, 1881-03-12
WAllA WALlA COUNTY.
The Past. Present and Prospective
Future Of Washington Terri.
tofy's Neaith'est Comfy.
TIE TIE FUTURE METROPOLIS.
What Inducements our County
OHers-Aeans Of Travel - In
provemen4s, Outlook, Etc. Etc.

What Indueements our Count
O6en-Aeans Of Travel - In
provemenfs, Outlook. Etc. Etc.
BouyDABiEA
wahA WAllA COUNTY is bounded on ii
north by Snake river which separates it fro'
Whitman county, Oil re east b. coIvr;lbl
county, south along the 4eth parallel by Cr'
gon, and on the west by Snake and the u
lumbia rivers, separating it from "hitmA
and Yakima counties.
TOWNSHIPS. LAND, ETC
eight entire, and fifteen fractional parts {
townships Of the original public domain, Q
about twelve hundred and fifty square mile
Of territory, three-fourths Of which is arahl
land
CHARACTER OF LAND.
The land most productive and Lest fitted fc
tillage is what Is known as 'ollins' prairie
The original growth was bunch grass. Thel
is very little, perhaps not two per cent. Of thi
land, too steep to admit of the profitable US
Of machinery for eul.irating and harvesting
This is the character Of the land along tn
entire eastern side OF the county tthe foe
hills of the Blue mountainsl. Along the Co
lumbia, Walla Walla and Snake rivers, th
topography is different Here are found plain
nearly level, covered with sage brush ant
!. 3 ,l..t IN
riversl, and is Of the description known n
.'aesert land" This land can be taken uniel
the Desert Land Act, and reclaimed by usins
the river water for irrigation. Wiadmills ol
! steam power can be made available for raising
| the river water to a sufficient height. tn,
| soil on these sage brush lands is of the bes
! quality, and only need a little water 1t somt
season to BE- made to - blossom As the rose
EUREKA FLiTs-
| Between these sage plains and the rolling
country first describei, is very large and
fertile track Of country known rs Eureka
Fiat" which experience has proved to be vel
adapted for both pastoral AMI agricultural
purposes Like many other fertile tracts. i.
was once thought that nothing could be raised
here without irrigation the reverse has proved
to he the case for vegetables AMI grain, equal
in quality As well As quantity to that raised in
the most favored part of our w-ll-watered
valleys, have been gathered since the first land
was located there. Water for use can he Oh
tanned by digging, and few living springs are
scattered through the whole country
WATER COURSES.
ApprJachingthe streams, Touchet and Snake
river, the land again becomes OF the rolling
character. The principal water courses in
Walla Walla county are, first the Touchet,
which, running through Columbia county.
enters Walla Walla county about three miles
above the town of Waitsburg. and thence runs
westerly across ranges thirty-seven. thirty-sx,
and thirty-ive, thence southwest and south,
emptying into the Walla Walls river on the
line dividing townships six and seven, north Of
range thirty-three. This stream carries a
large body of water, and has fall enough to
afford power for driving machinery In every
two or three miles along the stream a mill site
can BE- selected There Is a: Wiitsbur, but
one Hour mill with this solitary exception
the great water power Of this valuable stream
j. not utilized in Walla Walla county. The
valley of the Touchet is the most extensive in
tn. county 1t varies in width from one-half
TO one and half miles, all " which could, If
necessary be irrigated. Some Of the oldest
and most beautiful homes in the county are to
be found in this valley. Indian corn il a
neyer-failing crop, and it is wonder ul how the
land can stand up anil produce good crops,
wear after year, for fifteen or sixteen years !;
and that this land has done 81, is notorious
fast.
THE CoPPfL
III. Coppei, from its source in the Blue
Mountains, runs north by west thro ugh town.
ships eight, in range thirty-eiSht, and town
ship nine in range thirty-seven, thence into
the Touchet Just below Waitsburs. There Is
not enough water in this stream to afford mo-
tive power for machinery, but it has highly
frrtilizcd the land through which it winds its
way, and some Of the most productive farms
in the country arc found along its borders
Above its confluence with the louchet, be-
tween tie two streams, Is an extensive mar of
very fine land upon which, and right upon the
banks Of the Tonchet is Waltsbnrs, which,
Phanix- like, has just arisen from its ashes:
Before the fire it looked like a decaylns old
yillage-now, like thriving new town, which
it is.
DRY CREEK
Like the other streams in this county, this
cresk has its source in the Blue Mountains,
and runs northwest through township seven,
range thirty eight, thence west across ranges
thirty-seven, thirty-six and thirty-hve, and
fall, into the Walla Walla river in township
7, north of range 81. The valley Of Dry Creek
though not as extensive aS that Of the Iouchef,
is large enough to embrace some Of the finest
farms in the country. The very best natural
meadows were found here by the FIRST colners,
and were of course secured 10y them. Many
hundreds of tons of timothy hay is male every
SEASON on the Lar Ks Of this creek The dis
tance from Dry Creek to the T"nchet and
Coppri, is about twelve miles. There are
several springs and spring branches between,
afiordins enough water for the stock an TOR
family use of the settlers
SPRING BRANCH
This is small stream that falls into Dry
Creek near where the upper 'ad from Dayton
crosses it; it affords water for some tlne
farms.
MILL CREEK.
Six miles westerly from Dry Creek is " Mill
Creek named by the Missionaries in early
davs, from the fact that DR.. Whitman had es-
t,bI;sbed a mill on its banks. This stream
heads very far back in the mountains, and Is
an occasional source Of uneasiness TO the cItl-
zeus of Walla Walla, as in case dt sudden
thaw of snow, it sometimes overieaps It's
honn6s. and does much damage. After IT
leaves the mountains it separates into two
streams. The branch Yellow Hawk, taking a
more southerly course, carries about one-third
of the water, and furnishes power for one mill.
Mil Creek proper affords very good power
and should I've more thoroughly utilized at
Wslla Walla. There are three large -four mills
IN IN. immediate vicinity of Wa!la W ALA city
driven by it and running constantly. 1t drops
| into the Walla Walla river IN the lane di'id
| ing townships six and seven, north oil range
| thirty-hve-
RUSSELL AND GARRISON CREEKS.
Some of the choicest farms in the county are
| situated On Russell creek, narn-d after one ol
our earliest pioneers the country around here
| is considered BY some as the garden spot OF
the country, but in reality the great difference
consist. in the high cultivation it has received
i from the industrious settlers who occupy It,
| Garrison and Singleton Creeks are uthe'
streams adjacent TO the city, and ike all other
run. threugh the richest farming lands
The waLIA wALiA RIVER
The WalIa Walia rver enters the county II
| township six, range thirty-iv-- 1t runs wes'