The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-16

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ragged from the center Of which Mount
stewart reared his shaggy head, all
"riukled by the blasts Of cons.
Ii was quite dark when we reached
the little town of Ellensburg. the stop-
ping place familiarly known as Robbers
Roost, but certainly as orderly a village
now as one finds upon any frontier.
The little hotel, whore We found con,-
Portable accommodations, is "A rourb.
unfinished building, with iirst.elass
cuisine, well presided over by Mr. and
Mrs. Barnett, an intelligent, agreeable
couple who understand their business
and, judging by their custom, have
struck a landlords heaven. Mr.. Shaudy.
the enterprising town proprietor, placed
the hall over his store at our DISPOSAL
for the lectures, aud the protracted
meeting was well patronized. Mrs.
Thomas, wife Of the Presbyterian min
ister' herself an able public speaker and
quite poet, was the first person to call
upon us. Both Of the ministers here.
aud their wives, are earnest CO. workers
'n our mission, and we congratulate the
good people Of Kittitass upon such ae-
ces-ions to their population.
On Friday, Mrs Thomas and ourself,
accompanied by sir. w. A. Bull, one Of
the pioneers Of the Kittitass, took a
drive over the valley, aud we We're shown
enough Of vacant land for at least hun
dred aud fifty quarter-section homes.
We never before saw a valley so well
"atered. The little streams run upon
il'''e ridges, and can be tapped in any
direction 10 irrigate the adjacent soil.
Much of the land is covered with a
heaVy growth Of sage aud buuch-grass.
through which "a span OF horses can
easily piow, aud which is more easiIy
killed than any other wild growth
huo"u. We We're shown several fields.
thick with stuble, that had been made
IA this land, where wheat has yielded
enormously without irrigation. The
soil Is deep and mostly free from gravel.
and is singulariy free from native weeds.
Evidently this valley is an old salt lake
bed, which, by some c1nvulsion Of Ma
ture in the long ago, was left in the
shape We now hud it, to receive from
the exposed mountain sides the wash OF
the ages, and thus prepare its alkaline
deposits for the sustenance Of man.
Snow falls in the Winter to the depth
Of one, two, aud sometimes three feet.
aud, while it remains upon the ground.
there Is little or 40 wind. But the
winds are often high in the Spring and
Summer, the heated currents Of the val
ley rising To meet the cold currents FROM
the mountains, creating a steady breeze
not unlike the trade winds on the \ fri
can deserts. But this breeze tempers
the atmosphere, which would otherwise
be too warm in Summer FOR comfort. A
resident can grow wini-break Of trees
in a couple Of yeaIs with very little ef
fort, and thus shelter his dwelling and
outbuildings by device that will, when
fully developed all through the valley,
temper the breezes, which are now far
more frequent than necessary and much
more furious than agreeable. The
healthfuIness Of this valley is proverbial.
We bad often heard OF the place where
they had to kill man TO start a grave
yard, but never visited il til now.
Daring our days ride through the
valley, We chauced upon farm house
where there was quilting. More than
a score Of genial country women greeted
rs here, and such a dinner as would
create envy ia a patron Of Delmouico's
was furnished free at Mother Lyons
hospitable board. After dinner, aud
when the undersigned had quilted a
"fau' as a remembrancer, we journeyed
on toward Ellenshurg, aud after a few
miles drive came 10 the famous "Smith
ranch" owned by two brothers who
came here ten years ago without any
means whatever except willing hands
aud enterprisiug spirits. And now these
men own 800 acres, mostly fenced,
large bands Of cattle and horses, and the
best barns, dairy and other outbuild-
ings we have seen this side of the Mis-
souri, River. They have also comfort
able new dwelling, a caok-house for the
hired meu, etc, aud are justly proud Of
their achievements. Aud yet, there are
thousands Of equal chances in this conn
try waiting for other men-men who
are wading knee deep in bearing
mortgages in the older States, who, were
they here with their families and lit
tie stock, could ever after work for
themselves instead Of the usurers.
Women who are fortunate enough to
be unmarried can pre-empt or home
stead land, or take it under the late
timber culture act, rs well as married or
single men. But the premium men
have unwisely placed upon celibacy de-
bars their wives aud mothers from the
exercise of this inalienable right. Miss
Eva Yoeum, handsome schoolma'am
Of Kittitas Valley, is a shining example
OF what an unmarried woman may do
when not hampered by a protector aud
head. She has taken a claim adjoining
her fathers, fenced it, built a house and
otherwise improved it, and this year,
the second of her occupancy, she has
raisei 6l2 bushels Of grain. She says
she will probably marty when she gets
able to support husband handsomely.
OF course she doesn't lack for suitors.
STr aud Mr. Nn,.t1un have .lso ff,..9
here for two years; and, though begin