open main canal and flume were constructed, some of it through
rock and costing $20,000 a mile. The canal varies in size from 9 feet
in width at the bottom and 10 feet wide at three feet depth to 10 feet
wide on the bottom and 20 feet wide at a depth of three feet, and it
will eventually be enlarged as necessity requires. The canal termi-
nates at a natural depression 10 miles distant from, and 1,000 feet
above, Lewiston. Here an enormous and solid earthen dam has been
constructed forming an immense reservoir and impounding the
mountain waters brought down by the canal. The dam and reservoir
have been built under the superintendence of expert engineers. The
former, when entirely completed, will be 98 feet high, — 60 feet being
its present height — 4,025 feet in length, and 500 feet thick at its
widest point.
The drainage area tributary to this plant is about 100 square
miles and the reservoir will store more than 6,000 acre feet of water.
The outlet pipes are of concrete and the water is distributed to the
irrigators in large 48 inch underground pipes, under a minimum head
pressure of 50 feet. The lands of the company are arranged in units
of five acres and are sold in tracts of 2^, 5 and 10 acres, and multiples
thereof. These tracts are nicely arranged with 60 foot streets and
20 foot alleys. The water distributing pipes are carried through the
alleys and water is delivered to each tract through a tap under pres-
sure, as before stated.
The aims and plans of the company are high and far reaching
and they are making of Lewiston Orchards a beautiful and model
suburban community. The appearance of things, even to the casual
visitor, betokens the intelligence of these plans and the faithful
carrying out of them. The company itself has set out ornamental
trees along the streets and, in line with a reasonable insistence that
tends toward a pleasing though moderate beautifying of the entire
plot, requires each purchaser to maintain around his holdings a fence,
inexpensive in cost but well constructed, of a uniform design and
painted white. The happy effect of such a simple requirement has
but to be seen to be appreciated. Other improvements planned are a
fine park, a modern automobile road system, a country club, etc.
The company's investment in these lands and works aggregates
$1,250,000.
The Lewiston Land & Water Company, Limited, charges for its
lands from $400 to $1500 an acre according to location, age of trees,
etc. This includes the usual water right. An annual maintenance
charge for water of $5 an acre is also required according to the
usual terms.
Page Twenty-one
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
The payments for a 5 acre tract run as follows, with interest on
deferred payments at 7 per cent: —
Purchase price 5 acre tract at $400 per acre .... $2,000
Cash, date of purchase, one-fifth $400
Cash, 1 year from purchase, one-fifth 400
Cash, 2 years from purchase, one-fifth 400
Cash, 3 years from purchase, one-fifth 400
Cash, 4 years from purchase, one-fifth 400
$2,000
The purchaser also has the option of paying one-fifth down in
cash and $6 an acre each month in lieu of the other method.
For the benefit of non resident purchasers the company sells
lands on an improvement contract under which they will improve
the tract and bring the orchard into bearing. This arrangement
runs for three or four years, usually, or until the orchard reaches
the bearing period, and all costs of development, including water
rents, taxes, care of the place, etc., — in addition to the regular
cost of the land — are charged against the property. The company,
in effect, acts as financial agent for the purchaser. The terms
under this Improvement contract are the same as under the regular
contracts. The purchaser under this contract may, if he chooses, pay
also, as in regular contracts, the one-fifth down in cash and the
remainder in monthly installments until the cost of land and
improvements are fully met. These lands are usually set out to
standard commercial varieties of winter apples.
Another form of contract exists by which the purchaser may
purchase a tract, have it improved, and, upon its reaching maturity,
have the product regularly marketed for him. Under this contract
the purchaser is saved all worry and labor of development and
marketing and the company participates in the net profits of the
orchard, thus making successful handling of the property a matter of
mutual interest.
After the orchard reaches maturity the company will market the
product, year after year, and pay to the owner the full yearly net
profits until he has returned to him the full amount of his investment
with interest. After that profits will be divided equally between the
owner and the company.
After five years the purchaser may take over the property and
manage it himself, if desired, under a reasonable condition of the
contract for compensating the company for its superintendence and
services in the development of the orchard.
These plans offer attractive inducements to clergymen, teachers,
clerks, and others of moderate incomes, to become the owners of
2J/2, 5 or 10 acre orchard homes by the convenient and easy install-
ment method of payment.
Certainly the sight of the young, deep green, thrifty, growing
orchards already set out, with the long, healthy rows of beans, onions,
Page Twenty-two
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
J
Sweetwater Canal — A Small Part of Re
in Left Background
potatoes, berries, melons, carrots and other garden products occupy-
ing and economizing the space between the trees until the latter need
it, is one to gladden the eyes and a forerunner of a glorious future.
The Waha-Lewiston Land & Water Company
A third irrigation enterprise is that of the Waha-Lewiston Land
& Water Company.
This project is of quite recent origin and while several hundred
thousand dollars have been spent and a large amount of work has
been done, it has been, in the nature of the case, as yet, largely a
work of thorough preparation preliminary to the actual subdivision
of the land and the distribution of the water.
The nucleus of the Waha-Lewiston Company is the use of Lake
Waha, supplemented by several smaller lakelets in the vicinity,
as a water supply and storage reservoir. Lake Waha is a beautiful
natural lake having a water surface of about 80 acres. It lies on
the northern slope of the Craig mountains 25 miles south from
Lewiston and is about 2,000 feet higher than the city. The lake,
at its present water level, is 100 feet deep in its deepest part. By
means of proper engineering devices it is intended to impound
the flood waters of as wide an area as possible around the lake,
each year, until the season of irrigation. The annual precipitation
in the Craig mountain region considerably exceeds 30 inches. By
conserving the waters from the
melting snow and the rains in
the spring and raising the water
surface to the lowest point of the
present lake rim, the depth would
be increased to 217 feet, the
surface area to 200 acres, and the
water content would amount to
more than 20,000 acre feet.
The company own in excess
of 10,000 acres of land, including
Page T wenly-three
"Pipe Line" Water Supply for Clarkston
o
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Field of Potatoes — Lewiston Orchards, Summer of 1907 — Young Orchard in Background
the shore and other drainage lands about Lake Waha and other
reservoir lake sites.
One of the features of the Waha-Lewiston project is the use of
several large springs that burst out of the mountain below Lake
Waha. These springs have a combined discharge, approximately,
of 8,000,000 gallons a day of pure, cold, spring water.
It is purposed to use this spring water, primarily, for the domestic
water supply of those owning homes under the company's system
and for the further purpose of developing electric power for lighting
and other uses.
The lands of the company to some extent adjoin those of the
Lewiston orchards, running back, however, and up the Craig moun-
tain slopes. They are well drained and possess a wide variety of
elevations above sea level up to 2,500 feet or more, one being able
to thus cover a wide range in making choice of a location. The
prices of these lands will range about as do those of the other com-
panies mentioned and liberal terms of payment will be offered.
Vegetables and Berries
As previously stated, in devel-
oping an orchard it is customary
for the owner to raise vegetables
or small berries between the rows
of trees until the trees are large
enough to require the whole nour-
ishment of the soil. This means
a period of from three to five
Onion* Grown in Young Orchard
Page Timih/-foiir
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 0
years. During this time these crops are relied upon to support the
family, and until the orchard provides an income this plan is
generally successful. Indeed, it often aids in making the deferred
payments on the place and the cultivation benefits the trees without
in any way being disadvantageous.
All the ordinary vegetables and small fruits grow luxuriantly.
All kinds of beans, potatoes, onions, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage,
cauliflower, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, strawberries, dew-
berries, blackberries, raspberries, etc., are raised. The canneries
assist materially in the marketing of these products, and a consider-
able amount of "garden truck" is shipped to the Montana towns
and cities.
The experience of Peter Spohn in commercial vegetable produc-
tion will answer for that of others: —
"Clarkston, June 6, 1910.
"I went from Northern Ohio to Colorado in 1882. Followed
market gardening at Denver and Fort Collins for about 18 years.
In 1900 I went to Missoula, Montana, and remained there until
1905. Since then I have followed market gardening here. I have
cultivated 7 acres, by hand, and raised a variety of crops. In 1907
one acre of White Spine cucumbers netted me $750, there being
750 boxes at $1 per box, containing 5 dozen cucumbers per box.
I took from % of an acre 4,000 cabbages, mostly Jersey Wakefields.
Prices were unusually good in 1907 and I got $3.75 per 100 pounds,
gross, or about $6 per crate of 210 pounds. I had, in all, 57 crates.
"From 1% acres of Monte Cristo watermelons I took 7,300
saleable melons of 12 pounds or over in weight each. These netted
about $700.
"From the watermelon ground I took 3,500 pounds of Alaska
early peas which brought, net, $200.
"I had % an acre of Rocky Ford cantaloupes which netted
me about $350. With these I did much better in 1906, which was a
more favorable year for cantaloupes.
"A quarter of an acre of Grand Rapids lettuce netted me $400.
There were 260 boxes of 20 pounds to the box. A half acre of White
Queen (pickle) onions brought in $250. I shipped 50 dozen bunches
of table onions per day for three weeks. One half acre of carrots
produced well, realizing about $125. Miscellaneous stuff aggregated
$100, making $3,000 income from 4M acres. %Y± acres were non-
productive. Our income clear of all expenses was $1,800. My interest
in the property is a working interest, being one-half the expense
and income. The owner's returns were 30 per cent, on the total
investment of $3,500 in the property."
(Signed) Peter Spohn.
Page Twenty-five
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Tomato growing is an attractive branch of gardening and
Mr. Krandelt has made it a profitable one as well: —
"Asotin, Wash., May 1, 1910.
"In regard to tomato growing, I herewith submit the following
facts and figures: —
"About two acres of my place are devoted to the growing of
tomatoes and the first ripe ones are usually obtained about the first
of July. The first ones produced net me about $2 a box. About
August 1, when tomatoes are more plentiful, they bring about $1 a
box, and as the season advances, they are sold as low as 40 cents a box.
"Twenty one hundred boxes are the usual yield from this acreage
and about four tons are sold in bulk."
(Signed) A. J. Krandelt.
While there undoubtedly is money to be made in raising vegetables
in this way there is, with many, a decided feeling that the various
berry crops are more remunerative. Mr. F. B. Laing, an experienced
grower, has very positive convictions on this subject. In discussing
the general question of orcharding he said: —
"I came to Washington and Idaho in 1877 from Pike County,
Illinois. Have lived in a number of irrigated fruit districts and have
been at Lewiston-Clarkston since 1897. I have handled orchards
for many years. I like this country and think it is bound to be a
great success. The soil, climate, and water are of the best.
"Apples, cherries, peaches, and berries grow to perfection.
The most desirable apples to grow here are the Rome Beauty, Yellow
Newtown Pippin, Spitzenberg, Jonathan and Winesap. The Bing,
Lambert and Royal Ann are the best cherries and I give the Bing
the preference.
"For early peaches the best are the Alexander and Triumph;
for late peaches the Early Crawford, Elberta and Late Crawford
are the best. For domestic use the Early Rivers and Hale's Early
are good peaches. Apricots and plums do well and I am satisfied
that this is a fine grape country, especially for the European
varieties — particularly, the Flame Tokay.
"Dewberries do particularly well commercially and so also do
red raspberries and strawberries. For a filler crop while the trees are
growing, the berry crops are far better than vegetable crops. Dew-
berries should bring $300 and upward per acre; strawberries will do
the same year in and year out and often will do much better; rasp-
berries will produce about the same results. Clark's seedling is the
strawberry to raise, commercially; for domestic use the Magoon and
the Crescent are good and are splendid producers. The Lucretia is
the best dewberry, and the Cuthbert the best shipping raspberry.
"No one has as yet undertaken to develop the strawberry here
and I am satisfied there is great money in it. On a limited area
in Vineland, one year, after raising a good crop of these berries I
cultivated the bed carefully and to my surprise it bore a second crop
Page Twenty-six
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
0
yielding at the rate of $230 an acre. The following summer it again
bore a good crop bringing returns at the rate of $500 an acre. As I
soon after sold the place I know nothing of that bed since then. I
am satisfied the strawberry will do as well as here indicated, all over
this region. In strawberry culture intense cultivation is demanded."
June 3, 1910. (Signed) F. B. Laing.
Mr. Laing's opinions regarding berries are confirmed by other
persons of experience. The dewberry appears to be the preferred
berry and a dewberry patch is surely a sight to gladden the eye and,
according to all reports, enrich the purse. Dewberries are calculated
upon to produce a profit of $1 per bush per season. They are a sure
crop and find a ready sale at from $1 to $3 per crate of 24 boxes each.
They will return from $400 to $500 per acre. Raspberries do as well
and in some cases have done much better. Mr. Laing's ideas anent
the strawberry afford food for reflection to those who understand the
cultivation of this delicious fruit. Every home, almost, in the
Lewiston-Clarkston locality has its own strawberry "patch," but
there appear to have been but few attempts, as Mr. Laing intimates,
to raise strawberries, at least on a large scale, for strictly commercial
purposes. Such efforts as have been made have demonstrated that
strawberries will return to the grower from $300 to $500 or $600
per acre.
Gooseberries and currants do well and the general situation as to
small berries has been well stated by Mr. Laing and it is confirmed
by others.
If there can be a sufficiency of help obtained at picking time
to harvest the crops, this region should become famous for its straw-
berries and other small fruits. If the effort were made the Nez
Perce Indians might become available for extensive fruit harvesting
here even as the Yakima
and other Indians now
are in the Yakima valley
at hop and fruit gather-
ing time. The experi-
ment would seem to be
worth trying.
