Writing Home: Texts
6. Brewster Commercial Club Promotional Pamphlet
Brewster Commercial Club, Brewster, Okanogan County, Washington ([Brewster, Wash.]: Brewster Commercial Club, 1909?).
King Sptizenberg
PRESENTED BY THE BREWSTER COMMERCIAL CLUB
BREWSTER, WASHINGTON
BREWSTER
OKANOGAN COUNTY
WASHINGTON
[a photo of the Methow Valley appears on cover]
SECTION OF THE METHOW VALLEY, SHOWING LINE OF THE METHOW-BREWSTER FLATS HIGH LINE CANAL ABOUT TO BE BUILT.
[a photo of the Methow River appears on cover]
METHOW RIVER, NEAR THE INTAKE OF THE METHOW-BREWSTER FLAT HIGH LINE CANAL, SHOWING A NEVER-FAILING SUPPLY OF PURE WATER.
[a picture of the south central section of Brewster Flat appears over the top of three columns on the inner page]
SOUTH CENTRAL SECTION OF BREWSTER FLAT, SHOWING 3000 ACRES OF THE UPPER FLAT TO BE WATERED BY THE METHOW-BREWSTER FLAT CANAL.
Pioneering
During the early settlement of the State of Washington, Okanogan County, on account of its remoteness and lack of transportation, has been peacefully slumbering in its mountain retreat, and with the exception of a few hardy pioneers who settled in the valleys, where small streams furnished water for irrigation, this vast domain, up to within a few years ago, was unknown. Little did these pioneers realize the missionary work they were doing. The orchards they planted, the grain they raised and the cattle they marketed soon attracted the attention of the outside world. The wonderful possibilities of our soil and climate soon became proverbial. The building of the Great Northern railroad to Wenatchee induced the late Commodore Griggs to build and operate a fine line of steamboats from Wenatchee to Brewster, the head of navigation on the Columbia River. This proved the entering wedge to Okanogan County’s greatness. Soon thereafter, Government experts reported on and recommended the construction of the Pogue Prairie irrigation project, which will reclaim 10,000 acres of choice fruit land. This project is now nearing completion. Following in rapid succession, private capital has taken up the Brewster Flat project, which will reclaim a large area of land that has become famous for its beautiful location and the quality of its soil. One thousand acres of this flat are now irrigated and on the market. Following in the wake of this development, the Federal Government is now preparing to open the South Half of the Colville Indian Reserve to homestead entry, which will furnish homes to thousands of American citizens. With this development, and Okanogan’s future greatness fully established, the Great Northern railroad is preparing to tap this County, through the Okanogan and Columbia valleys. Mr. Fruitgrower and Investor, we have “blazed the way,” and it’s up to you now!
Transportation
The present means of transportation from Brewster is by steamboat line, operated by the Columbia & Okanogan Steamboat Company. This Company operates a splendid line of modern steamboats, maintaining regular passenger and mail service on daily schedule between Brewster and Wenatchee, on the main line of the Great Northern railroad 70 miles south.
The time to make investments in a new country is before a railroad completes its construction, and the country settles up. The safe and sure “ground floor” basis in any new country is after the hardy pioneer, by hardships and many deprivations, has demonstrated the merits of soil and climate and brought them to the attention of the great railroad magnates. In return, these far-seeing business men order their surveys and start securing their rights-of-way. This is the position of Brewster and the Okanogan Country is in today. Thus, the foundation of its great future has been firmly established. The invitation is here given you to come up and investigate for yourself. Before you come, look about you and post up on the Yakima and Wenatchee fruit districts, so that you will be able, intelligently, to compare this with these older and famous sections. Then, if you are really looking for a new country in which to grow up and profit by the experiences and possibly, mistakes, of your dad or yourself, you will find this to be the country, and this the time.
The Great Northern railroad is building a line from Spokane to Wenatchee via Stevens Ferry and Okanogan Counties. This line has been completed as far as Oroville, seventy miles north of Brewster. The following clipping, taken from the Seattle P.—I. of date June 7th, 1909, shows conclusively that the connecting link of this important feeder of the Great Northern system is soon to be completed.
G. N. to Build Along Okanogan Files Resolution to Construct 134 Miles, Wenatchee to Oroville.
OLYMPIA, June 7.—(Special)—The Great Northern railway today filed with the Secretary of State a certificate that its directors had passed a resolution ordering construction and operation of a branch to begin near Wenatchee and thence northerly and northeasterly along the Columbia River through the Counties of Chelan and Douglas to the junction of the Okanogan and Columbia rivers and thence along the Okanogan to a connection with the present Great Northern branch at Oroville, in Okanogan County, a distance of about 134 miles.
