The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-03-09
From washington Terrific

from washington I0rr1OQEyN II
Special Correspondence Of the CounlEi1 = -
81 Walla Walla, w. r.,
February goth, 1871.
Editors Ottumwa CouRIER.-It
may DO possible that there are those
in your country who arc 70 q oetainl
extont not acquainted with the his
tory ofwhat is now known as tho
Walla Walls valley its extent, it's
vast productions, resources, climate,
&c. | take tho liberty through tho
columns Of your papcr to speaks a.
word in behalf Of our country, trust
ing that some ono who reads this,
and who is unable to cope. with the
wealth and prosperity Of older por-
tions Of our great Republic, may be
led to inquire further INTO matters
directly cornected with our part Of
the world, which is beyond doubt
tho asylum Of the poor. Do not DO
too ready to believe reports that are
in circulation about any one section
of the country. Twill give you fcw1
facts in regard TO vast scope lying
directly west of what is known As
the Blue mountains and cast Of the
Cascade Range. Those two noun
tain chains arc commonly known by
the namo Rocky mountains, SO with,
many other spurs Of tho great chain
that extends from The north to the
south Pole. but still thcro; arc
many minor chains horo known BY
various names snch as Bitter Root
Mts., Salmon river Mts., Craig MIS-,
&c.; and at tho, foot of and among
those mountains there are large,
tractsof good grazing and agrcol-
tural land such as l shall describe as
bong located botweon tho Cascade
and Blue mountains, and known as
the valley Of Walla Walla and valley
of Columbia river. In the first place
let me inform the reader that through
a residence Of over eight years thore
has nevor been; q time whom snow
would lay on the ground for greater
length of time than seven days, and
there has been no time in the past
eight years but what cattlc and
horses would live through any win
tor without the least attention, unless
it DO those that were very old or
poor ut tho onset, and in fact it is
very common for Transfers and
Packers to use their stock till from
December LIST, to tho 25th and then
turn them out on tho hills fully as
sured Of having fat animals to re-
sumo operations when winter is over.
In fact there are thousands of horses
and cattle that have mover partaken
of any provender except that with
which tho billy part Of tho country is
bedecked, and then take into oonsid-
Grafton our latitude and tho fact that
since in 1862 the streams are rarely
frozen, and tho farmer invariably
sows his wheat and oats in the months
of January and February; and with
these facts who would not believe
that VIC have "a very mild climate.
And in regard to our country as a
grazing region there are some so to
100 beeves butchered weekly in our
county scat, and . corn fed or slop
fed steer has never made his appear
ance in the market, and in fact when
yearlings weigh from 400 to $50
pounds nett, what is the use of grain
to aid in tho manufacture of beef? So
much for the country as being well
adapted to the raising of stock. Not
merely cattle and horses, but sheep
and hogs do equally well, but hogs
require some feed especially in fat
tening. As l have said sufficient on
tho climate and the grass, will try
to give you some idea Of tho agricul-
tural land, which is conceded BY Oh
to be the worry best But do not .un.
derstand that all the land will pro-
duco good grain or oven any thing
except tho grass which is entirely
differont from any variety, and no
doubt superior to any known east of
the Missouri river. There are two
kinds of land known as agricultural:
ono u low bottom black loam, found
on all creeks or in damp districts
and essentially the best soil tho
other denominated bench land, and
being nothing but hill land
tho lattor not 80 productive NJ
tho former, except by irrigation
which as yet is but little .resorted to.
The wheat crop last year was near
l 900, 900 bushels, and tho yield on,
first class land exceeded 40 bushels,
on second class about Is bushels.
Oats frequently yield so! bushels, in
fact 80, would be q fair average.
Timothy about three tons por acre,
and these figures arc low. 1t is
tho case that whole crops
of GO or 80 acres will average 60
bushels wheat ind 80 bushels oats,
and say about 40 bushels corn.
Corn docs not do so we'll as tho
smaller grains.
Now when we hcro challenge tho
world in tho Vegetable line, and in
facs evory thing upon which man
and animal does snbsist, can you
doubt but what wo have very desir-
able country? A fcw words in re-
gard to fruit. / havo beon in near
" all tho Western States and can
say that / do not think the Atlantic
States can compete with tho Pacific
slope in any article of fruit from the
Apple of mamoth size down to tho
Grape. Oregon is already known
as great fruit producing region,
and r. nossibIe this norton Of Wnsh