The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-09-11
THE WHEAT PRODUCT OF THE
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN.
BY REV. O. II. ATKINSON

Ue IlNScbt queen TOOK lSOO tODS Ol
whs at from Wallula to Cello on three
trips the last week in August. That
steamboat and the d. s. Baker will take
down 210O tons the first week in Sep
tember. and probably will continue this
rate Of export till the Columbia freezes
The most Of this wheat is brought over
the Walla Walls railroad Quilt by DR..
d. s. Baker. Two boats will make
trips to Lewiston, but the Snake river
is low and only light freights can bs
taken up or down. Fifteen thousand
tous were brought over the Walla WalIa
railroad during the last year, from JUL
/, 1873, to July l, 1879. Probably 10 :.
900 tons were shipped from other points
along the Snake and Columbia rivers
above the Cascades last year, msking
the wheat export from the Upper Co
lum bia and its tributaries $4,000 tons
(equal to 1888 bushels). leaving
probably 600. 900 for home use. sstimat.
ing the entire harvest ut I. 800, 900 bush
els
The wheat export over the Walla
Walla Railroad the present business
year from July l. 1879. to July l, 1880.
is estimated at about $4,000 tons. and
the exports from other points slorg the
upper rivers may be $4,000 tons more,
making the whole amount Of the ex-
ports for this season 36, 900 tons. or l ).
2O0.0 bushels. Others estimate tho
export for this year at 500. 900 bushels,
As. 900 tons. Probably 100, 900 bushels
will te kept for home use. Suppose
the lowest amount correct. it is q gain
Of Al per cent. per year. The signs are
that the export from the Upper Colum-
ba will increase on al average Al per
cent q year for many years to como.
In that case the exported harvest of
lSS0-Sl from this upper region will be
ABOUT 900 tons, and the exported
harvest Of 1872 about $1,000 tone
and that Of 1882 3 will be los 900 tons
aud that of 1884 will bs l55. 900 tons
Some estimate the annual increase If
this export from the. Upper Columbia ut
80 per cent At that rate the exported
harvest Of lSSO-l will be 81 600 tons;
that Of 1872 will be 81 900 tons; tha,
of 1898 will be l2i 600 tons: that Of
1888 4 will be $4,000 tons, and that Of
lSsl5 will be 275 900.
The rate OF increase depends chiefly
upon extending the railroads into the
wheat regions drained by the Colum-
bia and its tributaries. The Walla
Walla aud Columbia River Railroad
has added more than IS per cent. to the
rate Of gain since it was completed.
Extend the Walla Walla and Weston
Railroad INTO the Grand Ronde valley.
Union county, which contains "a sur-
veyed townships. equal to S64 square
miles or 552 .96G acres. Count one fourth
Of this land in wheat at 20 bushels per
acre and the product will be 2.764,S0O
bushels or 80 ,94i tons. Extend it into
Baker county and still larger areas Of
wheat lands will be put into cultivation.
adding from so to 100. 900 tons to thean-
nual export. Extend the railroad into
Colum bis county. which bas36 surveyed
equal to 1896 square miles,
or S29.i4O acres and very large in
CT ease Of wheat product will be export
ed from that region. The same is true
Of Whitman and Stevens. Yakima and
Kllckitat counties in Washington Terri
tory. and Of the three northern counties
in Idaho.
The same facts hold in Umatilla
Oregon, which has 40 surveyed
townships outside the Indian sescrva
ton, equal to 1860 square miles or p.
534. 400 acres, one-fourth of which at 20
bushels per acre would produce 1882.
600 bushels Of wheat. or Ss0.16O tons.
Wasco county. Oregon, has eos sur
veyed toMnships. equal to 1880 square
miles. or 4, ,723, 200 acres Its hills aud
high plains prove to be choice wheat
landc. Count one fourth in wheat at
20 bushels per acre, and the product
woule be 23.6i6. 700 bushels. or 7OS. sol
tons. If . railroad system could extend
through this county. which is l44 miles
long and - miles broad, an area about
equal to the Slate Of Verment, it would
no doubt bring out exports equal to the
aoove estimated tons Of wheat.
Yakima county. W. T.. has IS sure
veyed townships, equal to 5000 square
miles or l.95S. 400 acres. One-fOurth
Of it in wheat at 20 bushels per acre
would produce 9. 792 900 bushels or $685.
'60 tons.
Whitman county. W. T. had 105
in 1877. equal to $3.50 square
miles or 2.4l9. 300 acrss. One-fourth
IF it in wheat at twenty bushels per
acre would furnish product Of l2. .095.-
NnA h.,,ha0, ~ QEc S0n tnVa
Stevens county, w. 7. had in 1877
81 surveyed townships. equal to 2232
square miles or 1 l.42s ,4SO acres. One
fourth Of it in wheat at 20 bushels per
acre would give 7.l4a 400 bushels. or
li4.274 tons.
Captain McMicken, the surveyor
General of Washington Territory. in
forms me that by the end of 1879 thir-
" y-thres more townships will be sur
veyed in Stevens aad Whitman counties
equal to llss square miles. or 760. 800
acres One-fourth of this in wheat. at
20 bushels per acre. would produce
/. sci 600 bushels or ll4.Ois tons.
Kl,ckltat county. W. T., has AZ sur
v.yed townships. equal to 1859? square
miles. or lose $50 acres. One-four,h
Of this in wheat at 40 bushels per acre,
produce 5,4l4 400 bushels. or l0?,532
tons.
Lake county, Oregon. hA. l32 sur
yeyed t. townships. equal to 4'oa square
miles, or 3.0il $50 acres. One-fourth
Df il in wheat at 20 bushels per acre,
..,,,d produce 2O6, 400 bushels, or
a5l 1874 tom.
Grant county. Oregon. has ia sur
..A.,. a,Oat IN l1Ul SnuAY0