There are several can-
ning companies here : the
Snake River Canning Co. ,
the Clarkston Fruit and
Canning Co., both of
Clarkston, and the Lewis-
ton - Clarkston Canning
Co. and Sprague Sanitary
Preserving Co. in Lewis-
ton. With these can-
neries in full and con-
tinuous operation, the
Page Twenty-seven Apples Grow in Abundance
Q
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
growing of those vegetables most in demand and of the small fruits
should become very profitable, especially during the early years of
the orchard.
The financial flurry of 1907 seriously affected the general fruit
market in 1908. For this reason the prices paid for fresh, and received
for canned, fruit at the canneries in 1908 were very low. The
canneries at Lewiston-Clarkston canned, during this, their first
year, 675 tons of fruit of which about one-half were peaches and
one-third cherries. The prices paid to the growers averaged about
one cent per pound for peaches and apricots and three cents for
cherries. The pack was curtailed as much as possible, owing to the
depression before noted, and the output of canned goods amounted
to about 60 cars which were shipped to many cities, extending from
Spokane, Helena and Butte to Chicago, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, etc.
This fruit equalled that packed in California and held its own
in competition with it. The canned fruit product has since continued
to find favor and the output is gradually increasing.
Poultry
There is money to be made in poultry raising in the Lewiston-
Clarkston country, particularly when combined with fruit raising.
The two form an admirable combination in this land of long warm
summers and mild winters. And there is always a market for fresh
eggs and chickens in the lumber and mining camps and the Coast
cities. Nearly every fruit or vegetable ranch house has its proper
quota of chickens, many are raised entirely from a commercial
standpoint and they are of pure breeds in most cases. Leghorns,
Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds and other equally
well known breeds are
found. The fruit orchards
afford the necessary shade
demanded in successful
poultry work and the
chickens by their scratch-
ing make good cultivators
of the ground and aid
also in keeping down
orchard insect pests.
There is no excessive
moisture and the fact
that poultry can be out
of doors practically all
the year, is, undoubtedly,
largely responsible for the
success attending this
branch of farm work here.
Poultry raising appears
A Flemish Beauty Pear Tree Page Twenty-eight
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
to be confined almost entirely to chickens. In the testimonials
given on this subject it will be at once noted how closely fruit raising
and poultry are combined.
One of the most interesting places visited was the chicken ranch
of Mr. Fraser, whose account of his experiences, immediately following,
makes interesting reading: —
"I came to Clarkston from Carrington, North Dakota, 10 years
ago. I have 2 3^ acres of land; a half acre of alfalfa, a small garden
patch, and the remainder of place is set out to trees and used as a
chicken ranch. I have about 175 fruit trees in bearing, mostly
peaches. They are principally late varieties — Crawfords, Sal ways,
Muirs. My trees are well loaded this year and the returns ought
to be satisfactory.
"Chicken raising is my principal business. My chickens are
all Leghorns — buff and white, principally white. I have 700 chickens,
300 old, and 400 young ones. Last year I had 250 layers which were
three and four years old and, after running the place, making certain
improvements, and feeding the young chickens, they gave me a
profit of $1 per hen. This year I have 300 layers and have been
getting an average of 12 dozen eggs a day. This is not a very large
average on account of most of my layers this year being late hatched
pullets. The yearling and two year old stock is the best for laying.
"At this time with the small number of hens I have I can dispose
of all my eggs on the local market. I have regular customers and
I never get less than 20 cents a dozen; during holiday season eggs
are worth as high as 45 cents a dozen. I make my deliveries twice
a week. The eggs are delivered perfectly clean and guaranteed
fresh. If any bad eggs are found I replace them.
"So far the local market has absorbed all my young chickens.
We get from $3.50 to $4 a dozen for four months old chickens alive.
For dressed chickens I get from 25 to 30 cents a pound.
"In hatching I use the incubators entirely and the Philo system
for brooding. This system is simplicity itself and, at least with me,
is entirely satisfactory. The majority of my chicken houses are
open front but I have one or two curtained for fancy stock. I do
not find though that curtains are necessary; only a few times in
eight years has it been necessary to use them. In that time the
thermometer has gone to zero only twice.
"From my experience I am fully satisfied that any man of
ordinary ability who will use standard bred stock and feed and care
for the chickens according to latest improved methods can make a
success of poultry raising in the Lewiston-Clarkston country. With
proper care and attention there is no reason why flocks should be
carried off by the ordinary chicken diseases — and mites and lice
are easily gotten rid of.
"There are no rats in this country."
Clarkston, Wash., June 3, 1910. (Signed) G. A. Fraser.
Page Twenty-nine
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
The statements of Mr. Henderson and Mr. Bailey regarding
poultry will supplement Mr. Fraser's story: —
"The combination of soil, climate, location and market will, in
my opinion, make this the largest poultry raising district in the
Northwest.
"I have been experimenting with poultry for the past five years
in this locality. Last year (1909) a pen of four hens produced 720
eggs at an average market price of 30 cents a dozen. This year I
have 31 hens that have produced since January 1, 1910, to April
30, 1910, nineteen hundred and thirty -five eggs. The cost of feeding
one chicken in this locality is estimated at 9 cents a month."
(Signed) L. C. Henderson, U. S. Veterinary Inspector.
"While fruit raising and gardening are the chief occupations
of the people of Clarkston and Vineland, they are turning their
attention more and more to poultry. The climate here is ideal for
that purpose, and people are rapidly learning that poultry pays.
" The writer having lived for the past ten years engaged in handling
poultry supplies and shipping eggs, can safely say that the poultry
industry has brought in more clear money than any other, with eggs
averaging the producer about 35 cents a dozen the year around, and
poultry always bringing a high price, the market growing steadily better.
"This place offers the best of opportunities to the wide-awake
poultry man."
Clarkston, Wash., June 6, 1910. (Signed) E. J. Bailey.
In the Century Magazine for March, 1908, there was an article
entitled "One-iVcre Ranch." It was the story of a man formerly
living at Minneapolis, Minnesota, who for many years had been a
locomotive engineer. At sixty years of age, his health broken, he
removed to Lewiston-Clarkston. A much neglected one acre place
set out to fruit trees and having a six room house, was offered to him
for $1,400. He bought it and in a leisurely, cautious, but very
intelligent manner Joseph W. Lipe began irrigation farming, loyally
aided by his wife.
The story of Mr. Lipe's experience is not alone the story of one
man's success in a radical change of vocation, but it is a story as well
and perhaps even to better purpose, of what intensive farming means
as opposed to our common extensive farming. His simple, plain
narrative "points a moral and adorns a tale" much better than
any outside comment can, and while it does not relate to poultry
exclusively it does so sufficiently to justify its inclusion at this
point. Mr. Lipe went to Clarkston in 1902, his health has been re-
gained, the previous year — 1907 — he had cleared, from chickens and
eggs, $150, vegetables, $72; fruit, $50 (trees young and few in bearing),
prizes at the fair, $130, and last but by no means least, from Mrs.
Lipe's wonderful preserved fruits and vegetables, $150. This makes
a total of $552 cash returns besides what the family themselves used.
Page Thirty
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
O
That it required good management and constant labor to exact such
returns from one acre of land is evident. But it is easy to see that
Mr. Lipe farms with his brains as well as with his hands, after con-
versing with him. It was a great treat to be conducted by him
and his wife over their little domain and see the marvelous way
in which every inch of ground was economized and hear the story
of their accomplishments all told in a modest and natural way.
But here is Mr. Lipe's own story: — ■
"I have to work very hard, as any one who is successful with
fruit and vegetables must. I get up at four in the morning and work
until about ten A. M., go to work at about three in the afternoon
and work until dark. During the heat of the day I do not work in
the garden, but attend to the chickens, the irrigation or any other
odd jobs that may require attention. A person on a small place
worked intensively cannot leave the water for more than an hour or
two at a time at the outside. I have but one acre here and desire
no more land. We make a good living from it, but as I said before,
a man has to work hard. In time, when the trees grow large and
shade the ground, I intend to do away with the vegetable garden and
put in more chicken pens and give my entire time to raising chickens
and fruit. You have to keep the coops clean, keep the birds well
supplied with fresh dirt, and keep the nests well cleaned and sprayed.
By doing this there is no chance for lice or mites getting into the
coops. We have 70 old hens and 250 young chickens this year.
The Lewiston-Clarkslon Display at the National Apple Show, Spokane
Page Thirty-one
0
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Idaho Peaches
As a rule we keep the hens but two
years, except that the best moth-
ers are kept three years. We raise
only Barred Plymouth Rocks,
Columbia and Black Wyan-
dottes. We cannot raise chickens
so well in the Brooders in the hot
weather. We set the hens all at
one time and as soon as they
come off divide the chickens up
amongst the best mothers and
turn the other hatching hens
back into the flock. One of my
hens mothers 42 chickens hatched
by herself and other hens.
"In gardening we always get
two or three crops of lettuce and
We now have the third crop of peas. Carrots,
be left in the ground all winter
I ship most all of my vegetables
other vegetables.
turnips, onions and parsnips can
and are fresh and nice in the spring.
and fruit to Butte, Missoula, Helena and other Montana towns
"I have the following fruit trees: 50 peach, mostly Elbertas and
Late Crawfords; 3 plum trees, one Tragedy, one Washington, and
one Peach-Plum; 8 apple trees bearing and 20 young trees. They are
Rome Beauty, Jonathan, Newtown Pippin, Spitzenberg, Northern
Spy, Bismarck, Winesap, Wagener, Banana, and Rhode Island
Greening. I have 28 cherry trees, 4 Bing, 4 Hoskin, 14 Royal Anns,
1 Centennial, 1 English Morello, 2 Late Dukes, 1 Montmorency and
1 Early Richmond. Have three Bartlett pear trees, 2 Almond
and three English Walnut trees. Have currants, raspberries, red
and black, and dewberries. Have strawberries for family use only.
The trees are beginning to shade the ground too much for raising
strawberries. When we were regularly raising them we sold as high
as forty crates in a season. We have 80 grape vines, being Flame
Tokays, Rose of Peru, Malaga, Black Hamburg, Black Prince, and
the Niagara. The grapes are going to yield heavily this year as
will also all of my other fruits. We keep a book account of our sales
and take special pains to see that it is properly kept. We do our
own fruit packing and make special efforts to have it well done.
All the culled fruit is fed to the chickens.
"A man of industry and judgment can make a good living on a
five acre tract. While the orchard is growing he should raise berries
and vegetables between the trees. Mrs. Lipe's preserves won 45
prizes at the fair in 1907, 38 first and 7 second prizes."
Clarkston, Wash., June 4, 1910. (Signed) J. W. Lipe.
fage Thirly-two
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
Q
Fruit in General
Lewiston-Clarkston Apples and Grapes
and producing abundantly, are
Other fruits surpass them as money makers
to do well are not yet extensively grown.
All of the temperate zone fruits
appear to thrive in this locality.
Those that are most in evidence
are cherries, peaches, apricots,
pears, grapes and apples. Plums
and prunes are not widely grown.
Each little farm has a supply of
many kinds of fruit for home con-
sumption, as is evidenced by Mr.
Lipe's category of varieties.
Prominent among those thus
found are peach-plums and nec-
tarines, and they certainly are
delicious fruits to the palate and
ornamental features of an orchard
when the fruit is ripening. Apri-
cots, while growing luxuriantly
not much raised commercially.
Pears, while appearing
Cherries
While there are numerous varieties of this dainty fruit raised,
those worthy of special mention may be reduced to three: Bing,
Lambert and Royal Ann. They all grow to perfection, the locality
seeming to be specially adapted to this fruit, and there seems to be
little choice among them except as a matter of personal preference.
The Royal Ann is esteemed the best for canning purposes. Ine
Bing is, perhaps, given the preference oyer the Lambert at the present
time, but whether this will continue is
a question. A new cherry originated in
Clarkston, the Mayhow, may prove to
be the best of all. The Black Repub-
lican, Black Tartarian and other varie-
ties of sweet cherries are grown as, also,
are several varieties of sour cherries.
The trees are planted about 70 to
the acre and a well watered cherry tree
is counted upon for an income of about
$10 a tree, net, annually.
The experience of Mr. Kennedy as
here outlined will give an idea of the
success attending the growing of cherries
in Lewiston-Clarkston: —
Page Thirty-three
Box of Late Crawford Peaches
Q
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Onions Between Rows of Peach and Cherry Trees, Lewiston Orchards
"I have five acres of land in Clarkston. Three acres in cherries —
Bings, Royal Anns and Lamberts — one acre — 100 trees — in Early
and Late Crawford Peaches.
"This year I had more than 13 tons of cherries from 400 trees.
Sold 6 tons delivered in bulk in Clarkston for 4 cents a pound, or
$80 a ton, cash. The other 7 tons I sent to the Co-Operative Cannery
and realized from them, net to me, as much more. My crop was a
good, full crop and I am entirely satisfied with results. My orchard
is 7 years old and was purchased by me in March, 1908."
Clarkston, Wash., July 31, 1908. (Signed) J. C. Kennedy.
Cherries, in 1910, brought five cents a pound at the packing
houses and canneries.
Mr. Bethel, a jeweler of Lewiston, has his home in Clarkston
and raises a good many cherries as evidenced in his memorandum of
results for 1908.
