The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-02-26
Special Corrsspondenee.)
Walla Walla, Washington. Ter. !
Feb. 4th. 1873
ED1roR CANTON ADVOCATE:

Walla Walla, Washington. Ter.
Feb. 4th. 1873
EDITOR CANTON ADVOCATE:
In my last letter, / gave a short descrip
tion of Western Washington, since tina
time l made quite al extensive tri
through Eastern Oregon and a portion o
Washington, and through the columns 0
i your paper, I wish to answer some Of th'
questions asked me from time to time b,
letter in regard to this country. The d.
rect line Of travel from the coast to thi
upper country" (as it is, here called) i
by steam boat, with the exception Of two
short lines of r. r., one in passin!
through the gap Of the Cascade mountains
distance of fifteen miles. The Cascad,
mountains ruiz north and south being tn
dIyiding line between Eastern and West
ern Oregon and Washington. and separat
ing tim Der from prairie country.
We left the boat at the Dallas and cam.
by team to Walla Walla, distance OF 1S(
miles. . ...-. ~ ..
The Dallas is the county seat OF Wasce
county, Oregon, the country around the
town is barren and unproductlve, bearing
a marked contrast to the country west Of
the Cascade range, which is mostly 8
dense evergreen forest Wasco county ]
think is better adapted to stock raising
than anything else, although there a-e
tracts Of fine farming lard scattered
through the country. The county lays in
wide divide, especially the northern part,
ranging from 10 to 20 miles between
streams, which prevents it from being a
good farming country; these divides are
high, dry, level prairie, covered with a
luxurant growth Of bunch grass, on
which stock keep fat the entire year; rs
you 20 farther south it becomes more
broken and mountainous, but equally as
good for stock. / would advise any one
wishing good location for stock raising
to look for it tn Wasco County; there are
plenty OF such places to be had; there is
any amount Of government land also. The
country is about 80 miles wide, and 175
long, all stock raisers have TO do is to hunt
their calves and colts, brand them, and
turn them out and let themirun until old
enough for market I have seen tour and
five year old steers that weighed 1000 and
1890 pounds that never had any Iced ex
cepting the bunch grass. Laying east o1
Wasco and south of the Columb bia rlyer is
Umatllla county, good agricultural Co.
we'll settled, and very we'll improved
There is large body of land in the
Northern part that lays vacant J ct, but is
fast settling, the choicest part Of the coun'
ty is occupied as an Indian Reservation
but is expected to be opened in short
time for settlement. 1t has very good
market facilities, bordering on the Coium
bin, there is also u R. r. projected. com
mcncing at Umatilla Landing, point on
theiColumbia, and running to La Grande
in Union county. Union Co. laying east
of Umatilla Co. is also a ,od agricultural
Co., hu, remote from market, it is hem
med in by tae Blue Mountains overiwhich
produce has to be transported to reach the
Columbia, which is the only ut'et this
country has at present. Some of the finest
horses this country has are raised in Uniol
Co. The Grande Ronde is the principal
valley of Union Co, and it is said its
natural resources are sufficient to main
tain pup llation of over 100000 people
Walla Walla Co. lies north of Umatilla
Walla Walla is the Co. scat, and the larg
est town In Eastern Washington, has, q
population Of over $500; eight churches
two public, and several private schools
all the different branches of business are
carried on that are common to an interior
town, in farming country. There is one
short line of R. R., 80 miles that connects
it with water navigation at Wallula {
point on the Columbia, this is a private
enterprise and exsrbitant prices are charg
ed for frcights, AZ
There is some good land laying vacant
yet in this county. while The counties nertl
of this offer great inducements to settlers
who want good prairie farms. It is better
Itimbered and Of more variety, the timber
here being mostly soft wood, such as pine
hemlock, spruce pnd flr. which grows up
on the Blue mountains
There are many fine thriving villages
scattered throughout the country. There
is large immigration here, yet there is
room for all that may come for number
Of years. I am astoRished at the vastness
.of it. Thousands and thou sands of acres
of land cultivated now and yielding from
thirty to sixty bushels Of wheat per acre
few years ago was considered uselcssfol
any purpose but grazing. They, are very
few, who could object to this climate; we
- ! a. hl-E .A ~
have heen here since last Oct and the
coolest weather we have had the ther.
momstor ranged from tss to &c above zero;
plowing has only been stopped a few days
at the time. A few days Of cold weather
is generally followed by what is called a
"Chinook wind, !" itcomes from the south.
west, and melts snow and frost like q July
sun. They have more or less foggy
weather here during the winter. which is
the most disagreeable weather. Al the
present writing farmers are plowing and
seeding, there is no delay necessary after
the first plowing, as there is no turfto rot;
the bunch grass and sage brush land has
no turf, as soon as it is plowed it is ready