, 1868-09-18
waIIa waIla Valley.

NA"SieA hosOuiCeS Ol tue Onlteo OtatesJ
has the following sketch Of Walla walla
Valley:
The Walla Walla rivor aud its several
tributaries, the Touchet Mill creek, Dry
creek, and several small streams which peri
meate the Valley like the branches of fan,
take their source in the Blue mountains, flow
westerly. and converge in the main stream,
which enters the Columbia just above the
northern boundary of Oregon. At thu mouth
of the uver was located the Hudson Bay
Company's fort, Nez Perce, or Walla Wala.
The town of Wallula now occupies the site
of this old, abandoned fort. Being the eas>
tern terminus of the regular established
trips of the steamboats, of the Oregon Steam
Navigation Company, an extensive forward
ing business is done here. 1t may also be
considered the port of the city of Walla
Walla, distant some 80 miles east, as also
great distributing point for the rich mining
regions of Idaho and Montana.
There is a striking popularity about the
lnnumerable streams which flow into the
Walla Walla river. They spread themselves
in almost every direction, not only in chan>
nels, but over and on top the surface, consti-
tuting most admirable system of self diss
natural irrigants To this feature
this rich agricultural valley owes very much
for its remarkable fertility and producing
power. The main streams arc skirted by alder,
cottonwood, and willow, the only approach
to timber in the valley. Distant a few miles,
however, the Blue mountains are covered
with heavy timber, adequate for all purposes,
though it is rendered expensive by the cost
Of transportation.
Mill creek is worthy of notice, not only
because upon its banks is located the city of
Walla Walla, the largest town in the Terri
tory, but also from the remarkable fact that
it divides itself into many distinct channels
or creeks, spreading out laterally and water
ing quite an extensive surface, then gradus
ally converging and concentrating into one
channel, through which their waters are
emptied into the Walla Walla river We
know of no other such system of irrigation
as this provided by bounteous nature for this
beautiful region. The valleys of all these
rivers and their numerous branches afford
abundance of excellent farming lands, yield
ing heavy crops. The table-lands and sur
rounding bills are possessed of soil Of like
character. In consequence of the absence of
water, difficulty of irrigation. which was
deemed a sine qua non to their successful
cultivation, until very recently no attempts
were made to convert these lands into farms;
but as settlement increases, they are being
occupied aud very successfully cultivated.
For grazing, these tables and side hills can
not be exceled. They are covered with a
luxuriant growth of native bunch grass of
most nutritious quality. During the rains of
spring it seems to attain its growth, and
through the dry season which follows it
stands to be cured into the best of hay, pre-
serving its strength and esculent properties
all winter. Stock abandon the green grass
of the bottom lands to feed upon it, and on
it they keep fat all winter. Another notice.
able feature in this region is the great num-
ber of cold springs bursting out upon the
surface, some of which are sufficiently large
for water powers. On the hottest days they
retain their GOODNESS, and are many degrees
colder than the water in the Deighboring
streams, to which they are found in close
proximity.
But the term Walla WalIa Valley, in COM
mon parlance, is by no means restricted to
Stevens, in his valuable Geographical memoir,
thus aludes to its boundaries "The Snake
river forms a great re-entering from the
Clearwater to tsjunction with the Columbia,
which re-entering, being bounded on the
South by the Blue Mountains, has been
named the Walla Walla Valley, although
that term properly applies to the immediate
system of valleys whose streams connect
with the Walla WalIa river ITSELF"
1t may be proper to add that the settlers
on the Tukannon. AL pah-wah, and Pa.taha
which are all tributaries of Snake river
would deem themselves outlawed if denied
their residence in Walla Wala valley. In
language appreciated in this Territory, this
valley, in its most restricted meaning, would
find its synonym in Walla Walla county.
-
GRANTS WITHDRAwAL.-Some days ago
we reprinted from the New York World an
apparently well founded intimation that Gen.
Grant would probably be induced to abandon
his aspirations after the honors of the Presi-
dency, and content himself with the honors
and emoluments of his present position. We
gave the article to our readers for what it
was worth, somewhat doubling whether there
was wisdom enough in the radical party to
insist upon change of programme SO evid-
emily essential to their success But from
another source we learn that the matter has
been more than once under consideration in
the secret councils of the party at Washing>
ton. leaving it to be inferred that where
there is so much smoke there must be some
FIRE. We take but very little interest in the
matter. General Grant can be beaten as
easily as any other candidate they can select
The inference to be drawn from the rumors
afloat is that the radicals begin to realize the
possibility, if not the certainty of defeat.
But they do not realize that the fault is as
much in their principles as in their cand-
dates. We advise them to change their
whole policy, and vote the democratic ticket.
Plain Dealer.
A Texas man gave it as his opinion,
when imuortuned to take out policy IN
life insurance company, that fellow $ lue ,s
| - ,,,;,hto uncertain about there 1t Wasn !