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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1885)
80 THE WEST SHORE. will Afford homo for thousands of immigrants yet to come. When cleared of thoir (Inline growth of timber, tLo Li!!a bccomn TnlnnW". fr fnrming pnrivw wherever the tojiography Admits of it, whilo everywhere they fur nish good grazing for stock, as clover and other grouses thrive wherever the ground is sufficiently clewed to permit This is the ideal dairy region of tho Const White clovcr,4ho richest butter and cheese fixxl cattle can have, though inferior to the bunch gross of the Inland Empire ns a Ixxif producer, attains a growth of twelve to fifteen inches h11 through the forests, except where it has been trampled down by cattle, which nre yet so few that they destroy twice what they eoiisuma. Everywhere the hum of tho honey bees is hoard, as they extract the sweets from the blossoms, mid then wing thoir wny to the hive in some decayed forest giant, to lay up a store of honey for tho winter's use, Butter, milk and honey, as good as tho world produces, may le found in overy farm houso. This rank growth of wild pnsturo is produced by the copious mius in winter mid the heavy dews which prevail in midsummer. The abundance of perennially green imsturnge, the presence of the purest water in streams, natiirnl springs mid wells, the alstence of cold weather to freeno the water and snow to cover the pasturage, render this a njMH'iitlly excellent dairy and stock region. For these purKes its qualities are becoming better recog nixed every year, mid the time is not far distant when the wooded hills and valleys of Lewis County will vie with the bunch grass ranges of Yakima in tho production of beef for market lioisfort Prairie lies in tho southwestern portion of tho county, about twelvo miles from both Cliehalis and Newaukum, mid is drained by two branches of the Clie halis, which have their sources about ten miles farther south. This region was nearly denuded of timber many years Ago, mid settlers have found it comparatively oosy to clear mid cultivate forms. Tho natural pasturage is excellent, siid much fine butter is produced. Tho Amount of land that can lie cleared with comparative easo is esti iuatd t exceed 81)0,000 acres. Uhu this land any ordi nary farm crop rn Iks raise! Wheat, oats, root crojm and clover grow with great luxuriance. Some of the habitations of tho earliest pioneers are still to lie seen, but in many iiiHtiinees they have been suiiersodod by neat farm houses with good frame barns and other buildings; and these, with their fields of grain, orchards and mea dows, present an appearance of thrift ami prosperity highly pleasing. lUilroad lands are valued at from fc) to 5 ier acre, and improved land from $15 to fcJO. This section is growing in opulatioii and wealth annually. I int.. r.11. v;..i.u.l v ..: i i ........ . iu.o, ii mi". , AnjMi, uia mid ewauKuin are towns ou the railroad between Cowliti and Cliehalis rivers. Iu the vicinity ant a number of fine prairies, as well as a long strip of fertile bottom land ou tho Xewn. kuiu. In this region are some of the oldest settlements in the county, Hay, grain, cattle and hogs are tho chief products of this region, and many Urn of Imoon Bre Rn. UUJUiy Hauled lu ftsjwvmo mid Newaukum forshipmeut T.mlin i fln old and well known point on i rwist T?!ver. six miles above the southern line of the county. This was for many years the head of navi gotion on that stream. In early days a Hud a Eay Company post was located there; also the first American trading post in the county and the first post office. One mile above the landing is the flourishing village of Toledo, the heodof navigation on the river and an impor tant shipping point A mile further is Cowlitz Prairie, alK)ut seven miles long by two and one-half wide, and covered with well-improved farms. This is an old settle ment, first occupied by employes of the Hudson s tfay Company. There are a grist mill, two stores, and a school kept by Sisters of Charity. Opposite, on the east side of the river, is Eden, or Layton's Prairie. Fifteen miles ... n y- 1 U 1 -.1. further up the Cowlite is Silver ureeK, wuere is a nounsn ing settlement A store, saw mill and grist mill are located at this point On the opposite side of the river is Klickitat Prairie. Up to this point, from the south line of the county, not ten per cent of the desirable land is occupied, the remainder still waiting for the advent of the hardy and industrious settler to convert it from a timliered wilderness to productive farms. Cloquoto and Cliehalis are two towns in the main valley. The former is the older settlement, and was formerly the county seat and the central stage station of this region. It lies three miles westerly from the latter, which is the noarest railroad point Cliehalis is the county seat and chief town of the county. Its position is central in many respects. It lies midway between the Columbia and Pugot Sound, also near the contre of the county, and at the head of navigation on the Cliehalis, when the river is freed from obstructions. The business men nre of that energetic, publio spirited kind who com iel success, and who have built it up in a few years from a population loss than 100 to more than 500. This spirit was manifested when the railroad was built, when they succeeded, aftor a struggle, in securing a station and one of the finest dojiots on the line of the road. The business of the town is quite considerable, and grows annually with the increasing prosperity of the country surrounding it Three hotels, two pork packing establishments, a largo flouring mill, a saw mill, a bakery, two livery stables, two general merchnndise stores, one dry goods store, one hardware store, one tinshop and stove store, one drug store, one jewelry store, one harness shop, two vnriety stores, two saloons, one blacksmith Bhop and a bank represent the business features. There are two weekly pnpers-the Nugget and JSee-both of them alive to the interests of the county. A handsome, commodious court houso, three churches (Presbyterian, Baptist and Episcopal), two private schools and a publio school com prise the public and somi-publio structures. The whole town presents an air of prosperity, its well-kept streets, business buildings and privnte residences indicating thrift and culture. The town is incorporated and has a complete city government The rapid increase in popu lation and products in the surrounding country will make coutnmed demand for more trade facilities uud nianu-