, 1877-11-10
WALLOWA VALLEY.

EpIToR BEDROCK DEMOCRAT AS tn,
Wallowa country has attached to 1t ;
somewhat historic record, 1T beng tn,
home of the Justly famous non-treaty
Joseph, chief of a band of Nez Perces,
presume an article from en- eye witness oi
the country would be of interest to youl
readers. The Wallowa pronounced Wal
low-a) country lies in the eastern corner
of Eastern Oregon and is naturally bound
as follows: On the east by the awful
Snake river canon; on the west by the
sublime snow capped Eagle creek noun
tains; on the north west by Grand Ronde
river; on the south east by Pine creek
mountains and Pine creek, or the beauti-
full Pine valley. The country consists OF
three principal valleys and a hilly country
and is about 45x60 miles in extent. II
lies in diamond shape We may safely
estimate the surface of the country to con-
tain at least 200 square miles 20 town
ships, OF LIPS 900 acres, thus making a
country larger than some of the states. 1t
lies near latitude 40 degrees and is on the
isotheral with St Louis, Mo. The climate
is extremely mild in the eastern portion
of the country. Wewould be justified in
stating that one tenth of the land surface
may be cultivated, at least in the middle
and western portion of the country, giving
an area of IL, 800 acres Giving 160 acres
of land to 1880 families, estimating five
persons to the family there would be an
agricultural population of 5400 persons
| am very confident that | have much un-
derestimated the capacity of the country.
The climate varies. In the northeastern
portion on the Joseph, Imnaha creek and
on some other creeks peaches ard other
tender fruits can be successfully produc-
ed. Snow scarcely ever lies long on in
those localities.
The hills and flats are as general thing
of deep black loan and do not need ir
rigation to produce the cereals The val
ley lands have a coarse gravel mixed IN
the soil, in many places, and that may be
an objection to much nice level land, but
| am Informed that that kind of soil will
produce fine crops and Is warmer than
other lands possessing much less gravel.
| saw some fine wheat straw which had
grown on this gravelly land. think the
stems were larger ard taller than any
wheat | ever saw grow. In places the
soil is of light and sandy mold. The
presence of sufficient lime can be discover
ed in the soil much of the land Is cover
ed with species of the sage (artimesla)
but not the large sage brush. The hills
are covered with fine coat of bunch grass
THE wALLOwA RIyER-ITs NAME.
The name is purely of Indian derivation
meaning cross The old Indians say
that long time ago an Indian built fish
trap and crossed the upright poles to sls-
tam It's weight, hence the name Wallowa,
which means cross The Wallowa is about
four tunes as large us the Grand Ronde
river and used to bear the name Wallowa
below the junction OF the Grand ROEde
river 1t Is a swift dangerous river The
very high mountains which MAY be seen
from almost any point on the hills about
Powder river, lie immediately south and
and west of the upper valley and Lake,
in which the east and west forks head.
There is much fine birds eye granite in
those mountains and no doubt much rich
quartz. 1t looks like gold bearing corn-
try and resembles a glacier country, hence
there may be deposits Of placer gold 1t
is difficult to prospect this country; the
mountains are extremity rugged The
scenery is really beautiful, the pine, tam
arack, the balm and other timber comes
down from the mountain sides and stripe
the valleys all over with green foliage.
The background on the west is Il continu-
ous chain of snow capped buttes and high
green hills, among which comes the delic-
lous clear streams of water. The country
away off to the east terminates IN the
great Snake river canon, back of which
are the Salmon river mountains which are
named the SawtoGth mountains from their
rugged appearance, away off to the south
east is the timber bordering on the low
hills and far across to the north west Is
the many points of timber protruding
from tie Grand Ronde river. Every point
of the compass presents grand scenery for
the eye to rest upon
THE ROADS.