, 1875-10-16
The WaIIOWa valley.

many oihST matters relating 10 The suUlecL >
and, although We published last year An &C
count Of this fertile region, We think it may
be interesting to some of our readers if We
revive the subject.
The WailOwa valley lies in Eastern Oregon,
about one hundred miles southeast % Walla
/ Walla. 1t extends almost east and west, and
Is bamrned in On all sides by rugged and pre-
eiPitous mountains. On the north side, the
Blue mountains; on the south. Eagle Creek
mountains Ca the west, the entrance TO the
: valley, by the Wallowa hills while the cas-
.ern e1tremi'y-the upper end of the valley
blends itself with the mountain slopes as
/ they encroach upon It's sides The valley is
crossed at intervals 10y ridges, dividing it
into three baSius-rbe Lower, Middle and
Upper valley--che Middle being ihe snall-sr.
the Upper she LARGEST The whole valley Is
about thirty FIVE miles in length. In breadth
it varies greatly the valley proper, by which
We mean the bottom lands along the Wallows
river, being from three 70 ten miles wide.
Did ihi- alone, comprise the valley, il wOnld
scarcely he worth writing aboat, but 1t does
not. On ,he south side, the lofty peaks of
The Eagle Creek range rise abruptly from the
plain +; but on the north side of the river it is
lar different Here the meadow breaks into
rolling prairie, then into hills, growing larger
and rising higher for many miles, until at
last they seem TO vie with each other in over
reaching the majestic Blue Mountain itself.
All Of them covered with the lines, bunch
grass, well watered, and capable Of support
ing an immense number Of stock.
The Lower valley constitutes about one
fourth Of the whole. There are about a
dozen families living here. Some of them
have good farms, well fenced, and put up for
winter use large amounts of wild grass.
Some grain Is raised, but only enough for
home consumption The bottom land here
IN the upper valleys, produces such grain
and vegetables as Withstand late and eariy
frosts Timber is abundant everywhere.
The Middle valley is small and contains
bnr frw settlers; but the Upper valley Is
arSe, aud although not rhickly settled con-
,ain~ quite a popui-tIonr amounting 10 TWEEN y
families or more. Al the head Of this valley
uceri,s beautiful lake, one Of the most
charming sheets OF water we have ever Seen
In is ~ clear a. crystal and is fed by numer-
ou- mountain streams that flow down from
the SHOW capped peaks surroundingit. This
lake has no name as yet, except that OF Lake
Whitman, bestowed upon il by the officers
who commanded the Wailuwa expedition
sent from Wulla Wulla in July last, and in
honor Of the brave martyr whose history
every arhool boy in this country is familiar
wi'h. 1, Is a pretty nam, well deserved
/ and ~ hop T. may be retained.
L.k. y hi,m.n /, The source Of the Wal
Iowa .iy,r, a. FIRST - small stream, but aug
myur,d 10y - numerous tributaries, assumin :,
the importance Of u river Mt its junction with
the ,;raude Gpude, into which it eTnPt!,s.
The lake 81 }eun3s in Il red fish, species OF
salmon. - hiir the streams swarm with the
fines. mountain trout, and at the proper
season with Columbia river salmon. The
N P,Ice~ and Umatii.n IudIanS come annu-
ally TO Ggh ior ;he salmon and c"re large
quantities Of them
. We have eudervore,i TO give "A description
/ of ih- valley a. complete as our space will
permit ana a. accurate as by our mrars Of
information W. could obtain. II is our wish
To gave a .,r:rral, uoJ minute description Of
the locality. Now, more Than ever. the qurs-
tIrn OF urIisrv i one that exercises the Ameri-
can mind especially on ali j-cis- What
l. It good for: Ii one Of the first questions
3 rha, arise III our minds IN the contemplation
Of ANY subject, and a very proper one 81 Is
What Is the Wailowa valley good for? That
1t will produce abundant harvests and sup
port large bands Of horses and cattle. /, true;
grain is of little value except for feeding
stock Tie raising Of horses and cattle,
could no doubt. be carried on at profit. bat
/ the smaller animals, sach as sheep and hogs
can only with much difficulty be driven TO
market.
/ But fey miles from US lies an immense
3 t-uct Of country, comprising many thousands
Of acres. the most fertile for its size, of any
land this side of the Cascades. Capable of
Producing fifty bushels of wheat to the acre,
set producing none; capable of grazing
enough cattle 10 supply the city of San
cayuSe horses worth on an average FIVE OF ten
dollars "A piece Need We say We refer TO the
Tmatiila reservation, held in reserve and
prevented from settlement or the benefl OF
lew worthless vagrants Admitting the luS-
tice OF the government III providing for, aud
protecting the Indians. 1t seems 10 us, Ir',pD-
lite and unucreRstry 10 bestov upon them
such an uuapprecIatsd giff, and denying to
the thrifty settler the privilege Uf making
the soil productive. The Indian desires little,
aud viii DO nothing but raise horses and
catch fi~h. These are the only indns'rieS Of
anv magnitude be will indulge in. The
Walluwa valley offers him every Undue, ment
10 follow rhe-s, his favori,e OCCUPATIONS It's
river and numrruus streams are full Of f-h
deer. bear and small game abound, while the
p4siuraSr rruly covers ~ thousand hills.
Another advantage would be his isolated posi-
ton Of he line Of travel, hemmed in
a. II W-Ie. from he temptations that advanc-
ir, cIyItIiIzatiuu hr~et HIM wi h and which
he l. unable ro resist. II would give full ScGp-
to the Philan'hropic individuals a Washing
ton 70 bring all ;hrIr guol influences 10 bear
and rzi~. him from his low estate. Remove
- soon ~ practicable rhrse Indians TO The
Waliowa valIy; throw open the UmaIilla
reservation To settlers, and within two years
- will bud and blossom with the fruits Of
Ionrsr toll. is plains will b waving with
...llau A,rhIn il smrtace be do-ird wllh farm