, 1881-03-19
|c0LUMBlA e0UuTY.
The Past, Present and Prespec
tive future Of Wash1n8toa
Territory.
CsLUMEA CeTSIT.
BoUSpAKIEs.

man County. On the east bv Snake rive
across which lies Whitman County and IdAn
Territory. On the South by the State
Oregon. and on the west by Waila-wsA
county. The Blue Mountains through whic
J the Southern line runs, extend along it entlr
! length. and the streams that permeste ID
county all take their rise IN this ranse-
SURVEYED LANDS.
OF surveyed lands inside the boundaries
.. this county are twenty-eishs townships An
thirteen fractional parts OF townships, the ia'
ter living along Snake river. There is also a
area of about As p miles of territory that
unsurveyed This is principally timber land
STREAMS
The streams that water the fine agriculture
lands in this county, are the Touchet, whici
runs from its source in a westerly direction
through Walla walla county tn the Waiia
walla river. Right at Dayton it receives II
Patite as tributary. This last-named stream
runs north from its source, which, like In
source OF the Touchet Is in heavy timber
Alter leaving the timber it drains remarka
bly, rich and productive district, high pla
teau admirably adapted to the growth
cereals, and for pastoral purposes. Failin;
fr,m this elevated plateau it runs through
well-cultivated district to its confluence viii
the Touchet at Dayton. The Tucannon has
course little north If west, and falls int'
Snake river at Grange City, which Is one o.
the several objective points of the D. l. & n
Co. on the river The Tncannon bursts from
its canyon, about four miles above the village
OF Marengo. The valley gradually widens as
the stream descends There is beautiful
growth of balm, cottonwood, birch and alder
along this creek, affording an ample supply
for fuel and fencing purposes. A good wagon
road down this stream affords reasonably good
facilities fer the transportation of products
| from the farms on the creek, and higher
| country bordering il, 10 the landing and iall-
road depot at Grange City. This stream Is
never failing. and carries at all seasons sum
| Gent body of water To run the heaviest ma
| chinery. The fall is SO great that good sites
can be selected every mile or two for dis
tance of twenty miles. Tins great power is
utilized ut one point only-Mar-ngo, where
there is -four mill
CHANCES FOR MASUFACTUIISG.
| The soil along the creek is admirably adapt
ell to the growth of sugar beets, and without
doubt of cane as well. The power tomove
the necessary machinery is right at hand. and
| the manufacture of sugar and syrup-for home
consumption at least-can he made profitable
| 4 Il, tha mi
where Snake river and Tucannon join-the
Pataha Creek empties into Tucannon- This
creek drains probably one of the most fertile
districts in this remarkably fertile country.
The valley which it enters, after leaving the
mountains, is from half mile to a mile in
width The creek winds through it for thirty
FIVE miles, and for this entire distance there Is
! no waste land The water power Is not so
great as that of TucannOn, still 1t Is good, and
| two -four mills are now IN active operation,
one at Pataha City the other at PVmeroy.
| About the lands on ether side of this creek,
more will be said presently
aLPowA CREEK.
The Alpowa Creek runs from its sourcs in
an easterly direction, and falls into Snake
river about ten miles below the mouth of the
Clearwater. 1t compared with the other
mountain streams in this cOuntry-a short
stream, not being over twenty miles long
| from source to mouth. 1t carries 4 god body
OF water all through the dry season, and affords
sufficient power for milling purposes. \ fume
has been partially completed, and a mill will
be erected the present season. This mill viii
| be a great convenience to large surrounding,
grain producing country. A warehouse was
erected last season Just above the mouth of
| this creek on Snake river, and has done and
| will continue to do good shipping business
From the surrounding grain-growing country
to this warehouse, the roads are all down
grade" and producers can at all times haul
| full loads.
AssOTIN CREEK
| Assotin Geek has its fountain head inter
| locked with those Of the Touchet and Tucannon,
but dividing ridge turns it into different
| direction. Its course is nearly east, and it
drops into Snake river seven miles above
Lewiston, Idaho. The volume OF water, fall
| Of stream, character of the timber and land
similar to those of the Tucannon. 1t will be
| well to mention here that this creek, as well
as Touchet and Tucannon, are well supplied
with salmon during the running season, and
| with fine mountain trout at all times All
| that has been said of the TucannOn can with
| truth he reiterated here, for on the delta of
the Assotin is thriving village and landing
| for the bo; Is Of the .. X. < y. Co. A mill
| and warehouse are projected, and will doubt
less be built this season.
FINE RANGES
South Of the mouth of Assotin, and run
ming into Snake river, are Looking-glass Creek,
Ten Mile Creek, and the Grand ROnde river.
| Upon and adjacent to these streams is the best
| cattle and horse range in the country. 1t has
not developed so much as the country further
west, but it has many natural advantages,
timber being easy of access and grass and
water plenty, and now that the o. r. & n.
Co.'S boats will make regular trips to the
landings convenient to this section, a rapid
| settlement and development may be antici
pated- If settlers there will turn their at
| tei,tion to the manufacture of butter and
| ch-ese, and make it of good quality, pros-
| perity will surely attend them.
LANDS AND QUALITIES OF SOIL.
There is less waste land in this county than
in any county in the Territory. The high
rolling hills generally prevail, there are, how
ever. high plateaus or fats that are very pro-
ductive. The Pataha fat, lying south of the
Pa,sha creek and the AssOtin fat, lying south
] of the Assotin are the most extensive These
.iting~, aass are all piow land. and produce the
cereals to perfection. The soil rs.e;as fhe
moisture well, and the hardest vegetables
grow and mature. Owing TO the moisture in
the SOIL, the grass continues green on these
flats the year around. making them well adapt
ed for The dairy business.
| SOUTH OF PArAHA CREEK,
And between that aud Snake river there is
an extensive country, mostly grain country,
contained in which are Meadow Gu'ch and
Deadman Hollow, very productive districts,
where fruit and vegetables can b. grown.
West Of all the above described country and
adjacent to Walla Walla county, are extern
sive fats, Wei adapted to the grt with of cereals.
Water is scarce, but can be had by digging.
This portion Of the country has been hereto
fore tributary to the landing at Grange City,
for shipping purposes, but before the growing
crop is ready to move the o. R. & n. Co. will
have their railroad running right through this
district TO Snake river. The railroads now in
! process OF construction, and nearing compile
| ton, will tap the principal yrsin-uroducino