Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-01-09
UP the Columbia.
Correspondence of the $. r. Bulletin. J
WALI.A WALLA. Nov Is, 1879.

WALLA WALLA, Nov. 10, 1917.
Within the past five years the Co
lumbia Basin of Oregon, Washington
and Idaho has been brought into prom
inant notice. That part Of it best
adapted to grain growing comprises
abput 10000 square miles 1000
square miles Of Oregon, between the
Cascades and the Blue mountains and
the watershed on the south, between
TAP Columbia and the klamath lakes,
and the state line on the north; about
$4,000 square mixes, or ALL of eastern
Washington, and over 10000 square
miles Of idaho, between the mountains
on the east and the Oregon and Wash
ineton lines on the west, and from the
British line on the north to the Snake
river valley on the south. This see
ton, being drained by its two great
rivers, the Columbia and Snake, and
their tributaries, the Des Chuttes,
John Day, Umatilla, Walla Walla,
Clearwater, Palousc, Spokane, Okan
ogan, Ma,haw, Wenaehee and Yakima
is watered by hundreds of smaller
streams.
Several causes have united in draw
INK to this section the large share of
public attention it now holds, and in
inducing all immigration that has had
no parallel in the history of this coast
since the inilux into California during
the early days of gold mining. Elk
periments in grain growing in all parts
Of this territory have shown the pecu-
liar adaptation Of the soil to cereals,
especially wheat. There can be no
failure of crops; there has never been
known scarcity Of rain, which falls
50 late in the Spring as to preeludc the
possibility of the grain being injured
by the tlryest Summer. There can be
np fear of destructive floods the
channels>,f The main streams are too
deep, and the rainfall is distributed
into too many water courses The
climate is not so mild as that of Cali.
fornia, but is more moderate than that
OF the eastern states in the same lati-
tudc There is no land monopoly
Thousands of acres of farming land
: are open to pre- emption, The military
posts scattered over the country and
the rapidly increasing population Sc
cure protection against future Indian
wars. Railroad enterprises, projected
and in course of accomplishment (oi
which we shall write at length in fu
t,,,.,, lntta, ,ne,,,+, -,
very few years with both sides Of tho
continent by the Northern Pacific, ant
branch lines to tho present transconti
mental road,
But the Columbia basin has also it,
drawbacks, Throughout nearly tho
! whole of it there is a scarcity of tim
her for building purposes; much of it.
northern part is covered with lndiar
reservations; at times, from two weeks
to two months, the Columbia is frozer
and communication thereby interrupt
Ell; add some hold that portions of it
marked on the maps sand and sage
4 brush, are worthless, except possihl,
for grazing These are about tn,
: principal elections we hear new conner,
make. The opening of railroad com
munication, which may safely be Sc
: down as no further distant than TIVE
years, viii offset all these, except tn,
: last la reference to that, we ma,
SPY that in the biographies of 81,
. years ago that portion of Oregon nov
!. hearing wheat crops of an average O
! from 80 TO 40 bushels per acre wa,
marked dry and worthless except fol
. grazing, /. and the route of the grea
: immigration to Oregon. a generation
, since, lay along the Snake and Colum
+ bfa rivers, over q country now rapid,
filling up with settlers, many of then
from the Willamette and The succeed
iNg generation to that which passol
: this country as worthless. We behev,
1 thai these same so-ealled WORTHLESS
: portions of the Columbia basin nov
: safer the same misrepresentation theSt
, othe lands did. ard that the Tim,
when they shall receive their due i
, neas at hand.
n Daring the last season over one an(