It may be remarked here that a cold, wet spring in 1908, materially
reduced the cherry crop for the year. Mr. Bethel's experience
shows what may be accomplished by a business man on his home
place with little effort at commercial fruit raising.
"I came from Illinois, near Bloomington, where I was born and
raised. I have four acres in Clarkston which is used purely for a home.
I have two acres in lawn and vegetable garden and have the remainder
of the place in orchard. I have 125 cherry trees, consisting of a row
clear around the four acres, and in the orchard every other row is
cherries. From my cherry trees this year I sold two tons of cherries
bringing in $125, selling the Bings to the packers and the Royal Anns
to the canneries. My peaches are Elbertas and late Crawfords. I
have my own apples, pears, apricots, berries, etc. My apple trees
are the Yellow Transparent, Rome Beauty and Spitzenberg. My
peach trees are well loaded this year, and I will have a large amount
of fruit for sale.
Page Thirty-four
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
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"I have three boys, aged 18, 16, and 10 years, who attend to the
orchard and garden, taking care of the fruit. I have my own chickens
and keep a cow and a horse.
"I have a jewelry business in Lewiston and go back and forth to
my business each day. Clarkston is an ideal home town and for a
man with a small family growing up, this is a pleasant way to live.
"I have been here 12 years and have met with success in my
business. As the country settles up there will be good business
openings in this territory."
Lewiston, Aug. 24, 1910. (Signed) J. H. Bethel.
Mr. Peaslee's experience ought to encourage some lover of cherries
to establish an orchard here.
"I received from the Clarkston Fruit Growers' Association
$848 for a trifle over 1,200 boxes of cherries last season. The average
price per pound was just a fraction less than 7 cents. Our crop was
short last season, but at these prices cherry growing is very profitable
and will become more so from now on, owing to the age of the trees
and their ability to carry a heavier crop."
Clarkston, Wash., May 3, 1910. (Signed) Geo. W. R. Peaslee.
Peaches
The Lewiston-Clarkston country seems to be a natural home for
the peach. The trees grow easily and rapidly, produce abundantly,
the fruit is fine in appearance and is well flavored. As in all peach
districts the usual pests must be fought and an occasional late spring
frost be guarded against by means of smudge pots and smudging.
Many of the standard varieties of "peaches are raised. With
two lines of railway, one leading direct to Spokane and the eastern
markets, the other down the Snake river to the large cities of the
Lewiston-Clarkston Canning Co.'s Plant, Lewiston, Idaho
Page Thirty-five
9 CLEAR WATER COUNTRY
coast; with three canneries in operation to aid in handling any
surplus fruit; with a climate that matures a luscious and beautiful
peach if proper attention be given to gathering, packing and market-
ing the product, this region should acquire an enviable reputation in
peach production. The trees begin to bear at two years of age.
A favorite method of planting them, particularly in late years since
apple growing has progressed so rapidly in this section, is to set them
out as "fillers" between the apple trees. As the apple trees are so
much longer reaching maturity the peach trees produce crops for
several years before the former require all the ground. Eventually
the peach trees are dug up leaving the apple trees in full possession.
It is this temporary service to which the peaches are put that gives
them the name of "fillers" in this connection.
_ Mr. F. C. Caswell is one of the older settlers of Clarkston, although
still a young man. His side hill orchard is an extremely inter-
esting one to wander through, and while his experience has been one
not by any means confined to peaches, his statement will fit in here
as showing well the varieties of peaches that may be found in many
of the orchards. No one or two varieties, thus far, has been planted
to the exclusion of many others. They all seem to thrive and produce
abundantly : — ■
"I came to Clarkston 12 years ago from Spokane and had only
about $15, a team and wagon, and a wife and three children.
I came originally from the state of Maine. I purchased five acres
from the Lewiston-Clarkston Co. at $100 an acre, on time, and in
four years sold the five acres for $4,000. I then purchased 17 acres
at $175 per acre and afterwards sold 5]4, acres for $2,000. I am now
living on the remaining 11^ acres which I have improved.
"On this ground I have 1,200 trees in all. There are 200 cherry
trees only six years old and not yet come into full bearing. Have
900 peach trees consisting of Elberta, Globe, Muir, Triumph, Hale's
Early, and Foster. There are also a number of apple, apricot, etc.,
trees for family use. I consider that the Elberta is the best all
around peach to raise in this country.
"I have about 500 grape vines consisting of Black Hamburg,
Muscat, a few Flame Tokay, Franklin Reisling, Zinfindel, and other
vines of different varieties — just about one acre of grapes in all. I
have each year about 4 tons of grapes for sale which bring me 3 or 4
cents a pound, those being the ruling prices. I have a few Concord,
Isabella, Moore's Early, Green Mountain, and Delawares, all of
which do very well here.
"Have about J^ an acre in strawberries, comprising the Warfield,
Clyde and Glen Mary varieties, from which we netted this year $175.
If I were going to start anew with 5 acres I would put all in straw-
berries— if on a ten acre tract would put one-half in strawberries,
as there is more money in them than in any other berries or fruit."
August 6, 1908. (Signed) F. C. Caswell.
Page Thirty-six
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
J
Mr. Caswell's opinion of the Elberta peach is echoed verbally
by others. It will be noted that Mr. Caswell strongly corroborates
the opinion expressed by Mr. Laing regarding strawberry culture.
The warm, sandy bottom lands and slopes of the Snake river
below Lewiston-Clarkston are, practically, all in the hands of fruit
ranchmen. Here, for mile upon mile, as you traverse the big, almost
spectacular canyon, either by steamer or railway train, orchard after
orchard passes in review. Some of these are many years old. At
Wawawai (Rippling Water), some 28 miles below Lewiston, Mr. Wm.
L. La Follette — now Congressman La Follette — had a large ranch at
the time of which this publication treats, which has since been sold by
him, extending from the river to the plateau high above. The eleva-
tion at the river is 678 feet, at the top of the hill 2,484 feet, above
sea level, the plateau being, therefore, 1,800 feet above the river
bottom. On the bottom land there are 275 acres in orchard of which
100 acres are in peaches. This means that there are from 10,000 to
12,000 peach trees on the ranch. There are an equal number of
prune and plum trees and about the same number of pear, apple,
cherry, nectarines, etc., trees. On the plateau there are 2,000
apple trees.
The peach orchard consists principally of the Crawfords, Muir,
Hale's Early, Triumph, Admiral Dewey, Elberta, and Salway varie-
ties. The Muir, Mr. La Follette considered the best peach for quality,
but not commercially, and the Salway he ranked as the best of the
late peaches.
The orchard is irrigated principally by water pumped by a steam
pump from the Snake river. Fifteen hundred gallons of water per
minute are thus supplied and 500 gallons additional are procured
from creeks and springs and utilized by gravity.
As showing what can be done in fruit ranching in this region in a
year when prices are good, Mr. La Follette realized, net, in 1907,
$27,000. The financial depression in the fall of that year so affected
prices for fruit all over the country for 1908 that results that year fell
far below those for 1907. This was the story heard on all sides —
1908 was an "off year" for the fruit grower with a possible exception
to be made in favor of late apples.
Home of P. H. Mullarkey, Lewiston Orchards
Page Thirty-seven
Home of D. R. McDonald, on a Five-Acre Tract
9
CLEAR WATER COUNTRY
Apples
So firmly convinced were the early fruit men that peaches and
cherries were beyond any doubt the preferable fruits to raise about
Lewiston-Clarkston, that slight attention was given to apple culture,
beyond the attempts to raise the fruit for home and local consumption.
The success attending these unpretentious efforts together with the
increasing and more stable market for this particular fruit, coupled
with the lesser risks of marketing owing to the splendid keeping
qualities of the apple, gradually turned the attention of practical
orchardists to growing late or winter
apples. Within recent years therefore
much study has been given to this branch
of horticulture by the growers and they
have been materially assisted by the
local Agricultural Colleges. The feeling
is widespread, all over the Lewiston-
Clarkston and Clearwater country, that
the region is going to develop into a fine
apple growing section. And the people
have the courage of their convictions.
Apple orchards are being planted very
generally and at various altitudes and
under such conditions as to soon and very
conclusively determine the question.
Most of the apple orchards are very
young, but if the bright, symmetric,
healthy appearance of the young trees
seen in Clarkston and Lewiston orchards
means anything, then there is no doubt
of the ultimate outcome.
Well up on the northern slope of the
•Jp^^j Craig mountains just below Lake
Waha, on land now owned by the Waha-
Lewiston Land & Water Co., there is a
large apple orchard at least a quarter of
a century old. For several years the orchard had been neglected and
allowed to deteriorate and run down. The company has recently
taken hold of it according to modern and scientific methods,
and has succeeded in largely restoring it to a state of health-
fulness and productiveness. It now bids fair to become a striking
example of successful apple culture on the elevated portions of the
Lewiston-Clarkston plateau.
Prof. Severance says of the Lewiston orchard lands and their
adaptability for apple culture: — "The texture of this soil compares
very favorably with the best apple, pear and plum soils in other sec-
tions and it is believed that with this elevation, the northern exposure
and the deep rich loam soil, together with our particular climatic
Page Thirty-eight
A Cluster of Wa.gen.er Apples
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
Q
conditions, this will be splendid apple land." What is true of
Lewiston orchards is equally true of other lands in this locality,
of corresponding altitudes and situations.
The apples growing here are stated to be of exceptional quality,
caused by the great amount of sunshine, the nature of the soil, and
the temperature during the growing season inducing a greater
amount than usual of fruit sugar to be developed in the fruit.
Of varieties grown there are, of course, many, depending upon
individual caprice and notion. Of summer apples it may almost be
said that there are none raised for commercial purposes. Among
summer varieties grown the Red June, Wealthy and Yellow Trans-
parent are favorites. In the commercial orchards set out to winter
apples it will be found that the Jonathan, Spitzenberg, Yellow
Newtown Pippin, Rome Beauty and Winesap predominate. On 5
and 10 acre orchard tracts from three to five varieties are usually
set out and on 20 acre tracts from five to eight kinds.
Besides the five varieties mentioned the Black Twig, Gravenstein,
Wagener, Grimes Golden, Gano and others are found. Here and
there some one is growing the Mcintosh Red, Winter Banana or
some other variety in addition to those already named. The Ben
Davis, usually not ranked as a first class apple, here does extremely
well. Known principally as a good keeping and shipping apple,
in this locality it bears well, colors nicely and, as one writer puts it,
"The sometimes friendless Ben has found new life in this section, and
responds to irrigation with bounteous production, and with a quality
that seems to justify a new name in compliment of the achievement."
The five varieties first named appear to have the preference, however,
at the present time.
There is probably no section where there is more methodical
and scientific handling of
orchards than in Lewis-
ton-Clarkston. The
present tendency in
planting apple trees is to
place the trees much far-
ther apart than formerly.
Close planting is discour-
aged. Where, heretofore,
planting 25 feet apart in
the rows was a common
practice, now the more
advanced orchardists are
spacing their trees, 32,
35 and even 40 feet or
more apart each way.
This gives each tree when
fully matured, ample
ground room and allows
Page Thirty-nine
Money Makers in Blu
0 CLEAR WATER COUNTRY
the tree to be so pruned and grown as to prevent crowding, makes
thorough spraying easy, allows the freest circulation of air, and permits
the sun to thoroughly penetrate to every part of the tree, the latter
a most important, indeed experience has shown it to be a vital,
matter in properly coloring the fruit.
In Lewiston-Clarkston good orchard practice does not usually
permit crops of berries, vegetables, or grass to be grown after the
trees reach the bearing period. The ground is kept clean and
thoroughly cultivated. However, Prof. Nelson, Irrigationist of the
Idaho Experiment station, seems to approve the growing and plow-
ing under of green leguminous crops for their enrichment of the
soil in those elements specially needed for fruit production.
The orchards are not free from pests, the codling moth, San Jose
scale, and the aphis family being found. By careful, persistent,
intelligent spraying and scientific handling of the orchards in general,
by all orchardists, these pests are kept in subjection, and, appar-
ently, the damage done by them is not increasing.
To one at all familiar with the horticultural conditions in the
West and who has seen the plateau and elevated parts of the Lewiston-
Clarkston country, it is hard to resist the feeling that within the next
ten years these hills will be covered with some of the finest and
handsomest orchards, particularly of the apple kind, to be found
throughout the United States.
Mr. A. H. Garlinghouse lives in Clarkston and carries on a
marble and granite business in Lewiston. He thinks that "there is a
lot of money to be made here growing apples." One year, recently,
he sold 400 boxes of apples for $700, receiving from $1.75 to $2.50
per box, he doing his own picking and packing. His story is well
worth telling: —
"I came from Southeastern Kansas and formerly lived in Illinois,
where I was born and raised. I have an orchard of 2 3^2 acres in
Vineland, consisting of 98 apple trees, 89 peach trees and 98 cherry
trees. From the 98 cherry trees, in 1908, I sold 3,000 boxes at four
cents a pound. This year cherries sold for 5 cents per pound at
packing nouses, just as they came from the trees. I have the following
variety of apples: Rome Beauties, Jonathans and Newtown Pippins,
and they all do well. This year I will have between 700 and 1,000
boxes of apples and expect to receive $1 per box, clear profit. Besides
this I will have a large amount of culls for the canneries. My peaches
are the Late Crawford and Globe. The trees are well loaded this year
and I expect to get $1,200 net returns for my peach crop this year.
