TRANSPORTATION.
Until now the rivers and wagon roads are the only paths of commerce. But into this blossoming empire the railroads are looking with longing eyes. The Great Northern, however, has already tapped the northern boundary and projected a line down the Okanogan and Columbia rivers to Wenatchee. Other railroads will follow, as the prize is too great not to be divided.
PRINCIPAL TOWNS.
Conconully, the county seat, is situated among the foothills and mines west of the Okanogan river. In addition to the mining industry, the raising of sheep and cattle is followed by the citizens. The town has a population of about 500 people.
Oroville is the chief town on the railroad, near the northern border, and is the terminus of the road. It has about 500 people and is growing. It is an important ore-shipping point, surrounded also by good fruit-raising and agricultural lands, yet unirrigated.
Brewster, at the junction of the Columbia and Okanogan rivers, has a population of about 200, and is an important grain and fruit-shipping point.
Okanogan is on the river of the same name, about midway between Brewster and Conconully, and to this point the steamers ply in the higher waters of the river.
Twisp is a growing village in the Methow valley, devoted chiefly to fruit-growing and mining. It is an important distributing center.
Pateros has steamer connection with Wenatchee, and is an importing, growing center.
Beck, Bonaparte, Anglin and Bodie are other new and growing commercial centers.
Chesaw, in the northern part, and Nespelim, in the southeastern part, are important locations.