, 1873-09-11


BUSINESS FOR THE RAILRoAD.-The
Walla WaIla Real Estate Record, which
is the leading and most reliable author
ity upon all commercial matters In the
eastern portion of this Territory, says:
"Nevsr in the history of this Valley has
there been so lar e crops Of gram raised
as the present season. and more espe.
cially is this true in regard to the wheat
crop. We have conyersed with many of
al. farmer friends, and from them VS.
learn that the average yield per acre,
including volunteer crops, will not fall
short of 81 bushels. The highest yield
we have heard of is one field of 40 acres
producing IS bushels per acre, while
many other farms have yielded from As
tc 66 bushels. The surplus of wheat
alone in this Valley this year, we hear
it estimated variously at from 600.0
to 1,000,000 bushels. We are willingt
accept the lowest figure. Of rye and
oats, we place the yield and surplus Al
one half that of wheat. The price paid
for wheat in this city is 40 cents; deliv-
cred at Wallpla, go cents per bushel.-
Flour per barrel is So. Owing to lack
OF facilities for transportation a large
amount of grain viii be held over until
next season."
The surplus grain crop of the single
valley of Walla Walla, it will be seen is
nut at over one million Bushels by the
lowest estimate. This includes an area
embracing not one-tenth of the arabic
lands Of Eastern Washington and Ore
eon and Northern Idaho, and probably
not one-hundredth part of the product
i've capacity of the section which would
be tributary to the Seattle and Walla
Walla Railroad. This section embraces
agricultural and grazing lands greater
in extent, moro varied and richer in
production than the whole of Western
and Southern Oregon, including the
far-famea valleys of the Willamette,
Umpqua and Rogue rivers, and in addi-
tion to its ag -isultural resources. mill
ions of dollars of the precious metals
are annually produced in Idaho and
Eastern Oregon. and millions of dollars
of imported merchandise consumed, all
dependent upon the same facilities for
transportation, which is greatly inade-
quate to the present demand, at prices
which more than absorb the profits up
on agricultural products. The trans
portation upon bushel Of wheat from
Walla Walla to San Francisco is now
estimated at not less than so cents; to
Seattle much more. The price of wheat
in Walla Walla is 40 cents bushel; in
Seattle 81 so. The transportation by
railroad would not be more than 80
cents bushel; making difference to
farmers of 81 10 = bushel. or 81, 100 900
on their surplus crop of the present
year-enough to pay for the construc-
ton of one-third of the proposed rail
rail, and completion of the road would
In very short time multiply products,
population, business and aggregate val
ues by ten. with resources equal to its
multiplication by hundreds.
All tbs elements of commerce lacking
in that section are supplied in abund-
:snce by Puget Sound. That is prai-
.rie country, with scant supplies of fuel,
ancing, or building material; this a
lumber country with inexhAustible coal
beds upon the line of the road. The
interchange of comodities would enrich
both, furnish ample business to support
a railroad and pay large dividends to its
stockholders. As we have before said,
there is not on the continent an unoc-
cupied route for roalroad which offers
superior inducements for the invest
Hent in its construction, and none
where railroad is more needed.
PREsENTATIoN.-Csptain Thomas S.
Phelps of the Flag Ship Saranac, now
in this port. was a lieutenant on the
.sloop of war Decatur, which was lying
in this harbor at the time of tho Indian
attack upon the settlers in January, 1856,
and it is believed by those then here
that they owe the preservation of their
lives to the vigilancs and activity of the
officers of that sloop, and to none mere
than to then Lieut.. Phelps, who it is
said remained on watch three days and
nights at one time, without sleep. This
is his first visit to this place since that
time, and the ED settlers determined to
signalize the occasion by some memen-
to of their kindly regard and recogni-
ton of his services. They accordingly
procured an elegant chain, wrought
from native gold and quartz, with a
locket attached. bearing tho following
inscription Presented to Capt. Thorn
as 5. Phelps, U. ). N, by citizens OF
Seattle. A memento of January 26,
1856" The lockst enclosed two mi
croscopic views of Seattle in 1856 and
1878 respectively. The engraving was
executed by W. G. Jameson, aud is
. highly crsditable to his artistic skill
The photographs we're by Mr.. George
Moore.
The presentation was made at Ma
sonic Hall, on Monday evening, Sep
tember s, by III. L. Yesler, Esqr., in
behalf of the citizens, in the presence
of Admiral Pennock and staff aud =
number of invited guests, accompanied
by few appropriate remarks. detailing
in brief the incidents sought to be COM
menorated. Capt. Phelps accepted the
offering, expressing in touching and
eloquent terms his remembrance of the