The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-06-15
CORRESPONDENCE.
WALLA WALLA. Wash. Ter, }
May 2s. 1871. )

May zS. 1871.
i Editors Courier.
j 1t may be interesting to your pat
rons to read another short epistlc
from your correspondent, that has
his domicil upon the waters Of tho
Great Columbia. And this letter
shall be confined to the valley %,
Walla Walla together with others
of less not 1t is impossible to give
full dc: cription or anything moro
than an outline sketch OF this most
beautiful and fruitful country, in tho
limited space allowed mo. Other
and ADLER pens have attempted tho
task, and failed.
In order to appreciate its excel.
lcnce one must visit 1T. This waller
includes the greater part of Walla
Walla county, w. T., and u consider.
able portion of Umatilla county,
Oregon, and the valley is divided by
the line, separating this Territory
from Oregon. 1t Is bounded on the
north by tho Touchet (pro. Tusba, }
on the east by the Blue mountains,
on the south by Pine creek, on tho
west by the Columbia river. Fro,s
the north to south, the valley isabout
fifty miles, from east to west, IittIo
less. ea..
| The Wa!la Walla river, with all
its tributaries, has it's sour ce in the
Blue mountains, and after flowing il,
u westerly direction through tho val
ley, emptius into the Columbia. near
what is known us old Ft. WaIIa WnI-
la. In travelling up the river for tho
first fifteen miles you will come in
contact with but very little goou
land for agricultural purposes, but
excellent for the stock dealer, as the
bunch grass is inexhaustible. Buc
at fifteen miles from tho Columbia.
the .sTouchet empties into the
Walla Walla on the north, and Pine
creek from the south, and here tbs
bottom land assumes more width,
and in fact. the low land on these
water courses, from source to mouth
stand unparalleled, as grain growing
or fruit growing land.
These streams together with oth-
crs, spread out titus abundantly, sup
plying the country with water. On
all of these streams there is q suffici-
ency of fire-wood, and in most plac-
es . great amount Of rail.timber, $"
that timber is no object here. Tho
fertility. of the soil excels anything
ever known, only on the Pacific
coast.
In some localities there is lack
of rain, but in those districts the
streams serve as irrigating bitches,
and in fact grain does equally well
without rain. The best portion of
the valley for the agriculture is that
broad belt lying at the base of tho
Blue mountains from one end to the
other. This land is undnlating, and
perhaps II miles in width, rich and
moist. well adapted to the culture OF
winter wheat and timothy, and equal
ly suited to the fruit grower, some OF
which is now bearing crops, but most
of which has not as yet been reduced
to cultivation, or ever yet claimed.
Further from the mountains the land
is dryer, consequently not so good
for anything bnt the grass, which
nature has richly bestowed. But
one of the drawbacks is this all
your lumber must come from tho
Blue mountains, which is distant
from the county seat fifteen miles
the climate even in.the mountains is
mild and great deal warmer than
any of the Atlantic States,a half doz
en- degrees sonth of this, it is not oft
en- the case that snow falls more than
six inches deep, and during tho
winter just over, the snow never tell
10 exceed two inches, and then only
lay twenty-tour hours, but this how.
ever has been exceptionally mild
winter. As u general thing we have
a little snow and ice, but it will not
do to invest heavily in sleighs, er
skates. Tho natural advantages of
soil aAd climate cannot be easily
overated. The greatest disadvant-
age under which we have heretofore
| labored, Is the want of facilities for
transportation, and even this is such
as enterprise will at no distant day
overcome. There is but little doubt
now now that tho harvest Of 1872,
I viii be transported on the railroad
car, when this shall bean accomp-
lished fact, the fortunate dweller In
the Walla Walla valley, will have nu
good cause tor wishing to chany,
his home. But now, do not under
stand mo to say, that the above i.
I all accessible to poor men, for sucI
is not the case; but a greater part is;
and indeed, the best portion. Nor
must yon conclude that we have de-
scribed all the good agricultural and
grazing land east of the Cascade
range, for such would bo far short Of
truth. There are hundreds OF
streams of puro water, with
fertile valleys, we'll adapted
to the wants of mankind
even extending to the line between
British America and our own gov
ernment, (said line distant about
240 miles) and every foot of Eastern
Washington ard Northeastern Ore
gon, that is not well adapted to
agriculture, stands without parallel
as stock growing country and for
cattle, sheep, or hogs, We have y.
! sure market for years to come. 70
correspond with the above state.
ments, / will state that money com
mands from Ii to 2 per cent. per
month interest, and many traders
are operating ON borrowed capital
and doing well. Since writing to
the COURIER, some two months ago,
we have had o railroad surveyed
from our county-seat to the Colum-
bia river, connecting with the great
Northern Pacific, the work on which
is rapidly progressing. Taking alb
thiug gs into consideration, we certain
ly have country nearer the grasp of
every poor man, than any desirable
locality west of the Rocky Noun
tains, and, undoubtedly as wei!
suited to our desires rs any portion
OF the globe, and should those who
read this unvarnished statement
wish more information upon climate,
soil, etc, they will find some well
authenticated truths by subscribins <
So. 49, yN,llo WALL. fIaIna pnhl,Sk