THROUGH WONDERLAND. 
85 
A short run, and we are at Spokane Falls, a bright and busy little city, 
charmingly situated on the Spokane river, near the celebrated falls from which 
it takes its name. Built upon a gravelly plateau, sloping gently toward the 
river, overlooked by beautiful pine-clad hills, and with lofty mountain ranges in 
the far distance, Spokane Falls can not but produce a favorable impression 
upon the passing traveler. Its falls, which are its chief natural attraction, and 
will be the secret of the great commercial and manufacturing importance that 
undoubtedly awaits it, are situated on the north side of the town. The river 
is divided by basaltic islands into three great streams, curving toward each 
other, and pouring their floods into a common basin, from which the united 
waters come surging and foaming to make their final plunge of sixty-five feet 
into the deep chasm below. The tremendous force with which the river tears 
through its rocky channels, and hurls itself over the falls, is perhaps best illus¬ 
trated by a comparison with the Falls of St. Anthony, at Minneapolis. While the 
latter represent a force of 135,000 horse power, the former represents one of 
216,000 horse power, utilizable with equal facility. Several extensive flouring 
mills, as well as saw mills, are already in operation ; and there is no doubt that, 
with the development of the rich wheat country of Eastern Washington, there 
will come an immense extension of the manufacturing industries of Spokane Falls. 
It is probable that the town will soon have two important feeders in branch 
lines of railway, extending, the one northward to the Colville mining region,— 
the other southward to the Palouse wheat country. These lines will open rail¬ 
way communication with two of the richest sections of country west of the 
Rocky Mountains. 
Until within the last year or two, the settlements of the Colville valley have 
been confined to the scattered homes of ranchmen. But recently the tide of 
immigration that has been flowing into the Territory has reached this remote 
region, and agricultural operations of a general character are being engaged in. 
The valley is as fertile as it is beautiful, and not only fine wheat, but fruit of 
excellent quality, is being raised there. 
In the Chewelah district there have recently been found so many rich veins 
of silver that Mr. E. V. Smalley, who visited it in November, 1885, declares 
that it is almost certain to become, within a few years, the greatest silver camp 
on the continent. 
Sixteen and forty-one miles respectively westward from Spokane Falls, are 
Cheney and Sprague, in a good agricultural country, whose rapid development 
is building them up as solid and substantial towns. Cheney has a large hotel, 
and is, moreover, the nearest railway station to Medical Lake, a large sheet of 
water possessing remarkable curative properties, and situated nine miles west. 
Good hotels and bathing establishments having been erected, Medical Lake is 
now an exceedingly pleasant resort, the surrounding country being very 
attractive. 
From Palouse Junction, sixty-nine miles west of Sprague, a line extends 
eastward into the Palouse country. So far as regards scenery, a ride over this 
