Altogether it has an area of 2,200 square miles, and a population of 5,000.  It is principally composed of low mountains, well timbered, with valleys furnishing fine grazing.

Climate.

The climate of the county is such as prevails generally in northeastern Washington—­a couple of months of snow in winter, affording plenty of sleighing, skating, etc.  Summers are very pleasant, and spring and fall delightful.

[Illustration:  Plate No. 47.—­A Ranch Scene in Lincoln County.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 48.—­Harvest Time in Lincoln County.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 49.—­View of Spokane River in Lincoln County, Showing Possibility of Power Development.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 50.—­Mason County Timber.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 51.—­Dairy Scene in Mason County.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 52.—­Oyster Beds in Mason County.]

Resources.

The bulk of the resources of this county are yet dormant.  The mountains are full of minerals; timber is abundant; grassy hillsides are tempting to the sheep and cattle, while the soil is rich, and when tilled will be found to produce excellent crops.  The county has a fine future for wealth from all these sources, and, while the mines are [Page 57] first to be made productive, without doubt the fruits and cereals will come into their own in time and furnish much of its wealth.

Transportation.

Two railroads reach the center of the northern half of the county, terminating at Republic, the county seat.  These railroads have pushed in here after the precious metals mined in the vicinity.

The Columbia river is navigable most of its course on the county boundary, barring some obstructions which the national government will remove and thus open up to river navigation to the ocean the fruits of toil in Ferry county.

Cities and towns.

Republic, the county seat, is the only large town in the county, and has a population of about 1,250 people.

It is the distributing point for supplies for the mines and ships out much ore for the smelters.

Ferry county altogether offers exceptional opportunities for the homeseeker in a variety of occupations, as already indicated.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Franklin county occupies the basin formed by the junction of the Columbia and Snake rivers, being bounded east, south and west by them.  The southern portion of the county is scarcely 300 feet above sea level, and the soil is fine and sandy.  The northern part of the county is somewhat higher and composed of successive benches till they reach an altitude of 1,000 feet.  It is only a few years since these lands were all considered barren and useless.  Yet in 1906 these bench lands in this county added 1,500,000 bushels of wheat to the world’s supply and in the following season nearly doubled that output.