, 1868-05-01
Grauds Ro5de valley.


tains, gets first view Of our valley, is, hoD
beaRttaIi We propose, for the benefit Of
those who have never been fortunate enough
to see it, to give hasty, birdseye view Of
1t. The valley is about 35 miles in extreme
length, by an average width of Is miles.
Is for so large tract, quite regularly shap-
ed, in the form of an oblong circle. The
lands are undulating, but not sufficiently 10
be elassed as rolling prairie. The soil is
mostly of very rich loan, of an average
depth of three feet, and possesses the quality
Of retaining moisture 10 remarkable degree.
The Grande Ronde river enters the valley
on the west side; and runpiDg almost direc-
tly across 1t to the base of the mountains on
the opposite side, turns north, and finds an
oatlet near the north end of the valley
through rocky canyon, thence makes its
way in a north easterly direction to Snake
river, into which it empties about thirty
miles from the valley. The main tributary
of the Grande Ronde in the valley is Cath
arine Creek, which comes in from the mount
aims near the south end of the valley on the
east side, runs due north along the east side
of the valley and empties into the Grande
Ronde near the bend. County roads cross
the valley in all directions; but the main
roads are toll roads, One called ;'the Meach-
am Road, comes over the Blue mountains,
and follows the GraDde Ronde river for some
distance, until it emerges into the valley at
Orc Dell, thence goes to La Grande, thence
directly east across the valley to Union
town, aud out at the south end via Pyles'
canyon or the old emigrant road of Ladd's
Hill. Another is called the Thomas &
Ruckel Road" running over the Blue noun
tains from the head waters of the Umatilla
river, entering the valley on the west side
near the north end aud running through the
town of Summerville, crosses the valley to
the opposite side, then running up the east
side, passing the mouth of Forest Cove,
through Union, leaves this for Powder Rivs
er valley, via the same outlets as the Meach-
am road.
The surrounding mountains are heavily
timbered with fir and pine, and numerous
little mountain streams furnish splendid
water powers for milling purposes. The
valley all lies in Union county, the summit
of the surrounding mountains, being in the
main the county boundary line.
The first actual settlers in the valley, who
made any attempt at building their ho nes
and cultivating the soil, were of the immi.
grafton of 1862, and composed of the hardy
pioneers of Iowa and Missouri. Five years
of steady increase of population and conse>
quent labor, have produced wonderful chang
es in the appearance of the valley. The
waste prairie has changed to fenced and
cultivated farms, and in all directions the
handi>work of intelligence and industry is
visible. Comfortable houses and out.houses
have been built, orchards planted, and from
the poor immigrant has spung the well>to-do
farmer. The county seat is La Grande,
situated in the south end of the valley, on
the west side, contains about 600 inhabi-
ants, its complement Of stores and shops,
two printing presses, etc. Union is a con-
siderable town, Is miles from La Grande,
on Catharine Greek, is place of consider
able business, nearly all the roads through
the valley centerniDg there has Post and
Express Office, two hotels, several stores
and all the necessary shops, etc, to make up
a town. Summervile, before mentioned on
the Thomas 4 Ruckel Road, is small town
in the north end of the valley, and boasts
its store, post Office, hotel and blacksmith
shop. Orc Dell, before mentioned, is situa-
ted on both sides of the Grande Ronde river,
at the mouth of the canyon, aud also boasts
its hotel, store, post Office, &c.-Times.
-
Mrs. KATE CHASE SPRAGUE.-Mrs
Senator Sprague, daughter of Chief Justice
Chase, had brilliant reception on the even
ing of the 22d February, and she astonish>
ed her visitors by earnestly advocating the
course of the President and opposing Con.
gress. She said unresorvedly that she
thought President johnson was right in the
entire controversy with Congress, and that
she intended hereafter to act with the Dem
ocratic party in sustaining him. She allud-
ed to the fact that her husband and father
had zealousy supported the Republican
party, but she said the time had now come
to act to save the Constitution. and should
use all her influence for the Presiden.
| ~0~"-N~0~~-sO>-~~~~
INDIANS ABoUT.-Mr John Lo vry who
has just arrived in town from Diamond City,
informs us that night before last band of
ians'approached within two miles of that
place, killed one mule and escaped with four
head OF horses, belonging to ranchman 10
the vicinity. The owner of the missing
stock, upon making search for them yester,
day, found the dead mule with two arrows
shot into him, and from other "Indian signs =
laid the depredations above stated, at their
door. - Helena Gazette.
Grand-psp Grants gun has been spiked
The last number of Bonner's Ledger had
not wOad from the old gent relative to his
interesting boy Ulysses. Tis said that the
radicals told the General that his pap mus
stop his mule and monkey stories, or bis
Presidential prospects would be blown sky
highY The General telegraphed to his
father $50 the story goes) to "stOp his ID
nonse Dse." Aud thus ended the second