, 1866-05-18
nALLEs LETTER.
DALLEs, May 18th, 1866.
Now that your Wallula correspondent, ~.
p !" has ventilated himself on a trip to

OALLhSi Mdg A0lhi looo'
Now that your Wallua correspondent, 80.
B T." has ventilated himself on tript to
WHITE BLUFF,
7 need feel no delieacy in Withholding from the
community my experience IN the same direction,
through fear OF being laughed at for spending
the ..few coin" did, TO see, and hear the buzz
ziup of this most magni6cent-humbug.
Having been "Moody-ed," Booth-ed" and
nOieil- ed"-pestered, and importuned by sun
dry and divers persons to invest at once in
town lots, aud take a chance in the business Of
the unapproachable aud unprecedented locality
of White Bluffs; and last, though not least, was
shown poster, published and sent forth by the
irrepressihle WIN. X. lsh, in which he stated
that he was fully prepared to transport all pas
seugers coming via th e Columbia River, to all
parts of Montana and Idaho Territories, omit
ting, however, to state in said poster, from WhGt
poiSf on the Columbia River he intended to stalt
for the interior; but my informant privately told
me that Mr.. Ish gave White Bluffs the preference
and further, that Ish and Booth had started
out to establ sh stations on the Road. All these
matters having been paraded before my (rather
excited) vision, took up my line Of IN trch fol
this, apparently, only town on the Columbia
| River Passing Umatilla and WAllula, (Which
| must confess, from the knowledge ! had pro
cured of the Bluffs, l held in low estimation, |
arrived at my destination. Itisunuecessary tor
~ ?;-n yc". 5-ffr;r;r';o" ~ Oh wonld be)
town site. Your Wallula correspondent has eu
ttirely 'shut my wind off, His description is
perfect. But, notwithstanding the position of
the town site. and its poverty stricken appear.
ance, still thought there might be something
in it," | inquired what facilities existed for
procuring transportation of goods from the
Bluffs to the interior? as saw nothing of the
KIND there. so, transportation was easily pro-
cured; teams or pack trains could be procured
in .he Walln Walla valley, at Umatilla or DAlles,
and some at Covlle."
This was something of damper to my hops,
ana began to get the sand out of my eyes. |
knew it was only 80 miles from Walla Walla to
Wallula, and that OK teams could make the tnp
DOWN (empty) in two days, and from the Gard
OF the team,ters in Walla Wala valley, ku.w
they preferred teaming from Wallula to all plrts
OF the country in preference to any other point
ON the Columbia, and that OK teams, coming
from the Walla WalIa valley to White Bluff, for
freight, would have to travel over one bundled
niles, and have Snake river to cross en- roite
No teamster with half sense, would travel six or
seven days to get what he could easily proc ire
in two days. Then the idea of procuring trLns.
portatiOn from Umatila which is rs miles below
Wallua, and Waliula 65 miles below White
Bluffs, is perfectly ridiculous. Better buy your
goods at Dalles, Umatilla or Wallua and strike
out Immediately fDryour destination.
That Wallula is the nearest point, from the
Columbia river, TO any part of the BlackfOot
mines, none can deny; and when the steamers
can run up Snake river, Pdlouse Landing is the
nearest point from the uavigabe waters Ton this
side) to Colville aud the Big Bend mines on the
Columbia river.
slowly, bot surely, came to the conclusion
that the Bluffs would not answer my purpose
Tor trade, but might answer the purpose of II
retired MonH, "Out of bumanities reach" so
adjourned
Now, you will permit me, will indulge in
little speculation, which have never yet seen
touched upon relative to the future of the towns
now on the banks of the Columbia river Hav.
ing closely watched their progress for some
years, have come to the conclusion, that no
town on the Columbia river will ever amount to
anything more than a shipping point and IL point
OF embdrkaton and debarkation for travellers
to and from the interior. The reason of this is
plain To any thinking man, VIZ: There is Il great
hSk he r9er n dHd iaRaa %SasTri
Even the DIles, which for few years had
far show to become the emporium of the Col
umhia, is weakening, notwithstanding all her
nltur1l advantages, together with steamboats,
and Railroads. She does not possess su5icrn,
agricultural country around her to hack her up.
The same disadvantages exist, to =. greater ex.
tent at Unatila and White Bluffs, but not to the
same extent ut Wallula as she has the Walla
Walla and TOuchet valics to back her, and
these vAlIies, to my certain knowledge, supply
large amount of produce each year to WAllula,
Umhtilla and even the Dtiles.
Now which is the most permanent and four
ishing town in Washington Territory? Why,
none other than
wALLA wALLA CITY,
city located 30 miles inland, due east from
W9llula. 1t is located in the center of the rich,
agricultural valley of Walla Walla-not on any
navigable stream, and is only approached by
stages, teams and pack trLius-is centrally To-.
Gated for trade with all the mining localities ly-
ing beyond, and her merchants have at sI times
kept the largest stocks of goods of any town
north of Portland. Wood, water and grass, for
the accommodation of teamsters and packers is
unsurpassed, and better places for wintering
pack trains and team animals, cannot be found
than exist in the Walla Walla and Touchet val
lies.
But see | am drawing this letter out to too
great length, and will close for the present,
and will, if you wish, give you further notes in
future from TRAVELLER.
Pacific CoAsT BUSINESS DIREcrORY.-Henry