THE WEST SHORE.
During the past year twenty daily and seventy
four weekly papers have been started in Dakota,
there being now sixty-three of the former and 243
of the latter. That a territory with such a allow
ing should be denied admission to the Union is
absurd, and the probabilities are that congress
will be shamed into doing it justice at the next
session. The question of a division of the terri
tory is still discussed, some favoring the 46th
parallel as the dividing line, others preferring the
Missouri river, and still others opposing a separa
tion of any kind. In size and the certain extent
of its population, Dakota would make three good
states, and it would seem as though a division
into at least two parts would be desirable for
many reasons.
In a recent interview at Mandan, Roscoe
Conkling expressed himself as follows of that
portion of Dakota and Montana recently visited
by him: "There is no question but that the
railroad is doing a glorious work in the opening
up of this great northwest. This I realise more
than ever since my connection with the road. In
this the people, as well as the railroad, have an
interest. I hope, therefore, that we shall see less
of that of which there is so much ; I mean, a
jealousy between these two. This should not be.
Both are interested partners in a common cause,
and should join hand and work together. Agri
culturally speaking, I believe there is not a finer
belt of country in the world than that traversed
by the Northern Pacific railroad. It seems to me
that the only question is one of irrigation. Let
this be successfully grappled with, and nothing
else is necessary to make this the garden of the
world. There is now a great procession on its
way to the northwest, composed, not of the poverty
stricken nor useless members of society, but men
of nerve and of muscle, every one of whom, if
he keeps his eyes open and his head level, will do
well. These men will cultivate these valleys and
place cattle upon these hills, and, in the country
west of that great body of water, the Missouri,
will develop during the next decade one decade,
mind you a country which will be an empire of
itself."
The question of tree planting on the plains and
and valleys of Eastern Montana is one that has
attracted more or leu attention. The advantage
to agriculture to be derived from it is great. Al
ready it U noticed that the cultivation of the soil
is producing a change in climate so far as an in
crease in rainfall is concerned, and that ih a few
sections irrigation is not as necessary as formerly.
The influence of forests upon the climate is tti l
greater, and tree planting would be highly benefi
cial. The value of the trees themselves would be
the leading inducement, ten acres of black wilnu
being equivalent to a fortune in twenty-five years.
Much tree planting has been done In Kansas the
past few years, and the experiments promise well
M the present time. The Fort Scott k Gulf K. R.
Co. has a forest of over 500 acres, those planted
in 1879 being now from ten to sixteen feet in
in height, and others three years old over six feet
To insure 3,000 to the acre when grown, 3,710
were originally planted. The tree is the catalpa,
a native of the bottom lands of Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Missouri. It makes superior lies,
tic, and is excellent fur fine cabinet work.
H. H. Hunniwell, a Boston capitalist, has a grove
- .y.. u.. JOO .cres, chiefly the ailantus, and
many others have groves of varying sites. Black
walnut, chestnut, white ash and butternut flourish
when planted with the catalpa, and those varieties
freely mixed with the others. Among the
hundreds of timber culture claims taken in Intern
Washington, Idaho and Montana, we hope to see
some good groves of valuable trees brought to
maturity.
The surveys made at the Cascades of the Colum
bia, in the work of constructing the government
locks at that point, furnish some interesting facts
about the volume of water that comes pouring
through the Columbia gorge Irom the vast inland
empire. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada,
Oregon, Washington and British Columbia con
ribute their portion to swell this mighty stream.
At extreme low water the river at this point is
600 feet wide and a cross section measures 19,900
square feet) at high water it measures 61,250
square feet, the stream being 950 feet wide. The
velocity of the current varies from 5 miles at
low water to 18 miles at high water. The quan
tity ol water passing per minute varies accordingly
from 16,156,690 to 70,093,500 cubic feet. This
would be an average of 40,15,095 cubic feel per
minute. This would give 21,089,749,932,000
cubic feet per year, a volume of water sufficient
to cover to the depth of one fool an area of 751,.
903 square miles ; it would flood the entire stales
of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois,
Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Kan
sas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louis
iana. The Cascades are 160 miles from the
river's mouth, and below that xint it is joined
by the Willamette, Iwls, Cowlitt, and other
streams. It no doubt receives enough more water
from Ihese sources lo add Nebraska to the list.
