Wheat is its great staple crop, and the last year out of a crop
acreage of 275,000 gave to the world nearly 6,000,000 bushels, an
average of upwards of 20 bushels to the acre. When this average is
compared with that of the wheat fields of the Mississippi valley,
it is no wonder that the value of its realty has increased for
the purposes of taxation more than 300 per cent. in the past six
years. Horses, cattle, hogs and sheep are to a limited extent raised
on the farms, and are important adjuncts to its prosperity.
[Page 47]
PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS.
RITZVILLE is the county seat, and has a city hall, electric lights
and water system, flour and feed mills, and is the chief distributing
center of the county.
LIND will be one of the important points on the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul railway, now building across the county.
WASHTUCNA also is to have another outlet for its wheat over the
Portland & Seattle railway, projected and building. All these towns
have good schools, churches, warehouses, mercantile establishments,
and all enjoy an abundance of prosperity from the marketing of
the crops.