, 1880-04-10
From Our Special.


Ed. STATESMAN The hard winter Row
happily thing oi tic past, has by no means
been confined to the Columbia basin, for in
q trip through Eastern Oregon and portions
OF Idaho, your correspondent has seen un-
mistakable evidences d the severity OF the
weather scattered along tho roads and on
the stock ranges, in the shape Of dead cattle
and sheep. The trip across the Blue noun.
tains has yet to be made on runners from
Cayuse station u the Pelican ranch, the
most tifesome piece of travel between the
Dalles and kelton. The difference in the
climates Of the Cmatilla and Grsnde Ronde
valley is very markell, for whereas in the
former ploughs were running up to the tim
Der belt, and not vestige of frost WA IA "a
the ground; the Grande Ronde valley WAS
eo-ered with thin mantle Of the "beauti-
full, and everywhere, clear down to Snake
river. the ground was frozen solid. The
winter appears 10 have struck the Grande
Ronds valley with more severity than else
where, which may be accounted for partly
BY its altitude and partly by its surroundings
which leave it open and exposed to the
FILL yokrE OF rHE wISrRG BLASTS
The snow fell thicker and stayed on the
ground longer there than elsewhere, and we
were informed that in addition to loss of
. per cent of its stock, the valley also
mOurneth for the untimaly death of all its
fancy fruit trees which have been literally
frozen to death. Both the towns OF La
Grande and Union are the centers of consid
srAble trade, and it is said that building will
L.. L.
and lumber can be obtained. The winter,
30 far a. we could ascertain. appears to have
been less severe in the Powder River valley
than at any other locality between the Blue
mountains and Snake river. and the esti.
mated loss Of stock will no. exceed Is per
cent. Baker city is rapidly attaining to
metropolitan preteLsions and will undOubt-
edly be the leading city Of
THE srScH GRASS REGION
In Oregon. The town il full Of business and
being the geographical center Of the largest
mineral zones on the northwest. and pos.
sessing in addition q large extent of unde-
veloped agricultural resources. her outlook
for the future is bright indeed. The mer-
chants Of Baker City are full OF enterprise.
vim and liberality, and is owing to the ma
terisl assistance they have given to 'broken"
miners in supplying them with grub
stake that the adjacent mineral fields have
been prospected and L" finds" discovered.
At later date Baker City and her indus
tries will be described in detail. From
Baker City to Farewell Bend. the weather is
mOderating, and crossing Snake river a
change for the better is Immediately felt !;
all the snow has disappeared from the hills
which form the
BEsr CATTLE RANGE
In this territory. From Snake river clear
mp to the head o: the Boise valley the win
any portion Of the northwest fewer cattle
have died here for . certainty than else
where, and the loss is estimated As not to
exceed s per cent, and - these are chiefly
cattle belonging to non-residents. the loss is
comparatively very light. For many years
this section has remained almost unknown.
owing to the fact that the best and most er.
tsnsiys Of its farming lands and stock ranges
is situated of from the stage road. OF late.
however. the country IL becoming more
widely and better known, and is fist settling
up with . thrifty and industrious class OF
people who take 20 stock raising. The
older settlers who came in ten or twelve
years ago are doing finely they al have
more or less cattle to ssll every year and -
this il the leading industry Of this particu-
lar section. and one which IL rapidly expand
ing into large proportions. the people in this
vicinity will soon be financially
"wsIL H.ElEp."
The first band of cattle from the Weiser
country were taken east last year by the
Jeffreys Brothers, who drove 800 head Of
the finest beef steers ever taken east from
this slope. These gentlemen, who have ex-
tensive interests In the Willamette valley,
and are also engaged in merchandising here.
will take another band east this year in con.
necsion with Thoe. c. Galloway & Co. an
other of our cattle kings. who are nov buy
ing al that can be procured Considerable
prospecting viii be done this year in the
mountains TO the northwsrd Of this place At
ing from practical knowledge of the coun-
try the prediction 10 ventured that impor-
tant discoveries of Argentiferous ore will be
made It Is sa,d that the Utah. Idaho &
Oregon stage company Will abandon the
present travelled Meaeharn rosd over the
Bloc Mountains this year. and use the Sum
merville route for the future, thereby max
ing quicker time over g shorter, lower and
better ps.s, and avoiding the exsortionate
tolls which are charged on the old rod. The
following was picked mp On the road near
here and ha,dsd to the writer somewhat
under the influence Of the weather:
Live of lawyers sn remind N
'Hs no ~ = make vi:
For vhsn ve de we lsAvs behind =.
An our vsalth for them to steal
AESDUs.