La center, Etna, NACOLT, Amboy and brush prairie are smaller towns, all holding out an inviting hand to the newcomer, and offering desirable opportunities for new business in both merchandising and agriculture, as well as in lumbering and its kindred industries.  Clarke county is one well worth investigating by intending settlers, both on account of its latent possibilities and because of its peculiarly desirable climatic conditions, and its abundant competing transportation facilities, both by rail and water.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Columbia county is one of the four counties in southeastern Washington, lying on the Oregon state line and south of the Snake river.  A forest reserve in the Blue mountains covers much of the southern portion of the county, which is heavily timbered.  The Northern part of the county is made up of rolling prairie lands, of great fertility on account of the large proportion of clay added to the volcanic ash, which composes most of the soils of eastern Washington.  Irrigation is here unnecessary, and abundant crops reward the agriculturist.  The climate is mild, healthful and vigorous, inclining to much outdoor life the year around.

Products.

Columbia county is essentially an agricultural county, but of late years is branching out into fruit-raising and dairying with marked success.  Apples and pears predominate among the fruits, though all others do well.  Wheat is, however, still its great product, and both the Northern Pacific and Oregon Railroad & Navigation railroads are in operation through the northern part of the county to carry away its rich grain harvests.

The citizens of Columbia county are among the most prosperous of the state, its average of per capita wealth being exceeded by only three other counties.

[Page 54] principal towns.

Dayton, the county seat, has a population of about 3,500 people, is situated about in the center of the county, and is the chief town for the county’s exports, as well as the distributor of its merchandise.  It is a substantially built city, with flour and feed mills, and general mercantile establishments of importance.  All the public interests, including schools and churches, are generously provided for.  Its chief exports are grain, fruit, livestock and wool.

Starbuck, in the northern part of the county, is a shipping point of no mean importance on the Oregon Railroad & Navigation railway.

COWLITZ COUNTY

Cowlitz county lies immediately north of Clarke county, bordering about 40 miles on the Columbia river.  It has about 1,100 square miles of territory, and about 13,000 people.  The southwestern portion is largely composed of level valley lands, while its northeastern part is occupied by the foothills of Mount St. Helens.  The drainage is all westerly and southerly into the Columbia river.  Cowlitz river is navigable as far as Castle Rock, and is an important factor in the transportation problem.