"In addition to my orchard in Clarkston I am proprietor of the
Lewiston ^ farble and Granite Works in Lewiston, where I transact
business during the day and only my evenings and mornings are devoted
to the care of my orchard in Clarkston, where I make my home."
Lewiston, Idaho, Aug. 25, 1910. (Signed) A. H. Garlinghouse.
Page Forty
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 9
The statement of Mr. John Brown is an interesting one covering
as it does a wide range of products and a fair sized acreage, and it is
inserted here as being as appropriate a place as any, even though it
does not relate particularly to apples: —
"I came from Northern Wisconsin and have been in Clarkston
nine years. I own 7^ acres of irrigated land and have my home
on it. I have a family of six children. I have 235 peach trees — ■
Triumph, Early Crawford, Foster, Salway, Elberta and Muir and
a few Orange Cling and Hale's Early. I have also 155 cherry trees,
principally Bing, Lambert and Royal Ann. I have thirty plum trees,
twenty of them Bradshaws; twenty pear trees, principally Idahos and
Winter Nellis, also some apple, apricot and nut trees. Have one-
sixth acre of strawberries, x/i an acre of blackberries, and have set out
100 gooseberries this year. Have about 600 grape vines set out
along the fences.
"I had 7 tons of cherries this year, being only about one quarter
of a crop account of late cold spring which was unusual. Sold 4^
tons to local fruit buyers for which I got 4
cents a pound. I consigned one ton which
brought me 5 cents a pound. I placed about
\Yi tons in the Co-Operative Cannery which
will net me as much as those I sold green.
My cherries this year will bring me about
$600. I marketed $137 worth of straw-
berries and am now marketing my peaches.
Have already sold 450 boxes of Triumphs
for which I received from 40 to 70 cents a
box. I have picked SO far only 58 trees. Flame' Tokay' Grapes
My plums are just coming in. I have
about one acre of melons.
"I figure that I can sell $3,500 in produce off my place each
average year. I will sell only about $1,800 worth this year. This is
an off year everywhere and prices are low. This is the first year we
ever received as low as 4 cents for cherries. I have sold as high as
$900 worth of melons in one season. This is also an off year in melons
and they will not sell as rapidly as usual.
"I do mostly all the work myself. I figure a man can take five
acres and by proper care and management do well on it.
"In nine years, with the exception of two payments I made on
my place, I have paid for it, built a nice comfortable house, bought
two lots in town, and purchased 11% acres at Gardena, Washington,
at $150 an acre which I have nearly paid for now. When my trees
were small I gave a good deal of attention to melon and vegetable
growing."
Lewiston, Idaho, Aug. 4, 1908. (Signed) Jno. Brown.
Page Forty-one
(?
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Grape Exhibit from Lewiston and Clarkston
Grapes
Unless all signs fail, the vineyard is going to closely rival the
orchard in Lewiston-Clarkston. There seems no question but that
the locality is also the natural home of the grape, especially the
European varieties, and great success has for years attended grape
culture.
The valley conforms to all the requirements for scientific and
profitable grape culture and wine and grape juice manufacture,
according to the careful and intelligent study of grape growing
authorities.
Mr. Robert Schleicher of Lewiston has for many years been
raising grapes and making wine and is a recognized authority on
these subjects. He has a fine vineyard a short distance above
Lewiston on the Clearwater river hills. Lewiston-Clarkston grapes
obtained as high an award at the St. Louis Exposition as did those
from California. Mr. Schleicher's exhibit of grapes at the Lewis
and Clark Exposition at Portland in 1905 brought forth a letter
from Prof. Van Deman, President of the Horticulture Jury, in
which he said: — "I wish you could have had more than one gold
medal, for you deserved it. You made the best grape display at the
Exposition." Mr. Schleicher, from his many years' experience in
Page Fvriy-two
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
this valley, estimates the expense of raising and packing grapes at
$75 an acre and the profits at about $400 per acre. Prices received
range from 75 cents to $1.50 a crate.
Mr. J. Schaefer has a 14 acre vineyard, and an attractive one
it is, at Clarkston, or more specifically, Vineland, the product of
which he turns into wine. Experts pronounce the wines made from
grapes in this valley to be equal to the best California wines. Those
of the Sauterne and Rheinish types are said to come nearer to the
European wines than the California wines do. Those who, while
desiring to pursue grape culture, yet prefer not to raise table grapes
nor yet engage in wine-making, might profitably manufacture grape
juice for which there seems to be a growing demand and market.
The hillsides and bottom lands on both sides of the Clearwater
are adapted to grape culture and will in time undoubtedly be largely
devoted to this form of horticulture.
Mr. Hilbert, in charge of Mr. Schleicher's vineyard, states that
the varieties now raised by them are the Flame Tokay, White Malaga,
Rammonia, Muscat, Black Cornichon and Emperor. The first is
an immense bearer and its splendid appearance and good shipping
qualities make it a grape very readily marketable at a good price.
The others, of varying appearance and characteristics, have proved
to be good table grapes and commercially valuable. The American
Concord grape does not do well on Mr. Schleicher's ground, but
others in Lewiston-Clarkston who have raised this variety have affirmed
that they are well satisfied with its performances. The Black
Hamburg and Sweetwater grapes are much grown for local consump-
tion and are fine varieties, but their poor shipping qualities prevent
them from being commercially profitable.
Mr. Hilbert stated that good help is not difficult to obtain in
the running of a vineyard. Day labor costs from $1.25 to $1.50 a
day and board; by the month it is $30 to $35 a month and board.
Vineyards here are but little subject to disease, mildew appearing
now and then but yielding readily to simple remedies. _
As one travels about the Lewiston-Clarkston region inspecting the
orchards and vineyards and talking with their owners, one question
is ever uppermost in one's mind — can a man make a satisfactory
living and be successful on a 5 acre or even a 10 acre tract of land?
This question was put to many of the local people. Naturally,
there were more or less varied answers. These diversities related
largely to matters of detail, there being a general agreement as to
the main proposition. This fact has been more or less emphasized
in the testimonials here adduced. Among the owners of large
properties doubt was expressed as to success being attainable on
a 10 acre farm. Among those who have studied the question and who
have had practical experience in the matter there is but one opinion,
and that is that there is no question regarding it — it can and is
being done. Such experiences as Mr. Lipe's and Mr. Garking-
house's on areas of less than 5 acres would seem to determine the
Page Forty-three
Q
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
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Packing Cantaloupes in Field
matter. The personal equation counts for everything here. The
inert individual and the energetic, brainy man will report radically
opposite results.
Here is a statement by Mr. Berry in regard to this which,
coming from a former grain farmer, should count for something; —
"I like Lewiston orchards and the climate. Have been a grain
farmer. Judging from my limited experience here and my observa-
tions I think a man of ordinary common sense, ability and industry
can, on a five acre tract, after it has come into bearing, make a good
living without excessive labor. Would set out such a tract to
winter apples. Mine is set out to the Yellow Newtown Pippin,
Rome Beauty and Mcintosh Red Apples."
August 3, 1908. (Signed) J. S. Berry.
Another report, by Mr. Mullarkey, an experienced irrigationist
from the Southwest, also makes good argument in favor of the small
fruit farm intensively farmed: —
"I came here from Flora Vista, New Mexico. Am used to
irrigation farming and consider this region all right. I have 20
acres, which is too much for one man to easily handle. If one sets
out that acreage to orchard and does not attempt to farm much
between the rows he can attend to that much land alone. If he
cultivates between rows, after his orchard is in bearing 5 acres is
all that one man can care for without help. A man with a small
family may, usually, be able to buy from 2J^ to 5 acres and make
his deferred payments from crops raised between the trees while the
orchard is coming into bearing.
"I have 8 acres in Bing cherries and Elberta peaches. The
peaches are "fillers" and will be dug out, eventually leaving a
Page Forty-four
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
0
cherry orchard. I have 12 acres in apples — Spitzenberg, Yellow
Newtown Pippin, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, Mcintosh Red, 70
Winter Banana, and a few early sorts. The cherries, peaches and
apples are in one body, are all about two years old and are in fine
condition.
"I have also 1600 Dew-, Logan-, Black-, and Rasp-berries that
will bear next year.
"I think this is bound to become one of the best strawberry
regions in the west."
August 3, 1908. (Signed) P. H. Mullarkey.
Nurseries
The Vineland Nurseries Co. have a 40 acre tract on Clarkston
Heights set out to a nursery. The land is well adapted for this
purpose and is supplied with water on the pressure system. These
nurserymen are experienced in tree growing in this region, and the
location of a good nursery here enables orchardists to obtain their
trees under best possible conditions and after personal inspection.
All delays and dangers of transportation are avoided and the trees in
transplanting undergo no radical changes in soil and climate.
Descriptive literature of a somewhat more detailed sort than
this publication, dealing in various ways with the Lewiston-Clarkston
region and its products, prospects, advantages, etc., may be obtained
by addressing any of the Irrigation & Land Companies here named.
Page Forty-five
Asotin, Wash.
9
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
A Prospect Avenue Residence, Lewiston, Idaho
The Lewiston Commercial Club at Lewiston, or the Clarkston
Chamber of Commerce, Clarkston, Washington, will gladly respond
to all calls for information and can be of great service to all desiring
to learn further concerning this locality.
At the Alaska- Yukon-Pacific Exposition held at Seattle in 1909,
Asotin County, Washington, fruit received the following medals, etc. :
Seven Gold Medals.
Three Grand Prizes, one each for cherries, grapes and peaches.
Three Silk Banners for the best continuous display of fruit at
the Exposition.
There were also forty-seven silver and bronze medals of various
sorts awarded to Asotin County for its excellence in fruit exhibited
at the air.
Some sample crop yields are appended of Asotin County products.
Asotin is the County Seat of Asotin County and Clarkston is in the
extreme northeastern corner of the county.
Some Sample Crop Yields for 1909 from
Asotin County, Washington
Ray Johnson, Anatone, Wash., 70 acres of No. 63 wheat, yielded
47 bushels per acre.
Jas. Sangster, Anatone, Wash., 120 acres 40 Fold wheat, yielded
47 bushels per acre.
W. A. Johnson, Anatone, Wash., 100 acres 40 Fold wheat yielded
55 bushels per acre.
Wm. Benedict, Anatone, Wash., 60 acres No. 63 wheat, yielded
47 bushels per care.
Page Forly-tix
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
J
Threshing an the Nez Perce Prairie, Where the Sack Pile Compare) Favorably with the Straw Pile
D. E. Newell, Anatone, Wash., 400 acres Turkey Red wheat,
yielded 47 bushels per acre.
Virgin Flock, Anatone, Wash., 40 acres winter barley, yielded 80
bushels per acre.
Bery M. Clemans, Anatone, Wash., 350 acres 40 Fold and No. 63
wheat, produced 49 bushels per acre.
R. Sangster, Anatone, Wash., 20 acres 40 Fold wheat, yielded 65
bushels per acre.
Harry Goff, Asotin, Wash., 40 acres of No. 63 wheat, yielded 57
bushels per acre.
G. W. R. Peaslee, Clarkston, Wash., 1200 boxes cherries, sold for
$848 net.
Weldon Wilson, Silcott, Wash., 2 acres production of water
melons, sold for $1,000.
John Brown, Clarkston, Wash., }/£ acre Rockyford cantaloupes,
sold for $305.
J. T. Travis, Clarkston, Wash., \l/2 acres on Clarkston Heights.
Watermelons sold for $500, being more than cost of the land.
Lorer & Spohn, Clarkston, Wash., 7 acres of garden truck, sold
for $3,500 net.
J. P. Eastwood, Clarkston, Wash., 900 boxes of peaches, sold for
$900.
The Clearwater Valley
Practically all that has been written here regarding Lewiston-
Clarkston applies, with certain obvious modifications, to the Clear-
water valley. The conditions of soil, climate, water, products, are,
virtually, the same. The topography of the valley determines its
possibilities for agriculture and horticulture. Here the valley is
narrow with little or no bottom land; there the hills spread apart
affording a wide area of splendid soil at their bases; now the hill
slopes are steep or rocky with no chance for cultivation; again they
Page Forty-seven
0 CLEARWATER COUNTRY
A Shipment of Horses from Nez Perce, Idaho
are nicely terraced making ideal slopes and broad benches for vine-
yards and orchards.
The elevation at Lewiston is, as heretofore given, 738 feet; at
Joseph, 11 miles above Lewiston at the mouth of Lapwai creek and
the junction of the Lewiston line of the Northern Pacific Railway
with the Camas Prairie branch line of railway to Grangeville, the
elevation is 811 feet; Agatha, 15 miles above Joseph, is 906 feet above
sea level; at Oro Fino, just above the mouth of the North fork of the
Clearwater and 17 miles above Agatha, the elevation is 1,027 feet; at
Kamiah, 23 miles above Oro Fino, it is 1,196 feet, and Kooskia, 7
miles beyond Kamiah and at the junction of the main stream and
the Middle fork, is 1,261 feet above the sea.
The physical characteristics are in the main similar to those at
Lewiston-Clarkston. The broad plateau feature is greatly lacking
except at the extreme tops of the valley, or canyon slopes, where the
wide prairie grain fields are found. There are also found along the
bottom lands and on the slopes of the river hills quite extensive areas
of timber of the coniferous varieties. Beyond Agatha these tim-
bered zones increase. At many points they, in connection with the
undulating, grassy, terraced slopes and the springs of water or small
streams, form most beautiful parks, destined some day to become
orchard or vineyard homes of extreme attractiveness.
