88
WEST SHORE.
The tquaw men on the Crow reservation, in Montana, who made inef
fectual efljrti to prevent the signing of the treaty ceding Urge portloq of
the reservation to the government, are now taking itepe to secure the beet
of the ceded portion for themaelvee. Although the treaty is not jet ratified
and the land it not open to the public, they are having all the tract! of bot
tom land along the itreama aarveyed with the intention of locating on them
and taking them np when the reservation il thrown open to aettlement.
Their right aa buibanda of Indian women enables them to live on the res
ervation and consummate the scheme. By thus securing all the bottom
lands and the watering places, they can hold practical control o( the adja
cent grazing lands, at the latter are valueless without the former, and thus
prevent the settlement of those lands by a more Industrious and desirable
class of cititens. It is certainly not to the Interest of the people residing
in that portion of the state to permit this scheme, which seems to be a
united effort guided by legal advice, to be consummated, as much of the
expected benefit from the opening of the reservation to settlement will
thereby be lost.
The report of the legislative committee of investigation of the Idaho
state insane asylum, at Blackfoot, shows that for the put four years the
total expenditures were $102,325.82. Of this, $10,000 was paid for land and
buildings, and $10,000 in material and supplies it now on hand, leaving the
total net current expense to be $72,470.43. The daily average ol patients
under treatment for the time was 53.5, and the net cost per day ninety-three
cents per patient. From all information gained it appears that the patients
have been well cared for and have been kindly and carefully treated. There
are at present seventy-one patients in the institution, twenty-four females
and forty-seven males. The committee earnestly recommends that an ap
propriation of not less than $40,000 be made for the construction of addi
tional buildings and furnishing and completing the new building constructed
since the late fire, and, further, that an appropriation of an amount to equal
ninety cents per capita be made for the maintenance of the patients. The
expenses per capita will decrease aa the number of iomates increases.
purpowof raising $5,000 for the purpose of erecting a telegraph and Me
from Oik Point to a connection with the government line which
.SgS Astoria a short distant below Kn.pp.on. Over
oTh v. already been secured and it is thought he remainder w 111 be
in time to finish the line and get in shape for operation not late,
ban Cn ret. This enterprise will be a great wnvenfenc. 4o.U parties
living along the river between those points, as they will be placed in direct
connection with Portland and all parts of the country.
The firm of Galland Brothers, who for some years' have been extensive
ly engaged in merchandising at Farmington, Palouse City, Oaksdale and
other point, in the Palouse country, Washington have made prap.raUon.
for the erection of a mammoth brewery and malting "tabhshment at Spo
kane Falls They will put in a plant worth about $200,000, and In addition
to the regular brewing business will manufacture malt for shipment to east
ern points. This will be the largest concern of the kind in Washington, and
will be a substantial addition to Spokane's already extensive manulacturing
business.
In 188!) there were 3,605 acres planted in hops In Washington, which
yielded 35,128 bales. In 1803 the acreage was Increased to 4,538 and the
product to 45,415 bales. In Oregon there were 16,908 bales produced In
1889, and 28,130 bales in 1893. Each of these states shows a handsome in
crease for the year 1890 over the preceding year. California's product for
1890 was less than for 1889, there being but 28,130 bales gathered at against
35,230 bales for the year before.
A bill for the incorporation of the Pacific Cable Company has been Intro
duced Into congress by Senator Mitchell. San Francisco is named as the
American terminus, but provision is made for connection with all the coast
cities. Three Oregon capitalists, J. B. Montgomery, D. P. Thompson and
Asahel Bush, are among the incorporators.
