The west shore., January 01, 1885, Page 12, Image 12

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THE WEST SHORE.
whole region. The soil in the black loam common to all
the Northwptrn country. The native grans is the
famous "bunch grass," which in this particular region
attains such a luxuriant growth as I have never seen ex
celled The Cold Spring prairies are' devoid of timber,
the sources of supply being the timber bolt of the Blue
Mountains twenty miles to the southeastward. The sur
face water is confined to the numerous springs which
gave the name to the country; but an unfailing supply is
found in wells varying from thirty to sixty feet in depth,
the depth of wells in this country depending upon that of
the soil, which, in some instances, has been found to be
sixty feet in dopth before bedrock was struck. As a rule,
a stream of running water is found fifteen feet below the
bedrock, and in no instance ias the supply ever failed.
Under the provisions of the Timber Culture Act some
tracts have been devoted to the growth of timber, with
fair success, considering that the people know so little of
the cultivation of timber, and that the possibilities of the
. soil are only just becoming known.
When I first became acquainted with the Cold Spring
country the number of Bottlers could bo almost counted
npon the fingers of one hand. Eight years ago lands
that now'eomprise some of the best farms in the county
could have been had for the locating. At that time the
Cold Spring country was occupied exclusively by sheep
men, who wore interested in spreading discouraging re
ports about its quality. It was said, and for many years
was bolievod, to bo an inhospitable desert of sage brush
and sand; but as the settlements extended more and more
to the northward the soil was found to be rich, and deeper
than in any othor part of the county. The work of devel
oping the Cold Spring country began about five years
ago. The first sottlors were j)oor men, and they had to
undergo the vicissitudes which fall to the lot of the
pioneers in every latitude. To-day the country presents
nu Bspect of proajwrity. County roads have been laid
out, and aro enclosed in endless lanes of substantial
fences. On every hand are evidoncos of the thrift of the
farmers and the fertility of the soil, in the substantial
improvements which are going on, in the fine new barns
and commodious residences, and, in some instances, high
stepping trotters and stylish buggies. We have a soil of
groat depth and inexhaustible fertility, upon which, even
with the mostslovonly style of raising "volunteer" crops,
the farmer assumes a yield of fittoon bushels to the acre;
while with crops farmed on the suramor fallow system, a
yield of thirty bushels to the acre can be safely counted
on. The wheat raising craze is here in full blast, and
that it has paid to raise wheat exclusively appears to be
elf-evident, and the acreage devoted to that purpose is
increasing every year. The conditions of soil and climate
are eminently adapted to it, and under the Bummer fallow
system there is no possibility of failure of crops.
The system of farming for wheat exclusively is, how
ever, not a good one in the long run, but it has its advan
tages in enabling poor men to make a start in improving
their ranches. With a fair price for the product, it is no
uncommon thing for a man. to make enough from one
crop to clear expenses and pay for the land besides. One
of its worst features is that it creates the impression that
our soil is good for nothing else, whereas, with proper
cultivation, there is no soil in the State more prolific in
its yield of fruits and vegetables. Potatoes are large and
many to a hill. Melons, squash, onions, tomatoes and
corn need only to be planted to attain a fine growth with
out further care. I have known grape vine cuttings
planted in a badger hole to flourish until eaten by sheep.
Tobacco can also be raised here, but it needs attention.
" Garden truck " grows spontaneously in so far that the
only aid required is to seed and gather the fruit It is
literally a soil that will "laugh " an abundant harvest if
"tickled with a hoe." When its merits shall be fully
tested under a more diversified system of farming than
now prevails, it will be the modern Canaan, a land flow
ing with the " milk and honey " of its cereal and vegeta
ble productions.
One feature of the country is worth noticing. There
are no rocks to be seen not an acre of waste ground.
Even on the highest points, where an extensive view can
be obtained, there is not a spot discernible which is not
covered to a greater or less depth with soil It is a
country rich in all the elements required by steady pro
gression, and it will in time be the home of a dense
population.
There is still some vacant Government land subject
to entry and purchase by the usual methods. The best
locations, of course, were naturally taken by the first
comers, but there is much left that is good. The time is
coming when Uncle Sam will no longer be able to give a
farm to all applicants. In point of fact, vacant farming
lands are already scarce, and are becoming more and
more so each year, as reference to the records of all the
Land Offices provos; and when an opportunity occurs,
such as is offered here, those who have the qualities of
good settlers, and are anxious to obtain homes on this
fertile part of the public domain, should hasten to aval
themselves of it before too late. The reason why this
Cold Spring country is not fully settled up is because it
is the newest of all the agricultural settlements and has
never ken "boomed." Until last year there were but
one or two organized county roads leading this way, Bnd
although surrounded by railroads, so that the most dis
tant part is not fifteen miles from a station, yet we are
somewhat isolated. We have, however, a fine quality of
settlers who have established their homes here, and built
at every country cross-roads a district school house, and
are earnest in similar matters of intellectual advance
ment, while we are surrounded on the east, west and
south by a network of towns. Walla Walla is only
twenty-eight miles northeastward, while to the east are
the towns of Milton, Weston, Centreville and Adams, each
about fifteen miles from the very heart of the Cold
Spring country. Distant about eighteen miles from Cold
Spring is Pendleton, the county Beat, the principal ren
dezvous for Cold Spring people. Located in such a
neighborhood, it will be easily seen that the Cold Spring
country offers inducements to settlers that cannot be