In the region about Agatha there is a good deal of tillable
land. On the north side of the river there is a wide bench several
miles in length, of open land admirably situated for cultivation.
The old Indian trail that Lewis and Clark followed in 1806 wound
along this open ground and fragments of it can even now be dis-
covered here and there.
Near Oro Fino there is a widening of the valley and a consequent
increase in area of available ground for horticulture.
At Kamiah the valley opens out in fine style forming one of the
most beautiful landscapes to be found anywhere within the mountain
regions of the West. It is a landscape poem.
Page Forty-eight
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
4
When the Nez Perce Indian Reservation was opened the Indians
as individuals became the owners of a large part of the lands border-
ing the Clearwater. While there are thus many Indian land owners,
the white ownership is largely predominant. The two races live in
perfect harmony and the Indians are good farmers, confining them-
selves principally to livestock, dairy and grain farming.
The sale of the Indian lands to the Whites is under certain
restrictive regulations. The lands owned by the Indians, however,
are now quite rapidly passing into the hands of the Whites. Lands
not subject to sale may be leased by the Indians, but all sales and
leases must be made through the Interior Department.
Mr. Schaeffer, of Lewiston, already referred to, has a fine vine-
yard of 65 acres at Agatha. It is beautifully located on the north
side bench before mentioned, about 300 feet above the river. The
soil is volcanic ash and the surface is gently rolling. The grapes
grown are wine grapes and comprise Black Hamburg, Rose of Peru,
Sweetwater, Black Permouse, Riesling and several other varieties.
There are 10 acres set out to native wild grape vines on which
domestic vines will be grafted in the hope of securing a more sturdy
stock, one immune from phyloxera. This disease has not made its
appearance in this region and it is hoped by watchfulness and care
to keep it out. A slight touch of mildew in this particular vineyard
yielded at once to a dusting of sulphur.
These vines are three years old and are expected to bear 10 tons
of grapes an acre at four years old and thereafter. There are 600
vines to the acre. Irrigation is not practiced and it is unnecessary.
Alfred Day Pardee's Camp on Clearwater at Pardee Station
Page Forty-nine
9 CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Mr. Haskins says that the soil on the north side of the river is
preferable for grapes and that on the south side is better for peaches.
The seasons are earlier in the spring and later in the fall on the
north side than on the south side of the valley. Frosts come later
in the fall than about Lewiston-Clarkston.
In the vicinity of Agatha Mr. Haskins estimates the Indians own
about one-eighth of the land. There are good farms for sale along
the river but the Indian farms have been somewhat difficult to buy
owing to the restrictions heretofore mentioned. The situation in
this respect will gradually change for the better.
There is much difference in the character of the land and owing
to the rough or timbered nature of the ground, in many cases, it is
often necessary in order to obtain from 25 to 60 acres of tillable
land to purchase a much larger acreage. Prices range from $20
to $30 per acre.
There are many springs of fine water on the slopes of both sides
of the canyon.
About two miles from Kamiah lies a most delightfully situated
ranch. It is on the west side of the wide valley among the foothills,
is washed by the Clearwater river, slopes gently to the north and
east, and affords one of the most refreshing panoramic views imag-
inable. It is just south of the mouth of Lawyer's Canyon and
the old Indian trail by which Lewis and Clark issued from that
canyon. It overlooks the distant camp ground of the explorers
where, for a month in 1806, the smoke from their camp fires ascended
toward the skies as they waited for the snow in the mountains to
melt that they might recross them and retrace their homeward steps.
Mr. Geo. Runkel, a former mining and civil engineer of Wisconsin
and other states, owns this ranch and was drawn to it by the beauty
of its location and the mild and healthful climate. Mr. Runkel has
been here nine years. Land here is worth from $25 to $100 an acre,
is fine for alfalfa, timothy, clover and grains. Alfalfa yields two
crops annually amounting to four or five tons an acre worth $10 a
ton baled. After the second crop the field is also pastured. Timothy
will run two tons to the acre, worth $15 a ton. Not much clover is
raised.
Wheat yields from 30 to 50 bushels an acre for winter wheat and
the yield is somewhat less for spring wheat; oats and barley run from
60 to 80 bushels to the acre. Sweet potatoes yield well and Irish
potatoes yield 200 bushels to the acre. Corn is not a pre-eminent
success, but yields fairly well in some places.
Turkeys and chickens do well here, and it is a good locality for
grapes. Mr. Runkel grows the Concord, Black Hamburg, Flame
Tokay, Isabella, Delaware, Niagara and Sweetwater varieties. The
Concords are as finely flavored as in the East.
Dewberries and red raspberries grow nicely, better than black-
berries.
Page Fifty
NORTHERN PA CI FIG RY 0
Mr. Runkel has 40 acres in orchard, principally in apples. He
has 4,000 trees. The varieties of summer apples grown are Early-
Harvest, and Red Astrachan; of winter apples he raises Gravenstein,
Grimes Golden, Baldwin, Spitzenberg and Northern Spy. He has
also some Newtown Pippins, but cannot yet say what the results with
them will be. Mr. Runkel says the finest varieties of apples can be
raised here and that the common grades do better in this part of the
valley than they do at higher altitudes. The elevation at his ranch
is about 1,400 feet above sea level.
Peaches and apricots have not done well in Mr. Runkel's experi-
ence; the soil he thinks is too heavy and strong. After trying peaches
for some years he dug up 200 trees that were 7 years old.
Cherries are a great success. Royal Ann, Bing, Lambert and
Black Tartarian are the best varieties to plant.
It is a good pear country. The Bartlett, Keiffer and Anjou all
yield good crops year after year, as do all the other fruits named
that are grown successfully. Mr. Runkel has never had any trouble
from pear blight.
Almond trees grow well but may or may not be profitable in the
long run.
Irrigation is unnecessary except in very hot weather in July and
August. Mr. Runkel uses a 25 H. P. gasoline engine and a Duplex
pump that pumps water from the Clearwater river to his orchard
360 feet above the stream.
Of ornamental, etc., trees that thrive in this soil and climate,
the catalpa, silver poplar, the willows, box elder, black walnut and
elm may be noted.
The meteorological conditions about Kamiah are not materially
different from what they are at Lewiston-Clarkston. Frost does not
appear after the first of May, nor before November first, as a rule,
and sometimes it is much later than November first, before the fall
frosts appear. Robins sing in the orchards all winter long.
Most of Mr. Runkel's immediate neighbors are Nez Perce Indians,
and from his ranch home the little Indian Presbyterian Church
embowered among trees across the Clearwater river may plainly be
seen. Here, Sunday after Sunday, with unfailing regularity, the
Nez Perces, who are extremely and consistently religious, meet and
worship. Their religion is of the seven days in the week kind and
in their daily lives they are moral, honest, upright, sober, practicing
their religious teachings.
Kamiah is a thriving town having a Commercial Club, two
banks, numerous stores, hotels, a newspaper, two churches, good
schools, several saw mills, a planing mill and box factory, etc. A
good water system is about being put in and a steel bridge is soon to
be constructed across the Clearwater river.
The name Kamiah is from the Indian word Kam-i-yahp, and was
called Commearp, or Cammeap, by Lewis and Clark. It is the old
Page Fifty-one
J
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Indian name of the present Lawyer's Canyon creek. Just what it
means is not certain, possibly "pretty valley," which would make
it very fitting.
The town is well located and growing and is the commercial point
for a large section of the Nez Perce prairie lying above it.
The following memorandum of Mr. Waterman, Cashier of the
State Bank of Kamiah, will show what is thought of the locality from
a banker's standpoint : —
"I came here over a year ago from Southern Minnesota, and am
well pleased with the country and business conditions. The farmers
are proving up, getting on their feet financially, and getting in a
position to push right ahead. Our great variety of resources makes
this a safe country in which to do business. Our climate is excellent
and permits us to raise almost anything in the fruit line. Dairying
is destined to be one of our greatest industries. I have seen the best
crops of small grain here that I have ever seen anywhere. This is a
country where there is plenty of room for people willing to work and
get ahead, for the man of limited means as well as the man who is
well to do. "
Kamiah, Idaho, Aug. 21, 1908. (Signed) Geo. H. Waterman.
The dairy interests' to which Mr. Waterman refers seem destined
to become a very important part of the business of the town and
country adjoining. The splendid grasses and pasturage of the wide
plains bordering the Clearwater, with the mild climate and good
water afford a substantial and enduring foundation for dairying
that cannot be discontinued. This opinion is also held by the
agricultural college chiefs.
Jumbo Mine {Mill), Buffalo Hump
Paye Fifty-two
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 9
The ranchmen are gradually working into good blooded stock
and there are now hundreds of cows supplying cream that is shipped
from Kamiah to Spokane.
The timber business is also good. There are several sawmills,
employing from five to twenty-five men each, within a few miles of
Kamiah.
Mr. E. D. Parr's opinion of the valley will be interesting to
many as those of a man who, having been here for several years, are
based upon extended experiences: —
"I have resided here during the eight years last past, and during
that period there has been no failure or partial failure of any crop.
The country is adapted to a great variety of products. Wheat, oats,
barley, timothy, clover and alfalfa do well. All kinds of vegetables
and melons can be produced in abundance. Wherever corn has
been properly planted and cultivated, results have been very satis-
factory. Fruits and berries of all kinds have been a success in the
past. Besides this the country is adapted to stock raising, especially
that of the dairy cow. The feeding season is short, seldom extending
over a period of three months. The climate is all that can be desired
— summers cool and winters mild. Prices for farm produce have
been good.
"Our great variety of staple products is a valuable asset which
few communities can claim.
"The continuous development of the adjacent timber and
mineral resources will increase our already good markets. All are
reasonably prosperous and full of hope for the future. "
Kamiah, Idaho, Aug. 20, 1908. (Signed) E. D. Parr.
The Great Prairie Country
Enclosed between the Snake river, the Bitter Root mountains,
and the extreme lower Salmon river lies the great prairie region of the
Clearwater country, the old roaming ground of the Nez Perce tribe —
the tribe of Chief Joseph — and their forebears, the Chopunnish.
As heretofore noted that part of this magnificent prairie lying
between the Snake and Clearwater rivers is divided by the Kam-i-
yahp, or Lawyer's Canyon, into two nearly equal sections. The one
to the north, formerly known as the Cold Spring's, is now called Nez
Perce, prairie after the Nez Perce Indians, and the prairie lying
south of the big gulch is called Camas prairie, after the nutritious
and indigenous root that was such an important article of food in the
household economy of that tribe.
The plateau between the Clearwater river and the Bitter Root
mountains is known as the Weippe prairie.
In a general sense what is true of one is true of all of these sections.
The elevation, about;3,000-3,300 feet above seaievel; the rainfall
about 30 inches; the general character of the soil and country; the
climate; and the nature of farming followed, are essentially the same
in each locality.
Page Fifty-three
» CLEARWATER COUNTRY
The climate of this prairie region is in many respects ideal. For
raising small grain it could not be better. The summers are never
excessively hot nor are the winters at all severe. The thermometer
seldom reaches zero and when it does it rarely remains there for more
than a few hours. In the last six years there have been but six
nights in which the mercury went below zero. In the summer it is
not often that the mercury goes above 96 degrees and even this heat
does not last long and the nights are always cool. Hard winds and
dust storms are unknown here.
Snow comes about December 1-15. In March there is usually
a period of fine weather when the spring grain is sown. From April
15 to July 10 there are periods of rain at varying intervals. In
winter the snow forms a protective, warm, ground covering so that
potatoes, which are a fine crop, remain in the ground all winter
without freezing and then will, if allowed, produce a volunteer crop.
The prairie tubers are firm, solid and of superb quality.
Here is a country that is, perhaps, unsurpassed anywhere for
fertility. The yields of wheat, barley, oats, flax and hay are often
beyond comprehension to the average Easterner who has not visited
the Pacific Northwest. On Nez Perce and Camas prairies crop
failure is almost unknown. It is the land of great harvests and
tremendous possibilities.
The proof of the excellence of the prairie soil is the millions of
bushels of grain produced in this section. The soil is very dark and
exceedingly fertile, and has a depth of from one to six feet. Some of
the more careful farmers have tilled this soil from eight to ten years
without having to summer fallow. With such a soil and aided by
the abundant rainfall, government bonds are not safer security than
are the fertile acres of this Idaho prairie country.
No irrigation is ever necessary here, this being one of the very
few sections east of the Cascades and west of the Rockies that has
an abundance of rain for at least eight months of the year. It is a
country where the grass remains green throughout the summer
months.
Both spring and fall grain are raised, that planted in the fall
producing the heavier yield.
When the claim is made that these prairies constitute the banner
country for raising small grain the prairie farmer is ready with the
proof to make it good. With a soil and climate that causes wheat
to yield from 25 to 60 bushels an acre, oats and barley from 35 to
100 bushels, and flax from 10 to 30 bushels, the dweller on the Nez
Perce and Camas prairies feels that he need not hesitate to claim
that his is the best small grain country on earth. Wheat that went
62 bushels to the acre, taking a gold medal at the St. Louis Exposition
and also at the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland
in 1905, speaks for itself as to the merits of this section This
Page Fifty-four
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 0
Barley, Estimated 65 to 70 Bushels to the Acre
upland barley is very superior, being nearly all of it purchased by
Eastern brewers for brewing barley. The oats in this section are
said to surpass in quality and yield oats raised in almost any other
part of the United States.