Collect this body of water into a lake with a
uniform depth of loo feet, and it would cover the
state of Massachusetts.
A Dakota exchange says 1 " The habit some
New York men have, who are interested In the
northwest, of misrepresenting things out here to
foreigners, is calculated lo do the country injury.
We recently had an interview with a gentleman
who came out here on the representation of Ihese
New York men, who pictured to him a certain
town, with Its fine drug stores, groceries, dry
goods and hardware stores and solid blocks of
business and residence houses. II cam lo lh
town and was disappointed. Instead of what
bad been represented he found on of our flourish
ing new western towns, with its buildings scat
tered, as is always the case with new (owns. It
is time this paper town business should cease, and
the sooner the better. Th lacts and the truths
are enough lo build up this country without mis
leading people and thus causing disappointment.
Such men as Ihese New York gentlemen should
be throttled at once." Though speeulalora of
that class are uninterested in Oregon and Wash
ington, there ar a few local dealers and specu
lators who are inclined to "boom "a little loo
hard. We bar a glorious country with resources
both varied and valuable, and ara enjoying a
healthy growth and merited prosperity. W be
lieve that there is no better country in lb world
tor an enterprising man, and are pleased lo ac
its advantages brought lo lb attention as strangtsi
but all efforts lo mislead by praising nny section
beyond its just merits should be discouraged br
every true Iriend of the northwest.
Transportation.
A new steamer, called the Alut. has been nut
on the route between New Westminster and th
North Arm settlement.
On the Oiegon & California extension il..
Cow creek tunnel is on the verge ol completion,
and in a few weeks the end of the track will reach
Kogue river.
The C. P. N. Co. has purchased the steamer
Yiumitt, and placed her on the route between
Victoria and New Westminster. Sh is sSi fret
long, 80 feet beam and 21 feel hold, and is finely
lurnuneu and lilted up for the convenience of
passengers,
Work Is being pushed rapidly al Iwo points on
the Cascades branch of the Northern Pacific, one
being fifteen miles from th mouth of th Yakima,
ami the other thirty miles from Yakima City to
wards the mountains. Contract has been lei for
the first 110 miles, lo be completed al one.
Hie enterprising business men of Walla Wall
have Incorporated the Walla Walla ft Snak
Kiver Kailroad Co., with a capital slock of St..
000,000, lo build a mad from that city lo Snake
riv. It is their intention that their rlty shall
maintain its position as lb metropolis of ih In
land empire.
A map of the Wynmlnir and Montana road
has been filed at Ihe Cheyenne land office. Th
line lirgins al Fort Steele, on Ihe Union Pacific,
and runs parallel lo ih North Piatt as far north
as Ihe Seminole oil springs, iliitanci of 100
miles. It is lb supposition lhal lb Una Is In
be extended lo Ihe National Park of (lit Yellow
stone.
The citltcns of Helena hav received aaauianc
lhal a branch of th Northern Pacific will U con
stiucted from lhat city lo Ih town of Wicket,
via. Clancy and Jefferson City. Il will be called
the Helena & Jefferson County Kailroad, and will
be completed this fall. This Is Ih first of a
number of short branches lhat will no doubt b
extended from Helena into ill rich mining re
gions surrounding her, Helen promises to b
an Important railroad center.
On Ihe twenty-second of August Ih Iwo tnds
of th Northern Pacific wer united, and lhal great
entetprls which has been bsforelh public so many
years brought lo successful lasu. Th day finally
selected f"f lb driving of the golden splk and
th other ceremonies of Inrinally opening Ih
road, Is the eighth of September, ami tlx plac
selected la t point on lh Lllll lllarkfoul, on ih
west slo of lh Rocky mountains, Ulwern
llellgal river and Ih Mullan tunnel.
Tb lllakely Mill Co. Is constructing lugging
railroad about four mile In length, up Ih south
fork of the Skagit. This will U a suUianllai
iron or stcl railroad and will b equipped with
locomotive and cars lo do an slrnsiv logging
business, a It is Ih Intention lo 11 lend th road
into ih Interior a Ih limber holds oal and bu.
Beta will warrant. No doubt several such roads
will b twill on lb Skagit and Hamlsh within a
year or two, lor than appear lo b In only
CcticalU way of gelling out lb timber lying
k of Pugel suuaj.