, 1868-12-11
REPLY.

Walla Walla Valley. We have not the time
to answer each and all these letters, and SO
we reply through the columns of the STATES
MAN. We take up the questions in the
order in which they are put:
l. WaHa Walla Valley can best be de-
scribed as of semi-circular form with a ra>
dius of fifty miles. 1t is one of the best
watered Ialleys on the Pacific coast, and in
this respect is all that can be desired The
streams take their rise in the Blue Noun
tains: and being fed by the melting snow
keep up nearly their full volume throughout
the year. The water of these streams is free
from all alkaline matter, and having Their
beds nearlyon top of the ground, can readily
be diverted to irrigating purposes. These
streams are skirted by narrow belts of tim.
Der, of the varieties known as cottonwood,
birch, and alder. The land on the water
courses is for the most part taken up, but
there yet remains thousands of acres of ex>
cellent lands open to pre-emption.
2. Walla Walla county proper has pop
ulation which may be stated in round mum.
bers at FIVE thousand. Outside the county
lines, but within the limits of the Valley.
there is at least two thousand inhabitants,
giving the Valley total population of seven
thousand.
3. The population of the town, estimating
at the rate of five persons to each building,
is about sixteen hundred.
A. After having travelled extensively and
visited all the more important settlements in
the United States, we have no hesitation in
saying that we know of no locality more de-
sirable in point of climate than Walla Walla
Valley. In evidence of this we have the
fact that our stock owners provide no shelter
for their cattle, and yet they pass through
the winter and come out in the spring in ex-
cellent condition. During the winter they
live principally on the long red bunch grass,
which gives pasturage to numberless herds
Of horses and focks of sheep and horn stock
Our coolest weather is say from the goth of
December to the last of January, and during
this time, although we have frequent snow>
falls, the snow rarely lays on the ground over
week at a time. During this period, say
of six weeks, is all that we have of what the
settler from Illinois, Iowa, or Missouri, would
call real winter.
5. With an excellent climate and the finest
water, it would be strange indeed if our peo-
pie failed to enjoy good health. In the
early settlement of the country it was a COM
mon saying that no man "died a natural
death, and whilst this expression is scarcely
correct as applied to the country now, still it
serves to give an idea of the general good
health that prevails. AS matter of course,
we cannot promise consumptives restora>
ton of their health, but this we can say, that
we have never known any person to contract
the disease in this Valley.
6. For about ten months out of twelve
there is steamboat communication to Wallu-
Ia, point near the junction Of the Snake
River with the North Fork of the Columbia.
During the interruption of navigation we
communicate with the Dalles by means Of a
daily line of stages, and thence to Portland,
the emporium of the whole Northern coun-
try. Lines of railroad that are now being
agitated and sure to be built within year or
two, will greatly improve our means of COM
munication.
I. The experiment of raising fruit on an
extensive scale has been fairly tried in this
Valley, and uniformly with favorable results
The Willamette Valley has long been famous
as the paradise of fruit growers, but expert
euce has shown that the apples grown in
this Valley are of finer favor and in every
way superior to the "web foot apples" The
peach is found to do better here than any>
where else on the coast, and we have known
one of our enterprising settlers to realize
$1,000 in single season from his peach crop.
Pears, plums, grapes, and all the fruits that
flourish in the temperate zone do well in
this Valley.
8. The principal markets for our surplus
products are found in the mining districts,
aud with these we have communication by
means of freight teams at all seasons.
! 9. Improved lands can be had in quarter