From this region is supplied the far-famed Craig mountain hay
that is unexcelled for quality. Breeders of fine horses, after using
this hay will have no other. Fine, bright, clean and green — -with
all the qualities of the finest hay ever produced — it goes upon the
market without meeting a real competitor, selling on an average for
$4< more a ton than any other hay sold on the Northwest coast.
The yield of timothy is about V/z tons an acre, and it brings from $10
to $15 and, occasionally, $20 a ton.
A timothy field on these j>rairies is a wonderful sight. The
plant is remarkably strong and ealthy, grows to a great height, is per-
sistent in overrunning its set bounds and has to be fought like a weed
to prevent it from monopolizing all creation. Like grain and potatoes
it is a volunteer crop in this region.
No section of Idaho, or indeed of the Northwest, furnishes more
or better cattle, horses and hogs than the Nez Perce and Camas
prairies and the Craig mountain country. Cattle and horses in many
instances live on the wild range along the rivers and creeks that
surround the prairie, and winter well. The raising of good, well
bred horses has been systematically carried on as may be seen when
it is stated that good farm horses cost from $200 to $600 a pair.
There are large numbers of Durham and Hereford cattle raised.
Sheep do well, but as yet there have been few of them raised.
Poultry has never received much attention commercially, but all
kinds thrive and do well.
Page Fifty-five
0
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Wheat, Estimated 65 to 70 Bushels to the Acre
This is an exceptionally fine country for hogs, these animals
bringing to the stock raiser one of the largest incomes of any line
of stock. Large numbers of the best breeds are raised at great
profit to the farmers. They are pastured on timothy and grain
stubble, at about 250 pounds weight, usually in the Coast cities.
Prices for several years have averaged from five to eight cents a
pound on the hoof, and it is figured that in feeding wheat to hogs the
grain nets the farmer from 75 to 85 cents a bushel. It is a fact that
diseases of swine are unknown in the prairie country.
In the rough, mountainous Salmon river country, also, there are
extensive herds of good cattle and sheep. These, with the wool
clip, find an outlet through Grangeville and the railway to the out-
side markets.
The following letter and statistics are valuable supplementary
data as to what has been stated regarding the livestock industry:
"Relative to your inquiry requesting data as to sales of live
stock on the prairie, I herewith enclose memorandum of railroad
shipments by us from July 1, 1907 to September 1, 1908; this includes
shipments from Stites, Kooskia, Kamiah, Greer and other points on
the Clearwater branch of the Northern Pacific.
"This does not include 300 head shipped by Robert H. Jones
from Lewiston on a contract he handled from there, nor does it
include 1,360 head shipped from Council to Portland, nor 443 head
of cattle and 861 head of hogs shipped by C. C. Day, acting for
Bales & Jones, from Lewiston. These are all Bales & Jones deals,
but were not handled from here.
"We have also shipped from prairie points to ourselves at Anacon-
da, Montana, 960 head and from Washington points to same desti-
nation 300 head, and these shipments are not included in our list
but were handled by the Northern Pacific Railway.
Page Fifty-six
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
Q
'/'The bulk of this stuff has gone to Spokane and Seattle, although
a large proportion has gone to various railroad camps handled by
meat contractors; one large shipment went to Mandan, N. D., on a
government contract.
Grangeville, Idaho, Sept. 4, 1908. (Signed) Bales-Jones Co.
LIVE STOCK SHIPMENTS BY BALES & JONES.
July 1, 1907 to Sept. 1, 1908.
DATE.
July 1907
August 1907
September 1907
October 1907
November 1907
December 1907
January 1908
February 1908
March 1908
April 1908
May 1908
June 1908
July 1908
August 1908
Total
CATTLE.
HOGS
1304
329
1072
«...
807
406
1415
406
959
355
1075
1204
768
920
358
875
697
901
687
556
234
911
321
1981
528
243
473
480
SHEEP.
502
309
751
215
223
10698
9567
2000
While, naturally, owing to the former lack of transportation facili-
ties, the dairy industry is in its infancy, there is every evidence that
before many years it will be one of the greatest revenue producers
that the region possesses.
Page Fifty-seven
Yellow Pine, Craig Mountain
4
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Salmon Fishing, Lewiston, Idaho
Band oj Cattle on Snake River, at Asotin
Owing to the fact that the grass remains green throughout the
entire summer this is an ideal dairy country. Dairy firms in Lewiston
and Spokane have a fine line of customers through this country even
now and the receipts from the sale of cream are already large. The
Commercial Cream Company have a branch in Lewiston and supply
the local markets with butter and jice cream, shipping annually
about 250,000 pounds of butter and 350,000 pounds of ice cream.
The herds of cows are of good quality and are constantly being
improved by the infusion of fresh and high grade blood.
On some parts of the prairie a fine milking strain of the Durham,
or Shorthorn, breed is being raised to advantage. Creamery sta-
tions are continually being established in the prairie towns where-
ever conditions justify it.
Good, pure, soft water is found at depths varying from 50 to 275
feet, according to location. In the vicinity of Craig, mountain
springsjire abundant and the wells are of slight depth.
Good farming land within reasonable distances of the railway
canjbe'bought at prices ranging from $30 to $50 or $60 per acre.
At more remote distances from the railway it can be purchased at
lower prices, but these figures will surely be advanced in the near
future.
For the ordinary ranch hand the wages are $30 per month and
board during about eight months of the year. For the four months
during harvest these prices range from $2.50 to $5 a day, according
to the work done. Mining and skilled labor command higher prices.
On the western border of the Nez Perce prairie and commencing
about four miles west of Vollmer, is the Craig mountain timber belt
extending west and south to the Snake and Salmon rivers. This
large area comprises a table land that is moderately undulating and is
covered with the finest of yellow pine, red fir and tamarack. This
land when cut over and cleared makes the finest timothy land on the
coast. This section has a number of sawmills that cut for home
consumption and manufacture shop stuff for the eastern markets.
As yet hardly a beginning has been made on this large body of
timber, which will mean so much to the towns in its vicinity. The
Page Fifty -eigh
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY
9
new railway from Craig Junction, on the Camas Prairie line, to Win-
chester will facilitate the development of this timber belt.
The proximity of this and other timber belts in the adjacent
mountain ranges ensures low priced fuel, four foot cordwood in
Grangeville, for example, costing $5.50 per cord.
Inasmuch as the Clearwater prairie region in its entirety is
relatively of recent settlement and development, the exact status of
horticulture may be said to be somewhat undetermined. That in
many localities it is a pronounced success is certain. On the Nez
Perce and Camas prairies, almost every farmer has a fair sized
orchard. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, prunes, blackberries,
dewberries, red and black raspberries, strawberries, currants and
gooseberries are raised.
In some places early peaches have been grown successfully, but
the season is too short, apparently, to certainly mature late peaches.
The Foster and Alexander varieties do well. Bartlett, Winter
Nellis and Flemish Beauty pears are a success, and Bing, Royal Ann,
Oxheart, Gov. Wood and other cherries come to splendid maturity.
For canning cherries the Montmorency, May Duke and Late Duke
are grown. The varieties of berries attain great perfection and the
prairie berries should, in the future, become noted for their excellence
if grown with discrimination and care.
Certain varieties of apples are, apparently, bound to do well at
many localities, especially where a little natural protection can be
afforded.
Two orchards situated on the hillsides above Grangeville may
serve as an indication of what the future may bring forth. These
orchards cover fairly well the entire range of fruits, are somewhat
higher than Grangeville, the elevation of which is 3,300 feet, and
they both have a northerly exposure. That of Mr. Trueblood is
Page Fifty-nine
Cedar on North Fork
0 CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Some Camat Prairie Big Fellows
small and devoted principally to
cherries, and certainly the trees
were fine specimens of their kind
and were loaded with delicious
fruit. Prominent among several
varieties were the Bing and Royal
Ann, two of the standard varie-
ties of sweet cherries raised in
the West. Mr. Trueblood has a
good opinion of the prairie
country for fruit, especially the
hillsides, which are immune from frost.
The orchard of Mr. Horning is much larger and the trees and
berry canes are several years old. Mr. Horning says that while grapes
do not do well here, as a berry country the region cannot be beat.
All the varieties, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries and straw-
berries, do well; the latter, he says, grow "as large as hens' eggs."
The berry canes bore out his statements. Pears and cherries, he
states, likewise produce well.
Mr. Homing's experience with apples indicates that the Newtown
Pippin, Northern Spy and the Baldwin are not well adapted to this
particular locality. The Spitzenberg does fairly well but does not
grow to large size, and the same is true of the Golden Russet and
Geniton. The Jonathan, Belleflower, Gravenstein, Duchess of
Oldenberg, Wealthy, Rhode Island Greening and Missouri Pippin
are good varieties, and for domestic use he suggests also the Rambo
and the King. The Snow and Early Harvest, summer apples
grown, are very fine.
One strong point named for this region as a fruit country is the
fact that its elevation, practically, at least up to the present time,
renders it free from pests. There is no trouble from the codling
moth but there is some with the aphis.
With some varieties of apples a heavy crop one year may be
followed by a light crop the succeeding year.
It is not improbable that a more extended and scientific experi-
ence in orcharding will prove this region a decidedly good one for
apple culture. This applies to both the Nez Perce and Camas
prairies.
No more healthful country exists than these upland prairies.
They are free from many of the diseases commonly contracted in
older settled regions, and the death rate is one of the lowest on record
according to the population.
A system of efficient free schools exists all over the region and
the larger towns have good graded schools. All religious denom.
nations are represented and many good churches are in evidence.
Good towns are well scattered over both the Nez Perce and Camas
prairies. With the lack of transportation facilities heretofore, the
growth of these towns and the surrounding country has of course
Page Sixty
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
been of the slow, quiet sort. With little blowing of trumpets they
have slowly but surely forged ahead, the focal points of such immi-
gration as was attracted to the region by the unpretentious methods
of publicity used. Many of them, patterning after their larger and
more ambitious sister cities, have had their Chambers of Commerce
or similar organizations watching the trend of events, doing what
they could to build up the country and waiting, more particularly,
for the psychological moment when they could hopefully "push
things."
With the completion of the Northern Pacific Camas Prairie
branch line from Cul de Sac, extending straight across the prairies
to Grangeville, that moment arrived. With this line supplementing
the Clearwater branch to Kamiah and Stites, these old Indian
hunting grounds are now well supplied with the one thing formerly
lacking — transportation. Now that this is the case the towns are
awake to the opportunity presented and will, undoubtedly, present
the claims of their beautiful, historic land to those seeking homes in
the West, with vigor and intelligence.
It would seem invidious and of no avail to attempt comparisons
of these little centers of population. They have been established
naturally, as the nuclei of the pioneers who have ingathered here.
They will undoubtedly continue in that relation as the country
becomes settled.
Among those towns on Nez Perce prairie, that may be mentioned,
are Fletcher, Forest, Ilo, Mohler, Nez Perce, Vollmer, Westlake,
Winchester and Woodside.
While these are all prospering and all possess the elements of
successful growth, the two larger and m re pretentious at the present
time, perhaps, are Vollmer, on the railway, and Nez Perce, 10 miles
east of it. Schools, churches, hotels, stores, mills, etc., are common
to most of them. Nez Perce has a system of water works and
electric lights; Westlake has a creamery and also water works;
Vollmer, less than two years old, has many business houses, and
dentists, physicians, lawyers, a bank, etc. A railway has recently
been completed between Nez Perce and Vollmer that is a great
convenience to the people in this section.
Plowing and Seeding on the Nez Perce Prairie
Page Sixty -one
0 CLEARWATER COUNTRY
On Small's Ranch
Across the deep Lawyer's Canyon on the Camas prairie the same
situation obtains. Here are Keuterville, Fenn, Ferdinand, Dryden,
Winona, Denver, Green Creek, Cottonwood, Grangeville and other
local centers each with its own bit of territory to sustain it. Over
on the Salmon river are Whitebird, Freedom, Lucile and other
towns, business points of importance.
Of all these places Grangeville, the county seat of Idaho county,
is the largest and is a pleasant town, attractively located. It
has a population exceeding 3,000 and all the usual appurtenances,
commercially and otherwise, of a good progressive county seat town.
It is the terminus of the Camas Prairie branch line of the Northern
Pacific and is about ten miles from Stites, the terminus of the
Clearwater branch.
South from Grangeville are the mining towns of Mt. Idaho,
Newsome, Elk City, Raymond, Florence, Dixie, etc. The Buffalo
Hump region lies still farther to the south.
Most of these mining towns have interesting histories. They
stand for a period long gone when placer mining flourished, and they
have supplied millions upon millions of dollars of silver and gold to
the channels of trade. It would be difficult to state with accuracy
how much, but Nez Perce and Idaho counties are today producing
between $250,000 and $300,000 annually. As transportation lines
are extended the mining industry will improve. Besides gold and
silver, copper is beginning to assume an importance in Idaho mining.
There are many small unpretentious mines found in the Salmon
river country and these afford good markets for the ranchmen who
are scattered along the bottom lands and benches.
As the mining interests grow and the old towns resume their old
time importance and new ones are established, they will provide
increasing and stable markets for the produce of the prairies. Each
Page Sixty-two
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
section, therefore, is the complement of the other, and this main-
tains an equilibrium, both in demand and supply and- in prices,
that is of great importance in the prosperity of the entire region.
