, 1878-03-02


that the great rainfall experienced
in this region, will have q tendency
to make the grain crop extremely
light this year in Western Washing
ton and Oregon. These reports, OBJ
serve, an exchange, are probably
somewhat exaggerated. We have
before heard predictions that the
wheat crop would be short; in one
year because of its drowning ont in
winter, another because of frequent
freezes and thaws. and again because
of rust, or dry, hot weather in the
spring and early part of summer
and sometimes from other causes.
but in the past twenty-five years.
when the ground has been properly
prepared and good seed sown, we
have without exception seen general
good crops and as heavy yields as
are to be found in any grain,grow-
ing country in the United States.
There are lands so situated that with
the great quantity of rain which
falls in this and Umpqua valleys and
the Puget Sound country, drainage
is absolutely necessary to insure
good crops, but the mere fact Of
heavy rains does net initiate against
an abundant harvest only in 80 far
as they prevent sowing. Hence we
deem the fears expressed that the
great rains of the past six weeks
will largely curtail the wheat pro
duct of the present year premature.
THE RIGHT THINa.~The Demo-
cratic Central Committee and the
Patrons of Husbsndry of Walla
Walla have passed resolutions de-
claring against making q political
contest in the election of Delegates
to the Constitutional Convention.
They regard the extremes of party
spirits as one of the evils of the day
regret to notice the attempts being
made to make the choice of dele
gates to the constitutional conven-
tion turn upon the political affilia-
tions of the candidates, and not up
on their fitness or ability to dis
charge the grave duties that will de-
volve upon them as trainers of the
organic law that is to govern new
commonwealth. And believe that
the institution of party tests will
tend to defeat the movement for q
state government. and may be the
means of deferriag our admission
for years, and therefore place on rec
ord u protest against this manifes-
tauion of the proscriptive spirit of
party. They resolve that in voting
for delegates to the constitutional
convention, the members OF that
order will be controlled Exclusively
10y considerations vi fitness, and III
all cases will vote for the best men,
regardless Of party politics.
The RAAsoN. = Shippers up
Sound we're somewhat disappointed
by the non-appearance of the Dako-
ia, this trip as there was consider
able quantity of freight awaiting
her. We learn that Capt. Morse
was compelled to thus cut off . por-
ton of this trip by the terms Of the
mail contract with the Dominion
government, which makes it obliga-
tory upon the steamship company
to take the mail from Victoria on
the last day of the month and he
would not have been able to make
the run to Olympia and back in time
to leave Victoria on the 28th. The
Dakota encountered rough weather
on her last trip down, too. and was
one day behind in starting for the
Sound, else she might have made
the full ran despite the fact of this
month being "short at one end"
DBTA1NED.-Owing to the heavy
fog this morning the Dakota was not
able to get away at the hour an
nounced. The fog lifted toward
noon, and the steamer proceeded on
her way to Townsend. She took the
following freight: 800 bundles of
slaves, 20 cases of hops, 237 dry
hides. As tins of tallow, :6 cases of
merchandise, 200 boxes dried fish,
and 1,454 sacks Of potatoes. Her
passengers are, Samuel Kenny, W.
P. Boyd and wife, Capt. James s.
Lawson and wife, Ross O'Brien, Mrs
T. P. Woodward and child, Mrs. G.
B. Shattuck and two children, M.
Powell, L. Miller, I. Burlingame.
MULDooNs.-Cook, of the Tacoma
Herald-the Stanley of the North
west-who is at present on an ex-
ploring expedition in the wilds of
Eastern Washington accompanied
by another cayuse, fas come across
a family named Nelson, and in esti-
mating the height of five of the
children, including one young lady,
they average from five feet eleven
inches to six foot three inches. and
will weigh 200 pounds each,
The Portland Telegram says:
1--WE learn that since the death of
Mr.. 81. Ludweig. of East Portland,
his wife has suffered and is still suf-
fering the most acute agony of grief.
So intense is her sorrow that she is
unable to weep. During the past
three days her hair has changed from
dark brown to snowy white. Her
friends should see that she lacks
nothing in fha wax of aociafx or