The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1879-12-07
letter Frsa 0~rsa

F.om SLr. z. A. Freed. rhd IN con-
Pany With S. b. ShoematerRnA family.
Of Rubr valley. started Overland % SCI q
homo somewhere on the line Of the
Northern Pacific in Oregon or WASH
ington Territory. tuo months ago, We
hare received the following letter dated
at Weston in the above State, and as
considerable interest is manifested in
the character Of that county Just now.
the benefit Of the writer's observations is
given:
"HAring arrived safely in the north
vest Of Uncle Sans domaine, after
journsyiRg .--nty four days. I give
Jon . brief description Of the country
aud products. I have only visited
Baker and Umatilla counties. Oregon,
and wAlla wallA and Klicitat counties.
Washington Territory. The couutry is
rolling prairie principally. The Blue
Mountains traverse Baker and Umatiila
counties and Afford some Of the finest
timber in the world, consisting OF
spruce, hr. tamarac, pine cottonwood
and birch. The Columbia river, the
great highway Of the northwest, gives
rs transportation TO the sea. The
Northern Pacific Railroad, which is
now being built, will no doubt give
place for competition and = better mar
ket. The climate is heAlthful, and 1 am
told the Summers are not very hot
usually q few hot days, the nights cool
and pleasant. The winters are milder
and shorter than in The east, q warm
wind, termed the Chinook giving
this result. The winters being
thus governed by the winds, are varied
occasionally giving one when the pillow
can DO run almost the year round. other
winters stop it from four to eight weeks.
Rain falls principally in the Spring and
Autumn; just now we are having rain
for q week, there is seldom much, If
any, during harvest. A farmer has the
largest part Of the eAson to plov and
seed in. The bunch grass sod il
not tough, so that sod land Ices not
have to lie over one season TO rot. The
country Is well Watered. There is q large
tract OF good agricultural and vacant
yet. Thousands OF acres Of land are fled
upon weekly. In Umaiiila county
alone. in the month Of Octob<I, 1920
acres Of land we're fled upon, not by
Spectators but by families Who intend
making il their home. The present
month will rate ~ about the same Sg-
urss. Wheat is the staple, and yields
on the brSt land. from twenty { sixty
bushels per aere. the average yield Is
about thirty-iye bushels. Other snail
grain does equally - veI. Not much
corn is raised, bat produces veil, how
ever. Fruits Of all kind do remarkably
we'll, 50 do vegetables, with the eIesp-
ton Of sweet potai IS, which are raised.
but are not hrss-elAsk- This is a live
county. Irrigation Is not necessary.
A regular district school system
exists all over the county, and the
people appear vide awake on lbs sub
jSct OF edue.tion- There is very little
foundation for fear from Indians and
nail facilities are good. I write not
With the view OF influencing persons 70
rome here. but / think il offers the
best inducements o! any pant Of the
country now thrown open to settlement,
70 those =ho will work and use 4 little
energy in trying to make a living.
Should any be inclined to come, how
ever, 1t must be On their cvn respona.
biliiy.
Wnlls Walia City, the commercial
senter, tbs metropolis of the Columbia
basin, is 800 feet above the level Of the
Sea. has $500 inhabitants. 2I2 Of whom
ure Cinnamon, and 10 adorned with
eight cbrrrnes Eve school houses, 1000
business and dwelling houses and three
weekly newspapers. A thirty mile
railroad links the City With the head Of
navigation q the Columbia. Society
compares isyorsbIy with other newly
settled countries. Taxes are sixteen
mills On the dollar. rentals from Eve 10
twenty five dollars per month, board
and and lodging from four to twelve
dollars per week. Flour sells at - per
barrel; Zhsst S. cents per bushel at the
river; apples at 60 cents per bashe,,
potatoes at 81 per busheI and other
things in proportion.
Our journey was a very pleasant one,
notwithstanding th. sufd weather, WASH
iDgs and DltiDgs We reserved. and We
al enjoyed il greatly. We left Mr.
Shoemaker and family snd Hr. Weed
At Walk Wslls. TO pursue ,heir way 10
PGIonss sbD<. The country here bs-
ing 20 attractive (as we'll as The lsiiesJ
!, viii the PreDchnpn, were induced
20 rsmain. I have taken O location
nesr Cold Spring Landing, a small
ranch Of 800 acres. the other boys
have also located" r
-Az Jou q Grant Ssabz' asked q re.