The appended statements and experience letters from persons
resident in the prairie country cover both Nez Perce and Camas
prairies and are from persons some of whom are engaged in com-
mercial occupations, others in farming. These communications are
typical of what one hears and sees on all sides, and fairly represent
the conditions and possibilities of this region.
The Prairie Country Is Good For
Diversified Farming
"As to the advantages of the Camas Prairie district in Idaho
county to a farmer with limited means, will say: This bank has
numerous customers who came here a few years ago with small or no
capital, rented for a year or two, then made a small payment on a
farm and went ahead to farm their own land. Their success is
owing to the fact that they had good soil and climate, light expenses
and sold something the year round. An industrious family with
three or four cows, a flock of hens, a few sows and a garden, can get
along under any circumstances.
"The advantages are: That a farmer can, on 160 acres, sell
something all the year round; timothy hay of the first quality —
timothy is a weed here, naturalized — a few cattle, fat hogs, apples,
plums, prunes, berries of all kinds, potatoes, these with weekly
shipments of cream, eggs and poultry, pay all the expenses until
harvest comes, when he generally has a big cleanup.
"Many of the most successful farmers feed the crops to hogs,
they claim they realize seventy cents and upwards per bushel for
wheat when fed to a good hog and save the expense of threshing.
Disease among hogs is unknown in this district.
"Timothy hay is as valuable a crop as grain when properly
managed, the market is very good, the yield per acre good, the
expense light, and with the advent of railway communication the
market will be continuous the year round.
"The diversified farmer and the one who raises and fattens the
most hogs usually has the best bank account.
"This is an exceptionally good dairy country, climate, grass and
water are already here, the cool nights favor the growth of roots,
also corn for ensilage, a luxuriant growth of clover ensures large
returns in milk and cream, and with railway communication the
returns will be immense. "
(Signed) Bank of Camas Prairie,
John Norwood, Atiutant Cashier.
Grangeville, Idaho, July 30, 1908.
Page Sixty-three
® CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Farms Pay Big Dividends
"I came to Grange ville, Idaho, in the year 1892, from Whiteside
County, Illinois. Since that time I have been engaged in farming
and stock-raising quite extensively.
"I can say that the nearest to a failure in grain crop I have ever
had was in the year 1894, my winter wheat only making an average
of 30 bushels an acre.
"We have excellent pasture in this section, and get early beef in
June, and the prices are usually about equal to Chicago prices for
the same grade of beef. For hogs we usually get Chicago prices.
"On my farm the work is carried on in a systematic form. I
can say that this country will pay greater dividends than Illinois or
Iowa, having liv ' in both states and drawn my conclusions there-
from.
"Land values, when I came here, ranged from $7 to $15 an acre.
During 1894 they were even cheaper than that. Now, I consider
that my farm consisting of 440 acres is worth at least $60 an acre.
Grangeville, Idaho, Aug. 7, 1908. (Signed) E. S. Sweet.
Made Money Growing Grain
"I was born in the state of Missouri and came to the Nez Perce
prairie twelve years ago with $1,500. I am now the owner of 420
acres of good land near Vollmer, Idaho, and have other property
worth as much as the land I own. Made my money raising grain
and in the advance of land."
Vollmer, Idaho, Aug. 14, 1908. (Signed) W. E. Marckel.
All Are Prospering
"I came to Idaho County in the year 1879 and to Grangeville
in 1886.
"The country at that time was in a crude and raw state, the
chief industry being stock-raising. Since that time, however, a
great change has taken place. The prairie has been gradually broken
up, and is nearly all in a high state of cultivation. I consider Camas
Prairie one of the best, if not the best, agricultural sections in the
Northwest.
"I am, at present, Manager of the Alexander-Freidenrich Co.,
Ltd., Department Store, doing a volume of business each year
which places me in a position to Bay that the people of Idaho County
are a progressive, prosperous people, meeting their bills very
promptly. "
Grangeville, Idaho, Aug. 7, 1908.
(Signed) Frank McGrane, Mgr.,
Alexander-Freidenrich Co., Ltd.
Page Sixty-four
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 9
Made Money in Mercantile Business
"Fourteen years ago I left Scotland and came to America and
took up a homestead in the vicinity of Vollmer. I have met with
splendid success. I have engaged in the general mercantile business
in this section and have an up-to-date stock of goods to the value
of $45,000. I am also the owner of several pieces of land. My
success is far above my expectations."
Vollmer, Idaho, Aug. 14, 1908. (Signed) Alexander Maw.
The People Pay as They Go
"One year ago I came here from Missouri and opened a mer-
chandise store. I can truthfully say that the volume of business
was about three times more than I had anticipated. The people on
Camas prairie have money to pay for everything, consequently we
have no accounts to collect.
"I consider the climate the best that I have experienced in any
section, and the water is soft and of the very best quality. This is
one of the finest agricultural sections in the Northwest."
Grangeville, Idaho, Aug. 7, 1908. (Signed) S. J. Foster.
Has Made Money from the Start
"I am a native of Illinois. I came to Nez Perce prairie four
years ago with about $1,000 and since that time I have become the
owner of 463 acres of Nez Perce prairie land, all stocked. I am also
the owner of several business houses in Vollmer, Idaho, where I
now hold the position of secretary and treasurer in the Bank and
Trust Company of Vollmer. "
Vollmer, Idaho, Aug. 15, 1908. (Signed) W. L. Lyon
Great Country for Horses and Hogs
"I came from South Dakota to Camas Prairie six years ago and
bought 623 acres of land, the price being $10 per acre. My land is
now worth $60 per acre.
"I have raised Hereford cattle, Percheron horses and Berkshire
hogs, and I am well satisfied with the results. Horses grow to
perfection here, they never have the heaves, nor have I ever seen a
blind horse, unless where one eye had been lost by an accident.
"I consider this the best hog country I have ever seen, no cholera,
no disease of any kind, and the prices are equal, if not in excess, of
Chicago markets.
"Thio is a great grass country and pasture is good nearly all the
year. "
Grangeville, Idaho, Aug. 11, 1908. (Signed) John Callan.
Page Sixty-five
Q
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Oxen, Winchester, Idaho'
Mr. A. C. Eitzen, a pioneer farmer and business man, with a
faculty for statistics, has tabulated the amount and variety of the
product of the farm lands tributary to Nez Perce, on the Nez Perce
prairie, which will be handled by the new Idaho and Nez Perce
railway line, which is, practically, owned by the farmers, and the
result shows that there are few agricultural districts of equal extent
in the United States that can make as creditable a showing. A
significant feature of the report, and one that promises well for the
future of the district, is, that of the 100,000 acres of tillable land
covered by the statistics all but a small fraction are farmed by the
owners, only a few farms owned by Indians being leased.
Mr. Eitzen estimates the amount in crop this year at 75,000
acres, of which 25,000 acres are sown to wheat, which will yield a
total of 750,000 bushels; 12,000 acres to oats, which will produce
500,000 bushels; 32,500 acres to barley which will yield 1,300,000
bushels; and 7,500 acres to hay, which will produce 11,000 tons.
Figuring this on a basis of 60 cents a bushel for wheat, 35 cents
for oats, 45 cents for barley and $10.00 a ton for hay, the gross
income for the year of the farmers in the territory surrounding Nez
Perce, for grain and hay alone, will be $1,320,000. Added to this
there will be 10,000 hogs worth $125,000; 1,000 head of cattle worth
$35,000; 500 head of horses, worth $50,000; 20 cars of apples, worth
$60,000; and 100,000 sacks of potatoes worth $50,000, besides
$25,000 worth of cream and $4,000 worth of eggs, which makes the
grand total of gross value of the produce of the district $1,669,000.
Mr. Eitzen is one of the best posted men in Nez Perce county on
matters pertaining to agriculture and in addition to compiling this
table of general statistics he had, for the last nine years, kept accurate
account of the value of the product of a 40 acre tract of land on this
farm V/i miles from Nez Perce, and in a statement sworn to before
a local notary public he says that this land, which has been devoted
exclusively to the raising of grain and hay, has produced in the nine
years $8,756 gross, and netted him a little more than $6,000.
Nez Perce, Idaho, June 25th, 1910.
Page Sixty-rix
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY 9
A Man from Missouri Has Been Shown
"I was born in Missouri. We landed in Idaho in the spring of
1885. Have made stock raising and farming my occupation and
have made a success of it in a small way, although handicapped by
not having capital to start with. We now own 400 acres of choice
prairie land which produces from 40 to 60 bushels of wheat, 35 to 80
bushels of barley, as high as 110. bushels of oats, and from 1 to 3 tons
of timothy per acre. Hay land has increased in value from $9 per
acre to $50 or $60 for choice places.
"Hog raising is one of the chief farming industries. Hogs are
very healthy here and bring good prices as a rule.
"All kinds of hardy fruits and vegetables do well here. I never
have seen what would be called a crop failure. Rainfall is ample to
mature all crops and the climate is much better than that in the
Northwestern states. It is a rare thing for the thermometer to
register below zero. There is fine water, a healthy climate, and a
liberal class of people will be found to welcome all new comers to
Camas prairie, the gem of the mountains. "
Grangeville, Idaho, Aug. 11, 1908. (Signed) R. M. Bibb.
Who Can Equal This Record ?
"A field of wheat on my farm, which is located on Camas prairie,
between Cottonwood and Grangeville, Idaho, produced between 59
and 60 bushels per acre. The wheat was sold for $1 per bushel, so
you will realize that I have been very liberal in my allowance for
plowing, harrowing, threshing, binding, etc.
"This field consisted of forty acres. I am the owner of 640 acres,
my income from which the past year, was about as follows :
40 acres to wheat, net income, $42 an acre.
30 acres to oats, yield 86 bushels, price $1.50 per cwt., expense
$7.10 per acre, gross income $42, net income $34.90 an acre.
30 acres to barley (rented), my share, $5.50 an acre, besides pasture.
40 acres to wheat (rented), my share, $8.50 an acre besides the
pasture.
150 acres to summer fallow. 40 acres to grain hay for feed.
15 acres, right of way, Northern Pacific Railway.
85 acres to pasture. 10 acres orchard, barnlots, etc.
Hoping that this information will be of service to others, I am
Thorp, Feb. 5, 1910. (Signed) Herman von Bargen."
Those who desire additional or more detailed information along
particular lines than is here given, can address any of the persons
named herein. Many of the towns have Chambers of Commerce
that will gladly welcome inquiries and supply information. Others
who may thus be addressed are: R. H. Wallace, Vollmer, Idaho;
L. M. Harris & Co., Geo. M. Reed, A. F. Parker, Grangeville, Idaho.
Page Sixty-term
9
CLEAR WATER COUNTRY
Northern Pacific Train Service
to the Clearwater Country
HE NORTHERN PACIFIC provides a
TwT daily service of four through electric-
\f^ lighted transcontinental passenger trains
between eastern and western terminals.
Through standard and tourist sleeping cars,
with dining car service, are operated daily
from Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis,
also from St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Joseph to
Spokane and the North Pacific Coast, over the lines as
indicated by map of the system contained herein.
There is convenient connecting service from and to
Duluth and Superior.
This service is operated both west and east bound.
In connection with it, there is operated double daily
service between Spokane and Lewiston, with daily
connecting service to and from Genesee and Grange-
ville and double daily service to and from Stites, on
those respective branches. A daily train is also oper-
ated over the "Camas Prairie" line between Lewiston
and Pasco, Washington, carrying through standard
sleeping car Lewiston to Seattle and making direct
connection at Pasco with the Spokane, Portland and
Seattle Ry., for Portland. Full details of Northern
Pacific train service will be found in the time table
folder — the latest issue of which will be provided on
request by any Northern Pacific representative, as per
list on another page.
Northern Pacific tourist sleeping cars are excep-
tionally clean and comfortable. They are upholstered in
leather and are electric-lighted. The berths are large
and ample for the accommodation of two persons.
The cost of space in the tourist cars is just half that in
the standard sleeping cars, hence the tourist car is eco-
nomical. You save money at no sacrifice of comfort.
Our illustrated booklet, "Over the Scenic Highway in a
Tourist Sleeping Car, " gives full details of the service.
Page Sixty-eight
NORTHERN PACT FIG RY
Q
Northern Pacific Books and Pamphlets
Apple Growing in the Northwest, No. 88.
Prof. Shaw on North Dakota, No. 86B.
Prof. Shaw on Minnesota, No. 86A.
Gov. Burke on North Dakota, No. 89.
What Montana Has to Offer, No. 85A.
Handy pocket size pamphlets offering much val-
uable Information on their respective subjects.
U. S. Government Land Pamphlet No. 79. —
Contains tabulated list of vacant public land tribu-
tary to the Northern Pacific in the various states.
Shows number of acres surveyed and unsurveyed,
aud character of land.
List of Land Dealers, No. 82. — A pamphlet
containing a list of land dealers located along the
line of the Northern Paclflc.
Instructions in Dry Farming, No. 80. — A
most valuable pamphlet setting forth complete
directions for the succssful cultivation of soil by
the so-called "dry farming" system. Prepared by
Messrs. Alfred Atkinson, Agronomist, and F. S.
Cooley, Supt. of Farmers' Institutes, of the Mon-
tana Agricultural College.
Watering the Waste Places, No. 83. — A new
folder, fully Illustrated, giving a description of
irrigation in the Northwest tributary to the
Northern Paclflc.
Opportunities, No. 76. — A book of valuable
information relative to Business Openings along
the Northern Paclflc Railway.
