Town History
All About Kootenai County
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Feb 23, 2005, 18:10

The following article on "Kootenai County, Idaho:  Its Resources and Points of Attraction to Capitalists, Homeseekers, and Pleasure-Seekers," was prepared by Bartlett Sinclair for the immigration convention at Boise:

Kootenai county is the most northerly county of Idaho.  British Columbia, Washington, Montana are respectively its northern, western and eastern boundaries; Latah, and Shoshone counties border on the south.  Thus surrounded by territory rich in mineral and agriculture it partakes of both of these characteristics.

In length it is 140 miles, in width an average of 40 miles, and in shape it is practically rectangular.  Its area is about 5400 square miles, or 3,500,000 acres.  Of this vast region, about one-fifth is surveyed.  In the exercise of a pardonable pride it has become quite the thing for western citizens to compare western counties, not with the counties of eastern states, but with the eastern states themselves, and even groups of states.  Kootenai county is larger than Connecticut, Rhode Island or Delaware, and nearly as large as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey or Vermont.

In general terms Kootenai county may be described as mountainous and agricultural.  The field notes of the government surveyors describe the land as good agricultural and grazing land.  The unsurveyed lands, excepting mineral and timber and stone lands, will fall under the same class.

AGRICULTURE

At this time agriculture is supreme.  The valleys of the county are settling up, and the wilderness is being transformed into veritable gardens.  These valley lands are about evenly distributed over the county.  The soil bears the same general characteristics, being a black loamy deposit of decayed mineral and vegetable matter.

Its strength of fertility is unsurpassed.  It will sustain and mature almost any crop.  Root crops are especially prolific.  Five to six tons of potatoes to an acre constitute an average yield.  Spring vegetables of every description do well.  Celery is getting to be a staple product.  Tomatoes mature and ripen when properly cared for.  Tobacco is raised successfully.

The valley lands are easily cleared, and the soil is readily reduced to the cultivation state.  Ploughing begins in March and April.  The prices of valley lands vary from the homestead fee to higher figures.

The prairie and bench lands are coming to the front.  The experiments made by fruit growers and growers of grain have established their value beyond question.  Bearing living testimony to this are hundreds of young orchards, many of which are productive.  It is likely the fall just passed has witnessed more fruit-tree planting than any previous one.  Fruit grown in Kootenai county, including strawberries, prunes and all the smaller fruits, possess a delicious flavor and great beauty of appearance.

The abundance of meadow and grazing lands offer excellent inducements to the stock breeder.  Wild hay is common everywhere in the county.  Among the varieties are found bunch grass, elk grass, redtop, blue joint, slough grass, pine grass, wild timothy, snow grass, etc.

An ordinary hay meadow will yield two to three tons to the acre.  A very large revenue is derived annually from this source.  Winter forage is cheaply harvested.  The hardier animals "rustle" for themselves the year round.

With cattle food so cheap and winters of comparative mildness, dairying and the manufactures dependent upon that industry could scarcely fall short of prosperity.  Successful butter making, cheese manufacturing and the like are industries that can be followed profitably.

TIMBER

Senator Dubois in a very exhaustive and eloquent address delivered before the American Forestry Association, January 27, 1896, said:

"The central mountains of Idaho, while they support a considerable forest cover, are poor in this regard when compared with the northern part of the state, where the forest wealth is developed second only to that of the Pacific states in economic value.  Here we claim to have the only large amounts still standing of magnificent white pine, a different species, to be sure, from the Michigan pine, that is just furnishing its last logs to the mill, yet a very good substitute.  Here larch of large dimensions and quality superior to the famed European article invites the miller, and giant cedar with trunks up to 12 feet in diameter cast a somber gloom over the mossy floor of the deep valleys.  Red firs, lifting their spires 200 feet above the mountain side, suggest the yet greater forest wealth of the Pacific coast."

It is rarely a county can honestly assert a claim to such important navigation interests as Kootenai county.  With the increase of population these interests are sure to become of still greater importance.  The Kootenai river is navigated by a line of steamers any one of which would grace a fleet of Puget sound vessels.  The Coeur d'Alene and Pend d'Orielle lakes are about 30 miles long by about five or ten miles wide.  A busy commerce is going on from one point to another on these two beautiful lakes.  Several grand steamers ply their waters, and their whistles and heavy pulsations echo and re-echo from mountain to mountain.

Besides these sources of communication, there are two transcontinental railroads crossing the country from east to west.  Two other roads, one in the north and the other in the south, afford speedy communication with points in the state of Washington.

A good system of wagon roads is established and maintained by the county.  Trails lead in every direction to every important mountain district.

The climate of Kootenai county is surprisingly mild.  The latitude leads to the supposition that the winters must be severe, but this is an error; the elevation insures an atmosphere free from moisture and a most agreeable equality of seasons exist.  In the common language of our people, we neither have hot nor cold days.  The thermometer seldom falls to zero, and never reaches a point indicative of uncomfortable warmth.  Rains are abundant, and the snow falls are heavy.  The only complaint ever uttered on the score of climate pertains to length, rather than the severity of the cold season.  Chinook winds are common all through December, January and February.  Cyclonics or wind storms do not prevail.  The healthfulness of the climate has been abundantly proved.

A national military post is maintained at the head of the Coeur d'Alene lake, and in the suburbs of the most picturesque city of the same name.  The beauty of the location, the desirability of climate and early strategic considerations were among the reasons for its establishment and maintenance.  It is reputed to be one of the best disciplined of our military garrisons.  For the support of its army the products of many local farms are needed.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The county has an excellent system of public schools, from both an educational and financial standpoint.  There are 42 districts and 45 school houses, and three independent districts.  A competent corps of teachers is engaged.  One thousand one hundred and forty-seven scholars were enrolled last year.  The pay of teachers aggregated last year $10,398.90.  The average cost per pupil for instruction was $9.30.  The receipts for school purposes were $26,835, and the expenditures were $2,746.08.  The estimated value of all school property is $38,215.

The financial standing of the county is very good.  The assessed valuation of property is $2,232,039, which is scarcely two-thirds of the actual valuation; the total indebtedness is about $200,000.

Naturally the capitalist and home seeker find this a country of great interest to them, but there are pastimes and pleasures to be had by all who seek recreation.  The county abounds in game, the common black and white tail deer, the caribou, the elk, mountain goat, cougar, wolf, coyote, bear, mink, beaver and fisher have their homes in the county.  Among the feathered game we have the wild duck, geese, pheasant, grouse, etc., etc.  Fishing can not be excelled.

A most hospitable welcome awaits all new comers into our county.  Our people hail from almost every quarter of the globe.  Every state of the Union has contributed to our population.  They are intelligent and industrious.  Their normal condition of happiness and prosperity is in striking contrast with the condition of the working people of the eastern cities, where overcrowding leads to poverty and disease.  The people work hard and are good citizens.  The happiest of homes are found in every valley, and adorn every hillside.  School buildings of modern architecture and substantial church edifices evince a keen interest in education and religion.

The Silver Blade: Rathdrum, Idaho, Saturday, April 18, 1896