The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-12
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Portland to WaIIn WalIa-snIuron scoopInR-
the Delightful Climate and sOlI-''vOIunteer
CrOps'-IsaiIrOad Feasible Eastward Ho!
From Our Ol0n Correspondent

WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON TERI
July IS, 1869.
For two days we have been enioyinp n semi
resting spell with keen relish From Portland
along the beautiful Columbia river to walla
Walla is 25l miles, and that has been our last
stage. The trip was a hard one, going night and
day, starting as soon as we could see, stopping
when 1t was dark, sleeping scarcely at all, eating
lrregularly and sometimes abominable messes.
baked in the sun, shaken to pieces-heigho
But OF such experiences is the Northern Pacific
Railroad to be built, and our aches will truly
drive the spikes into the rails.
In some respects we have had enjoyable times
All are in excellent health and our appetites
are the keenest, thanks to the delightful climate.
Since leaving Portland we have traversed a fine
section; one of our party best describes it
though it will sound extravagant to calm Eastern
folks--as ''251 miles of grass or wheat land and
25l miles of salmon" Think of a body at the
Dalles scooping thirty-one salmon out of the
water, in as many minutes, with land-net and
some of these imperial fish weighing as much as
forty pounds Don't doubt it, take our word
that such glorious salmon fishing is had on the
Columbia river. Precisely such fishing l never
before saw. On our way up we stopped at
evening at the Dalles, and with hand-nets and
by progging with spears, we caught great
pounds. Next morning our good Engineer stole
march on us sleepers, and had fish" to him.
self among the Indians. He caught two single
ones at two throws, and then he got three at
once and landed them safely, though not with
out some heavy tugging, for they weigh from
seventy to seventy-five pounds. Three miles
walk, with bagging the fishes, made good hours
work before o'clock in the morning; and I'll
wager you will not match it in the Delaware
The wonderful climate of this region, so far
as we have traversed it, from the Pacific Ocean
eastward has not been overstated. The Pacific
warm ocean current, or this in combination with
other causes, has ameliorated the climate not
only of the seaboard, but essentially for long
distance eastward In latitude 4S deg on the
coast and in latitude 46 deg. at this town, we
find abundant evidence of the great fact that
the winters are mild and comparatively free
from deep snow; that all the cereals not only
grow but flourish here; that fruits, apples, pears
plums, apricots, raspberries backberres and
grapes, yield wonderfully; and that vegetables of
all kinds grow to a large size and very abun-
dainty. We have seen the grain, the fruits, and
the vegetables, and the soil that produces them.
Yesterday we ate ripe black Burgundy grapes
raised in the open air, and the white Muscat inn
proves here in the open air.
Have you ever heard of volunteer crops ?"
The western end of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road knows them, and knows them of old. Mr.
D, the prosecuting attorney of this county,
in 1868 planted potatoes in his garden, and now
he can't get rid of potatoes in his garden. Po-
tatoes pursue him, stick to him, won't leave
him-potatoes are his fate. Though they are
carefully dug out when ripe, yet with all the
care given few little seedlings remain in the
ground and the amable winter nurses instead
of killing them. So on the tweRty-secOnd of May
the owner, with groan of dismay has to sub
nit to new potatoes as large as hens eggs. In
like manner. the prosecuting attorney is prose-
cuted year after year with dahlas and other
dubious flowers, for the winter helps to give
them perpetual growth and bloom.
Iti true. however, that such a soil does not
exist everywhere. This valley of the Walla
Walla appears to be peculiarly favored by
nature in climate, soil, and water 1t abounds
in living streams flowing into the Walla Walla,
which irrigate it and make it an immense gar
den spot The extent of fine land put in cultva-
ton here within the past ten years is wonderful.
There are now eleven hundred voters in this
county and considerable amount of agrcul-
tural products is annually raised, that even
now needs railroad facilities for cheap transpor-
tation. The country between the Columbia and
this town, thirty-one miles, excepting along
the immediate valley of the Wala Walla and its
tributaries, is unimproved. 1t is rolling, and in
some places quite hilly, having basatic-rocB
foundation. Its surface is dotted with sage
spots of alkaline land, and spots of natura
bunch-prass pasture on which cattle and horses
ssfatten"-like last winter-with little or NJ
feeding" The grass is not green, though
owing to q long-continued drought this year i
is browner than usual; nevertheless, animals
like it and thrive on it, Doubtless there is
large area of pasture country sufficient to main
tain vast herds and much of it is adapted Il
general agriculture
Respecting the merits of railro ad routes be
tween this point and the Pacific, personal Oh
servotions have fully established the fact that
line is practicable from Wullula, on the Colum
bio mia that river to the COwlitz river, and by
the valley of that stream over to Olympia, a
the head of Puget Sound, which shall hav
moderate grades all the way. \ large part O
this distance railroad can be built at mOderat
cost. generally the grades will be very little pc
mile. and the curves easy. The oasaluc-roc
blufs along the Columbia river, the high Hood
forcing the level of the grade thirty to fifty fec
above low water. and few tunnels at the wor'
bluffs to save cost and curvature, will constltut
some miles of heavier work
At the request of Mayor McAuliit and I'll
members of the City Council, our party mi
some of the citizens of Walla Walla on Satu
dav afternoon for a frank interchange
opinions relative to the North Pacific Rairoa
Mr.. Garfield explained very clearly the cond
ton and objects of the company Mr.. Rober
g ailRng