- column 1 –
First Prize on “Spitzenbergs”
As a proof of the claim that “Brewster Fruit District” stands at the head of all other districts in the Northwest for the production of high-class winter fruit we publish the following letter, which is a reproduction of the original:
Sixteenth Annual
Spokane Interstate Fair
September 20 to 25, inc., 1909
Office of ROBT. H. COSGROVE, Secretary and Manager
218 MUTTON BLOCK TELEPHONE MAIN 1435
Spokane, Washington, June 18, 1909.
Brewster Commercial Club,
Brewster, Wash.
Gentlemen:
Referring to the prizes won at the 1908 Spokane Interstate Fair, by Mr. G. M. Adams of Brewster, Washington, would say that our records show that he was awarded the following prizes:
First on Blue Pearmain Apples
“ “ ESOPUS (SPITZENBERG) Apples
“ “ Newton Pippin Apples
“ “ Seek-No-Further Apples.
Yours Very Truly,
[signature appears here]
Secretary and Manager.
To appreciate fully the “mark of distinction” these awards give the Brewster Fruit District, it must be borne in mind that these awards were won in competition with all of the large and older fruit districts of Washington and Idaho. And further, the SPITZENBERG and NEWTON PIPPIN apples are among the highest priced apples grown on earth.
[a picture of G. M. Adams’ orchard appears here]
PIONEER ORCHARD OF G. M. ADAMS, THREE AND ONE-HALF MILES SOUTH OF BREWSTER, WASHINGTON.
- column 2 –
Okanogan Power and Irrigation Company
The Okanogan Power & Irrigation Company was organized in 1906, for the purpose of irrigating a portion of the Brewster Flats tributary to the Town of Brewster. By conserving the waters from the mountains in Whitestone Lake reservoir, and with two mountain streams perpetually feeding the system, enough water is furnished to irrigate 2000 acres of fruit land.
The principal owners of the irrigation company are E. F. Blaine of Seattle and Walter N. Granger of Zillah, Wash. Both are men of wide experience in irrigation work, having contributed largely to the development of the Yakima Valley under irrigation.
The Brewster ditch, while covering only a limited amount of land, is one of the most perfect in the Northwest from an engineering and operating standpoint.
In 1908 they purchased 1000 acres of land from the State of Washington, which is now platted in orchard tracts and on the market with water right. For further information regarding this land, apply to the Company’s sales agent at Brewster, Wash.
Young orchards under this system planted two years ago will compare favorably with any on earth.
While the severe winter of 1908-9 did inestimable damage to the tender varieties of fruit, such as peaches, apricots, cherries, etc., throughout the various older fruit districts of the Northwest, the Brewster Country can show a FULL CROP of all these varieties, with the apple and pear trees also loaded with fruit. “Seeing is believing.” Come and see.
Methow-Brewster Flat High Line Canal
The Methow-Brewster Flat High Line Canal will irrigate the famous “Brewster Flats,” which are situated on a series of level and fertile benches at and near the mouth of the Okanogan River. Approximately 12,000 acres of this flat will be irrigated by this canal. Across the Okanogan River lies the South Half of the Colville Indian Reservation, soon to be opened. Some of this land will also be watered by this canal. The soil and air drainage, so essential to the growing of high-classed fruit, is perfect. The water supply for this canal will be taken directly from the swift running waters of the Methow River, and will be diverted from said river to the canal by means of a concrete diversion wier built in the river at the Town of Carlton, which is situated up the valley 24 miles from its confluence with the Columbia River. The Methow river draws its water supply from the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade mountains. Not a drop of standing or stagnant water enters it. From the time it leaves its source to its mingling with the mighty Columbia, it tumbles and foams like a millrace. Such water is always pure and exhilarating and a boon to man, beast and soil alike.
The preliminary work of the Methow-Brewster Flat project is fast nearing completion, and it is expected that active construction work will soon be commenced. All of the canal, flume and other necessary construction work will be after the types of such work done by the Government. This assures one of the best constructed systems in the State. With a pure water supply, more than abundant for all time to come; a perfectly constructed irrigation system, managed and operated under just and well ordered regulations; a soil and climate unexcelled, and beautifully situated along the banks of the Methow, Okanogan and Columbia rivers, offers a rare opportunity to build an ideal home and grow up with a brand new country.
What the Wenatchee High Line Canal has done for the famous Wenatchee Valley, the Methow-Brewster Flat Canal will do for the fertile lands along the Methow, Columbia and Okanogan Valleys. Careful comparison of the many opportunities now offered in the Brewster district will magnify the truth of this statement and prove its correctness.
- column 3 –
[a picture of an orchard appears across the bottom of all three columns]
A SEVENTY-ACRE SECTION OF THE BREWSTER ORCHARD COMPANY’S THREE-YEAR-OLD ORCHARD, SITUATED ONE-HALF MILE SOUTH OF BREWSTER, WASHINGTON.
| Reading the Region Home | Writing Home Main | Writing Home: Commentary | Writing Home: Texts |