In fruit-growing Spokane is one of the leading counties of the state.  The value of the fruit produced in the county amounts to nearly $3,000,000 annually.  The following table shows the distribution of the five important fruits.

Trees planted 1908—­ Total.
[*]Apples, 253,630 713,567
Pears, 15,470 39,232
Peaches, 59,323 94,769
Cherries, 56,405 106,909
Plums and Prunes, 11,815 29,128
Miscellaneous 2,910 10,000
------- ---------
399,553 Total planted 1,003,615

[Footnote *:  Is 25 percent. of the total number of apple trees planted in the state in 1908.]

SCHOOLS.

There are 165 school districts in the county and eighteen towns where graded schools are maintained.  The total valuation of assessed property with improvements (1908) is $77,120,360; personal property, $10,527,030.

[Illustration:  Plate No. 75.—­(1) Spokane Club Building, Spokane. (2)Riverside Avenue, Looking East from Post Street, Spokane.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 76.—­Spokane River and Bridge at Spokane, Showing Fill for New Concrete Structure to Cost $500,000.]

PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS.

SPOKANE, situated on the Spokane river, is the county seat of Spokane county, and is the metropolis of eastern Washington, having a [Page 83] population estimated at 120,000.  Spokane is the center of a great wheat-raising section and is the principal mining and commercial center between the Cascades and the Rocky mountains.  A conservative estimate of the total value of manufactured products for 1908 is $17,000,000.  There are over 12,000 wage-earners, receiving over $10,000,000 annually.  The principal industrial establishments are lumber mills, flour mills, machine shops, agricultural machinery, brick plants, iron works, foundries, pottery, cereal food, furniture, etc.

The industrial prosperity of the city is due largely to the mines in the vicinity, the great agricultural resources of the surrounding country, and to the extensive water power which offers special inducements to manufacturers.  The Spokane river here has a total fall of 132 feet, which furnishes a minimum of 33,000 horse-power, of which 15,000 horse-power is developed.

There are four national banks, with a combined capital of $3,425,000.  The city owns its own water works, from which an annual revenue of more than $325,000 is derived.

The educational facilities are excellent.  There are twenty-three public school buildings, constructed of brick and stone, and costing $1,450,000.  There are three daily newspapers, having a combined circulation of 45,000.  Here is located the U. S. circuit court; the headquarters of the U. S. district court, eastern division; U. S. military post (Fort Wright); the government headquarters of the postal inspector service, known as the Spokane division, which includes the states of Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and the territory of Alaska, and a U. S. land office.  Postoffice receipts for 1908 amounted to $360,504.