WEST SHORE.
The Okanogan valley meaning the valley In which lies Okanogan
lake Is in the southern part of British Columbia and about 200 miles from
the coast. Lake Okanogan is a long, narrow sheet of water, the largest
and northernmost of a chain including Dog, Oak, Mud and Oioyoos lakes,
the last-named being partially within the United States. The Okanogan
valley is about IN) miles in length, with branches in various directions. It
is estimated to contain 400,000 acres capable of growing heavy crops of
wheat, roots, hops and fruit, and about 0,000,000 acres of pasture lands.
Of the 400,000 acres capable of growing farm crops, perhaps not more than
one acre in a hundred is now cultivated. The other ninety-nine only re
quire men and plows. There is no brush to clear nor timber to cut down
and burn. This is one of the most favorable places in British Columbia for
ranchers and stockmen. There is now under construction a line of railway
fifty-one miles In length, branching from the Canadian Pacific railroad at
Hycamoos, and terminating at the north end of Okanogan lake. This short
railway will revolutionize the condition of things throughout that rich In
terior basin. A handsome little steamboat Is about to be launched on
the lake at the terminus of the railway. It is to run from Okanogan at
the north end, to Fentiolow at the south end of the lake, calling at interme
diate points. As the railway Is fifty-one miles in length, and the lake 100
miles (by from one to six miles in width) and as the American boundary is
about thirty miles from the south end of the lake, this entire length of 151
miles will be opened np, and find a market where heretofore there was
none. Settlers until now bad no Inducement to raise any other produce
than what they themselves could eat or feed to live stock that can carry
Itself lo market.
A steamer which recently arrived from Alaska brought news that both
parties of the government expedition engaged in surveying the boundary
between Alaska and the British possessions will remain for a second winter
In camp in the Interior, 2,000 miles from the mouth of the Yukon, instead
of returning to the coast, as was expected. The agent said briefly that
he bad tills Information direct from the McOrath party and Indirectly Irom
the Turner party. It Is feared that both parties may endure many hard
ships during another Arctic winter, though they took provisions for two
years. The reaion for their stay Is that their work is not completed. Kach
party consists of eight white men and a nunilar of Indians.
The second annual district fair of the Southern Oregon Stale Board of
Agriculture will open September 22 at Central Point, Jackson county, Or.
There will be a complete display of the products of that favored section.
The United Sates land office has prepared estimates of the amounts
that can be advantageous expended in survey.ng pubhc and. in the new
Le the coming year. The total i appropria iou rbd " WWwJ
is more than tice the amount hitherto allowed or that work Of th.s
Washington gets $100,000 on account of the difficulty of making the survey
000 each of the Dakotas $40,000, and Idaho and Wyoming 120,000 apiece.
An'additional $100,000 is to be expended in surveying Indian reservations
In the Dakotas, Montana and Washington.
The Chehalis Improvement Company has been organized at Chebalia,
Washington, with a capital of $125,000. The objects of the association as
set forth in detail by the articles of agreement are, first, to advance the ma
terial and general prosperity of the City of Chehalis; second, to establish
real estate values by founding a business center in the City of Chehalis;
third, to construct, or cause to bs constructed, substantial brick, stone and
iron business buildings on Market street in said city of Chehalis. The
erection of buildings will be begun immediately on twenty-five lots that
have already been subscribed t . the concern.
The American Steel Barge Company, an organization for manufactur
ing a curious sort of steel barge that is proposed to revolutionize the carry
ing business by water, declares its intentions of building a yard on the Pa
cific coast for manufacturing and outfitting freight barges, and the site will
be on Puget sound. The barges have been tried in -the transportation of
grain on Lake Superior and the craft is reported to be a success. It is pro
posed to have a line of these queer boats running between the sound and
San Francisco next year.,
A mining ditch and flume ten miles long is under construction in Idaho
county, Idaho, to divert the water of the American river so that it can be
conveyed upon 400 acres of placer ground in the forks of Elk creek. The
enterprise includes the boring of a tunnel 100 feet long. Much of the work
is already done.
A boiler and iron works plant will be removed from Sacramento, Cali
fornia, to Seattle. The plant is said to be larger than any now on the sound,
and the industry will give employment to quite a large number of men.
A steamer will be built to navigate Rogue river from its mouth to
Painted Kock, a distance of twenty-fonr miles.
PRIZE CONTEST FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.
PRIZES FOR PROFESSIONALS.
PRIZES FOR AMATEURS.
WKHT SHORE oilers the following four pri.es for the best photographs produced in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia or Alaska,
divided into two classes, as follows : '
CLASS I .-Open to both professionals and amateur. FirBt prize, $75.00 cash. Second prize, $25.00 cash.
CLASS 2.-0pen to amateurs only. First prize, one Partridge Compact Camera, 5 x 7, with double combination lens, valued at
mn Second prize, one No. 1 Kodak Camera, valued at $25.00. These prizes will be shipped from the photo
graphic supply house of E. J. Partridge, No. 69 Morrison street, Portland, Oregon.
' m
Photographs may b. of any subject, the contestants may select, except portraits and machinery, and the number of entries by one person is not lim
ited. The judges will be honorable, competent men .elected just three days before the awards are made. The best nhotomnh. Tl In wUl k! 1
dueed from week to week In WEST SHORE, with the name, and addresses of the photographers Photographs sent in will be repro-
Constant, are requested to send two print, of each subject, one to be submitted to the judges and the other for use bv the n, M.v-
mark, on the photograph, th.rn.elv., but cut out the accompanying slip .nd write your nam and address iWol bZta mftlTft L
In, and forward it with th. photographs, on. slip for e-h entry you max.. Th. photo.,. VK p5H3 nlaSl 1 "V
.xlllon, th. award, being mad. on th, third day of th. (air, Saturday, SeptambeS lYlKf SL 5 ,the4PortU,)d
Mupo-lbl.uto.n.bl.u.U.'reproduU.em. The i Jdl
MOT Alun m utor la blh eluM, bat rof.uloaalt only la CUm 1. Numbar of aatrUi bi o. I,n.u i .......
u.b- u. ...r, b..... u ... ,h., . ,h...,r.Pb JrJsi, uuk t v m"t h,T
aadalhiara,ibatkiani,Uat. Photo, r.ph. ihould .11 b. waaiad. wmuiali bUowa work If kehatselMted theiubjaot
WEST SHORE PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTEST.
CI,M Hm of Photographer
AddrM Nam. of Subject
'