The great Anaconda mining properties In Montana, which are the rich
est copper producers In the world, and which have made a number of men
millionaires, have been transferred to the ubiquitous English syndicate, the
consideration being, it Is reported, $10,000,000. A new companv has been
Incorporated with a capital of $12,500,000, with prominent New York brok
ers ai trustees. Negotiations have been pending for several months, but all
matters were kept closely guarded so that no authentic Information could be
had until the formal transfer was made last week. The quantity of ore in
this property Is inexhaustible, and as the mines have always paid enormous
dividends no reason Is assigned for the owners parting with them except
that they wish to retire from active business. Messrs. Haggin, Hearst,
Tevis and Daly were the owners, each of whom Is now becoming advanced
In years, and having amassed large fortunes from their labors are ready to
transfer the burden of carat and perplexities of the details ol managing
such a concern to younger shoulders.
The Seattle Northern was completed to Hamilton on Saturday of last
week, and the road will be put In operation at once. The line of the exten
sion was graded prior to the time the Oregon Improvement company, which
company owns the Seattle A Northern, passed into the hands of the receiv
er. Permission was granted, however, by the court for the completion of
the road to Hamilton, to tracklaying began and waa rushed through rapidly.
Tlie cltlsena of Hamilton, the coal city, are jubilant over the advent of the
Iron rail. Now that the coal product can have an outlet, the mines will be
worked to their fulleat capacity. It Is probable that before lonj the Seattle
A Northern will pass Into the control of the Northern Pacific. Such a deal
haa been pending, and la beginning to assume a probability of being consum-uiated.-SruMfi
frvn.
Appropriations aggregating $90,000 have bsen made by congress for the
pure of clearing the Snake and Upper Columbia rivers of obstructions.
Three boats art now being built at Pasco for that purpose and work will be
gin as toon aa they are completed. With the obstructions removed, the
Columbia will be navigable at far at the mouth of the Kittle Spokane. Here
there are tome very troublesome rapldt that have never been crossed.
Above the mouth of the Utile Spokane navigation It unobstructed as far as
Kettle falls, and a steamer It now In course of construction for use on that
portion of tlie river. The most dangerous place In Snake river It Fithook
rapidt, about sixteen mllet above Pasco. Of tlie amount to be used for this
work $70,000 will be expended on the Columbia and $20,000 on tlie Snake.
Residents along the north bank of the Columbia river between Oak
Point and Knappton, Washington, have been canvassing that section for the
A steamer is being built to ply on the Skykomish river, between Sultan
City and Snohomish, Washington. She Is to bs alxty feet long and fifteen
beam, will carry ten tons of freight and draw sixteen inches of water. She
will be ready in March.
Sealing along the coaBt Is reported unusually good this season. Al
ready the sealers are at work off Cape Flattery, and the Indians are making
large catches.
Under this heading the last issue of each month will contain a number
of the best poems entered for competition In the West Shore poetic con
test. Only residents of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana,
Utah, Arlsona, British Columbia and Alaska are eligible to compete. The
contest closes on tlie fifteenth of each month. The following prizes are of
fered each month, making twelve first prises during the year 1891 :
First Priii-A volume of one of the standard poets, 12-mo. tiie, hand
somel) bound in full padded leather, with full gilt edges. The prise
winner may designate hit choice of tlie following volumes: Dante,
Milton, Scott, Burns, Moore, Wordsworth, Browning, Pos, Jean Inge
low, Mrs. Hemans, Mrs. Browning and Favorite Poems, a volume of
choice selections from all the poets. These are all new books, specially
issued as elegant gift editions, and are from the shelves of Stuart A
Thompson, the well known booksellers of Portland.
Ssi ono Pri-A subscription to Wist Shors for tlx months, to be tent to
any address.
Third Prijk-A subscription to Wist Shors for three months, to be sent to
any address.
Grand Pain-In addition to the monthly first prise, at the end of the year
the poem that shall be decided to be the best sent In during the entire
year will receive an elegant copy of one ol the great classic poemt with
Illustrations by Pore, and the portrait of the writer will be published,
so that those who have read the poem may have the additional pleas
ure of seeing the fare of the one who has contributed to their enjoy
ment. The judges are persons of literary culture not connected with West
Shore In any capacity. Short poems art preferred.