To a limited extent the contour, boundaries and area of Ferry county have been described in Chapter 1, of Part III. at one period the entire territory of Ferry county was included in the Colville Indian reservation, which then comprised an area seventy miles square, bounded on the east and south by the Columbia, on the west by the Okanogan and on the north by the International Boundary. As has been previously stated, the north half of this reservation wa thrown open to homestead settlement October 19, 1900, and this portion comprised a territory of 35 miles north and south, and about 70 miles east and west, extending into Okanogan county as far west as the Okanogan river. The eastern half, which includes Ferry county, is mountainous, traversed by quite a number of small streams; the agricultural lands in this portion being comfined, generally, though the valleys and bench lands bordering the valleys. In the Fery county portion of what was once the Indian reservation, most of the land of any value is already occupied, either by allotments to the Indians or by homesteaders. The western half, in Okanogan county, is a combination of mountain, hill, table land and valley. Forming the western border of the reservation is the valley of the Okanogan river with an elevation of about 800 feet above sea level; the central portion is rolling table land, at an elevation of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, culminating in Mt. Bonaparte, 6,000 feet high, and covered with a mantle of perpetual snow.

     In Ferry county, along Curlew lake and creek, the Kettle river and tributary streams are choice patches of very fertile soil which has been made to yield abundantly. Perhaps the largest are of farming and grazing land is west and northwest of Republic Camp. The country is generally open, with scattering trees here and there. Grazing lands extend to the mountain tops, affording excellent opportunities for those agricultruists who practice diversified farming. Along the lower levels are rich and fertile spots upon which all of the hardy northern grains and vegetables may be raised, while the surrounding hills offer ample room upon which to graze large herds of cattle, a ready market for which is afforded at Republic.

     With the exception of the higher elevations where the frequency of frost interferes, all description of northern grown fruits, apples, plums, peaches, prunes and apricots may be successfully cultivated. All varieties of vegetables, including watermelons, muskmelons and canteloupes are raised. Climatic conditions vary in different localities, but in general are as above described. Year by year new roads are made to Republic and kept in excellent condition for travel.

     Embraced in the geologival structure of the "North Half" of Ferry county are a series of uplifts and synclinals, with a general dip of the strata southeastward. A prominent basaltic ridge, about one mile southeast of the center of Republic Camp rises to about 1,400 feet above the bed of the Sans Poil river, the principal stream of the district. The apices of the ridge strike out six degrees east of north, with the strata dipping away from them on either side. A similar basaltic uplift, capped with obsidian, lies westward nine miles, near the Okanogan county line. A gradual slope on the west side of the latter descends to the sinus of a synchinal in Archaen granite, with a belt of syenite to the west. The east side of the first mentioned uplift also presents a gradual slope, but the slopes toward the Sans Poil river are steep and precipitous, for a considerable distance, with a gentle slope to the sinus which lies in an intermediate basin six or eight miles wide, and is traversed by a low range of winding hills, wherein are situated many of the principal mines of the Eureka District. Several miles east of Republic Camp another basaltic uplift is observable, near Kettle river; between it and the center one are situated the Gold Ledge, California, Hawkeye, Belcher and other valuable properties.

     An excellent system of wagon roads is maintained throughout the length and breadth of Ferry county. North from Republic is a good road to Grand Forks, B. C., now supplanted by railroads for through travel, but convenient for local haulage, having branches to all the farming settlements in the Kettle river and Curlew valleys. To the south the Sans Poil road leads through the "south Half" to Wilbur, Lincoln county, a distance of over eighty miles through a most promising mineral country. To the west, extending through Okanogan county is a wagon road built by the state, tapping a large area of farming and stock-raising country. Quite a fair road leads to the Myers Creek district, to the northwest, also in Okanogan county.

     The fertility of Ferry county soil is everywhere in evidence. Here is the famous bunch grass which has the same wonderful qualities for feed in winter that has made the buffalo grass of the plains so noted. It has the additional good quality of growing to a height suitable for mowing for hay, and it makes a feed that is highly prized by stockmen of the country as next to alfalfa. It is found everywhere - in the valleys, on the hillside, in the timber land and up the sides of the mountains to their extreme summits - everywhere in the same generous abundance.

     To the ardent sportsman Ferry county offers, and for many years to come will continue to offer, a broad field for all varieties of game found between the northern Cascades and Rockies. The forest-fringed hills, the beautiful pastoral valleys and the picturesque streams afford alike to the hunter and fisherman a paradise of pleasure. Among small game of the feathered species may be enumerated blue grouse, sharp-tail grouse, or prairie chicken, ruff grouse, pheasant, spruce partridge or fool-hen, curlew, willet, upland plover, rail, jacksnipe, geese, cranes, ducks and swans. Several varieties of deer are abundant, including the black-tail, or Columbia deer, Virginia and mule-deer, black, brown and silver tip bears, cougars, mountain lions and "bob cats".

     The principal streams within the limits of Ferry county are the Kettle and Sans Poil rivers, the former forming a portion of the boundary line between Ferry and Stevens counties. Into these streams flow a large number of creeks, and though devoid of any large or important lakes, with the exception of Karanip, or Curlew lake, the country is well watered by numerous small streams. The Sans Poil river rises in a mountain a few miles west of the Okanogan county line, and flows in a southerly direction past Republic Camp and down the western half of Ferry county to the Columbia, debouching at Clark postoffice on the latter stream. The Kettle river, whose source is far to the northwest, in the bunch grass country of British Columbia, flows in a nearly southeastern direction, making a bold sweeping bend into the northern portion of Ferry county, thence trending northward back into British Columbia, and at Cascade City, at the foot of Christiana Lake, forming an abrupt elbow, whence it flows southeasterly and joins the Columbia at Marcus, Stevens county.

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Marge Reid is proud to be the County Coordinator for Ferry County's USGenWeb Project page.
Contact her at mvreid@eskimo.com .