The King of the Land of Fortune. — A beauti-
ful booklet with handsome cover and well illus-
trated, telling about the apple industry In the
Northwest. Worthy a place in any library.
Western North Dakota, No. 72-A. — A new
illustrated booklet describing the lands ana con-
ditions in the counties of Western North Dakota
where the lands are very fertile, thousands of acres
are subject to homestead, dry farming is success-
fully practiced, and the country is being rapidly
settled up.
Irrigation in the Yellowstone Valley. — A
description of the land now being irrigated near
Billings and offered for sale by the Billings Land &
Irrigation Company.
Lower Yellowstone Project Pamphlet. — An
illustrated folder giving full description of the lands
under the project and how they may be obtained
for settlement.
Shields River Valley, Montana, No. 81. — A
booklet describing one of the most fertile and
beautiful valleys in Eastern Montana. Low priced
lands, flue climate — jus,c the place many a man is
looking for.
Yakima Irrigation Project Pamphlet. — An
illustrated pamphlet descriptive of the irrigated
lands under this project; how the land may be
obtained, etc.
Washington and Lewiston Country In Idaho
No. 59. — Pamphlet giving a general description of
Northern Idaho and Eastern, Central and Western
Washington with special reference to the markets
in the Orient.
Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho,
No. 74A. — A booklet descriptive of the countrv and
counties of Eastern Washington and the" Pan
Handle of Idaho. This covers the well known
irrigation sections of the "Inland Empire," of
which Spokane is the metropolis.
Southwestern Washington, No. 90. — Descrip-
tive booklet, with special reference to Chehalis
Clarke, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, Lewis
Mason, Pacific, Thurston and Wahkiakum coun-
ties.
Through the Fertile Northwest, No. 87. — A
new descriptive map folder, well illustrated,
describing the territory tributary to the Northern
Pacific from St. Paul-Minneapolis, Duluth-Superior
to the North Pacific Coast.
Kittitas County, Washington, No. 91. — A
new descriptive map folder, dealing directly with
Kittitas County, containing full details as to its
resources, etc.
From Office to Orchard, No. 92. — A beautiful
little souvenir booklet, gotten up in the shape of a
large red apple, neatly illustrated; contains much
information about apple culture.
Special Publications. — Consisting of pamph-
lets, leaflets, etc., issued by various irrigation and
land interests, descriptive of the country tributary
to Spokane, Pasco, Kennewick, Lewiston-Clark-
ston, North Yakima, Prosser, Walla Walla, Sunny-
side, Mabton, Toppenish, Ellensburg, White
Salmon and other towns. (State in what locality
you are interested.)
These pamphlets will be sent FREE to any address. Write to
L. J. Bricker, General Immigration Agent, ST. PAUL, MINN.
Rules Governing Transportation of Settlers' Movables
.. *■ The rates on Emigrants' Movables apply only on shipments the value of which is declared bv
K&ffi'W not t0 exceea S10.00 per 100 lbs. (or the proportionate amount thereof if weight is less than
100 lbs.) in case of loss or damage, and must be so receipted for.
™ ?' ^n? rates will only apply on second-hand articles of household goods, books of professional
men, store fixtures of merchants, vehicles (see Note A) and agricultural implements, wagons, tools and
rarm machinery, when forming the outfit of intending settlers. These rates will not be applied on anv
new articles, provisions, merchandise or grain, except as provided In Rule 3.
,. .?• The carload rates will also apply on the following articles forming part of a load of Emigrants'
.Movables, when for the use of intending settlers: Fifty bushels of grain for seed, and a sufficient amount
, nAnf anllnals ln transit; common lumber and shingles, not to exceed in the aggregate the equivalent
or ^,500 feet of lumber; (40 bundles of shingles are equivalent to 1,000 feet of lumber) ; 500 fence posts
a, small portable house; trees, shrubbery, live fowl and live stock, subject to conditions of live stock eon-
tract, as follows: Small stock, (hogs, sheep and goats) not to exceed twenty head; or horses, mules and
cattle, not to exceed ten head; in case car contains mixed stock, an equivalent of ten head will be allowed
counting two head of small stock (hogs, sheep or goats) the same as one horse or cow.
. . .4- When carload shipments contain live stock, one man will be passed free to take care of the live
stock ln transit, and in such cases agents will execute the usual form of Live Stock Contract. No return
pass or reduced fare ticket will be granted account live stock shipped with Emigrants' Movables.
6. Trunks containing Emigrants' Movables, less carloads, will not be accepted unless boxed.
, . 5' . Trunks ?r other packages containing watches, jewelry, gold, silver or copper coin, articles manu-
factured from precious metals, drafts, bank bills, notes, deeds or other valuable papers of any kind will
not be taken.
7. Minimum Charge. — No single shipment will be transported for less than 100 lbs. at less than
carload rate, subject to minimum charge of 25 cents.
... Note A.— Rates will not apply on boats or on the following vehicles, namely: Ambulances, auto-
mobiles, barouches, breaks, broughams, cabriolets, coaches, carrettes, coupes, depot wagons (passenger)
nacKs, hansoms hearses, herdlcs (four wheeled), landaulet". landaus, motor cycles, omnibuses, rockaways'
stage coaches, victorias or wagonettes.
Page Sixty-nine
o
CLEARWATER COUNTRY
Page Seventy
NORTHERN PACIFIC RY Q
PASSENGER, Immigration and Freight Representatives of the Northern Pacific are located in the
leading cities of the United States. For any details with reference to fares, train service, connections,
descriptive literature or information relative to the territory served by its lines, or any facts which will
aid in planning your trip, call on or write to
Aberdeen and Hoqulam, Wash., 221 E. Heron St.,
Aberdeen. .E. A. McKenna General Agent
Atlanta, Ga 16 North Pryor St. A. E. Ryan Traveling Passenger Agent
Belltngham, Wash 1222 Dock St. .A. N. Bussing City Freight & Passenger Agent
Billings, Mont Mont. Ave. and 28th St. .J. E. Spurling General Agent
Geo. F. Knight Traveling Freight Agent
Boston, Mass 207 Old South Bldg. .C. E. Foster District Passenger Agent
F. W. Clemson New England Freight Agent
Buffalo, N. Y 215 Ellicott Square. .Wm. G. Mason District Passenger Agent
M. O. Barnard General Agent Freight Dept.
Butte, Mont Park and Main Sts. ,W. H. Merriman .Division Frt. & Pass. Agent
Chicago 144 S. Clark St . . C. A. Matthews General Agent Passenger Dept.
J. C. Thompson District Passenger Agent W. L. Wampler Traveling Freight Agent
C. B. Sexton General Agent Freight Dept. W. T. Kraft Traveling Freight Agent
J. C. Herman Contracting Freight Agent H. F. Adams Traveling Freight Agent
J. C. McCutchen Contracting Freight Agent. .W. H. Millard Traveling Freight Agent
J. L. Daugherty Traveling Immigration Agent
Cincinnati, Ohio 40 East Fourth St. .M. J. Costello District Passenger Agent
J. C. Eaton Traveling Immigration Agent A. H. Caffee General Agent Freight Dept.
Cleveland, Ohio Williamson Bldg. ,B. A. Hamilton General Agent Freight Dept.
lies Moines, la 212-214 Century Bldg. .E. D. Rockwell District Passenger Agent
Detroit, Mich 423 Majestic Bldg. . W. H. Whitaker District Passenger Agent
Geo. Barnes General Agent Freight Dept.
Duluth, Minn 334 W Superior St. .J. I. Thomas General Agent
C. P. O'Donnell City Passenger Agent John E. Caine Traveling Freight Agent
Everett, Wash 2825 Colby Ave ..CO. Martin General Agent
Helena, Mont Main and Grand Sts. .E. S. Richards General Agent
Geo. A. Miner City Passenger Agent C. W. Merrilies . . .Trav. Freight & Passenger Agent
Indianapolis, Ind 42 Jackson Place. .W. E. Smith District Passenger Agent
Jamestown, N. D J. L. Burnham Traveling Freight Agent
Kansas City, Mo 823 Main St . . H. B. Bryning Traveling Immigration Agent
F. A. Acker Traveling Freight Agent
Lewlston, Idaho 320 Main St. .W. J. Jordan General Agent
Los Angeles, Cal 531 S. Spring St. .Geo. W. McCaskey General Agent
Milwaukee, Wis 316-17 Ry. Exchange Bldg. .M. E. Harlan District Passenger Agent
C. T. Noonan General Agent Freight Dept. W. F. Comerford Soliciting Freight Agent
Miles City, Mont Station. .J. G. Sanders Traveling Freight Agent
Minneapolis, Minn 19 Nicollet Blk. .G. F. McNeill City Passenger Agent
J. C. Simonton General Agent Freight Dept.
Montreal, Que. . . .Imp. Bank Bldg., St. James St. .G. W. Hardisty . . .Dist. Passenger & Freight Agent
New York City 319 Broadway. .W. F. Mershon General Agent Passenger Dept.
C. F. Seeger General Agent Freight Dept.
North Yakima, Wash Station. .C. C. Burdick General Agent
Philadelphia, Pa 711 Chestnut St. .P. W. Pummill District Passenger Agent
B. M. Decker Traveling Freight Agent John S. Donal. ..... .General Agent Freight Dept.
Pittsburg, Pa 305 Park Bldg. .C. E. Brison District Passenger Agent
W. W. Scully General Agent Freight Dept.
Portland, Ore 255 Morrison St. .E. D. Sanders City Pass. Agent
S. J. Miller Traveling Pass. Agent
Portland, Ore 407 Worcester Bldg. . F. H. Fogarty Assistant General Freight Agent
W. H. Ormsby Traveling Freight Agent
Pt. Townsend, Wash 402 Water St. .W. L. Clark Agent
San Francisco, Cal 685 Market St. .T. K. Stateler General Agent Passenger Dept.
E. H. Forester General Agent Freight Dept.
Seattle, Wash 1st Ave. and Yesler Way. .H. N. Kennedy General Agent
J. O. McMullen City Passenger Agent C. M. Covell Assistant General Agent
Spokane, Wash. 701 Sprague Ave General Agent
W. H. Ude City Passenger Agent Lee M. Conry Traveling Passenger Agent
M. E. Snyder Traveling Freight Agent G. W. Breckenrldge. . . .Trav. Frt. and Pass. Agent
St. Louis, Mo 306 Cent. Nat. Bank Bldg. .D. B. Gardner District Passenger Agent
It. J. Tozer Traveling Freight Agent R. K. Cross General Agent Freight Dept.
St. Paul, Minn. 5th and Robert Sts. .C. L. Townsend City Passenger Agent
St. Paul, Minn 4th and Broadway. .J. T. McKenney District Passenger Agent
L, P. Gellerman District Passenger Agent Jno. C. Poore Assistant General Passenger Agent
G. A. Mitchell Assistant General Freight Agent W. E. Alair Assistant General Freight Agent
H. E. Still Assistant General Freight Agent A. Tinling Assistant General Freight Agent
W. M. Burk Contracting Freight Agent H. K. Cole Contracting Freight Agent
J. H. Runyon Traveling Freight Agent G. R. Merritt General Agent Refrigerating Ser.
Superior, Wis 817 Tower Ave. .W. H. Mitchell Agent
Tacoma, Wash 925 Pacific Ave. .C. B. Foster City Passenger Agent
Webb F. Sater Traveling Passenger Agent
Tacoma, Wash 621 Pacific Ave. .Thos. D. Sharp Traveling Freight Agent
H. J. Walters Traveling Freight Agent
R. T. Bretz . . . .Asst. Gen. Western Freight Agent C. R. Lonergan General Agent Freight Dept.
Vancouver, B. C 430 Hastings St. H. Swinford General Agent
Vancouver, Wash 512 Main St. S. J. Miller Traveling Passenger Agent
Victoria, B. C Yatea and Government Sts. . E. E. Blackwood General Agent
Wallace, Idaho Station. CM. Grubbs General Agent
Walla Walla, Wash 3 E. Main St. .S. B. Calderhead General Agent
W. B. Heath Traveling Freight Agent
Winnipeg, Man 268 Portage Ave. . W. C. Hartnett General Agent
W. H. Wickett Traveling Freight Agent
A. M. CLELAND, Gen'l Pass. Agt., St. Paul A. D. CHARLTON, Ass't Gen'l Pass. Agt., Portland
J. B. BAIRD, Gen'l Frt. Agt., St. Paul HENRY BLAKELEY, Gen'l Western Frt. Agt., Tacoma
L. J. BRICKER, General Immigration Agent, St. Paul
J. G. WOODWORTH, J- M. HANNAFORD,
Traffic Manager ST. PAUL. MINN. Second Vice-President
Page Seventy-one
Q CLEARWATER COUNTRY
When You Ship
Household Goods, Farm Implements
or Merchandise of any kind, either
carload lots or less than carload
To Any Point
In the Northwest
Route your shipments via the line
furnishing fast through express
freight service with through mer-
chandise package cars daily — the
Northern Pacific Ry
to principal points in Minnesota,
Manitoba, North Dakota, Montana,
Idaho, Washington, Oregon, British
Columbia
For particulars regarding Passenger or Freight Service or
Hates, address nearest Northern Pacific Representative as
shown herein, or
A. M. CLELAND J. B. BAIRD
General Passenger Agent, St. Paul General Freight Agent, St. Paul
J. G. WOODWORTH J. M. HANNAFORD
Traffic Manager, St. Paul Second Vice President, St. Paul
I' age Seventy-two
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