Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1881-10-25
OREGON LETTER,
WESTON, UMATILLA Co, OREGON,
October l6, 1881.

CiitDate Vi Tue great Waila Waila val
ley with that of Idaho, would surprise
anyone, as it docs me, who has not &C
quainted himself with it by actual res
idence in both countries. have seen
colder weather, and more Of it, in this
country, since the first of last August,
than ever saw in Idaho, and | have
lived in that Territory for the last six
years. Cold, chilly rains, with fur
ries of snow in the mountains and low
down on the foothills, has been an al
most weekly occurrence since the first
of August last, doing some considera-
bic damage to crops, and owing to an
insufficiency of machinery in the val
ley, it throws the harvesting Of crops
well into the winter. AT the present
writing there are hundreds of acres
yet in the fields standing, besides a
large amount stacked awaiting the
thresher On the night of the 10th
inst, slight snow fell which extend
ed as far down the valley as Pendle-
ton, which, however, soon disappear
ed, but the weather still continues un-
settled, raining and showing altern-
stely, and of course completely shut
ting down all harvesting operations
for the present. And it looks at pres
ent, to man from Idaho, as though it
will be necessary to run the header
machines on bob sleds to complete the
business.
The harvest has been bountiful, and
iii my poor opinion, there is no coun.
try in the world which can produce
mole or better wheat on the same
area of ground, as the entire Walla
Walla valley.
The Q. S. N. Go. have grand hold
on this country, since through them
must come all the market which the
producers of the country receive. and
the farmers here join with the people
of Idaho in asking for speedy com
pletion of the line which places them
in communication with the G. P. and
Q. P. R. r. This will break the pow
er which the present company holds,
forcing sale at whatever figure it
may please them to set Oh the produce
of this country.
Prices for grain this season is a
slight Improvement ON tue last years
crop, which was disposed of at 4505O
cents per bushel This season the
price varies-the highest price paid
was 81 cents-the present price being
81 cents; of course, delivered at the
railroad.
In speaking of the Walla Walla
valley, | include the whole country
known as the Columbia Basin. Not
only is the soil peculiarly adapted to
the cultivation of wheat, but all
cereals. Fruits and vegetables grow
equally as well. | have no means at
hand for determining the amount of
wheat shipped from this valley alone
this season, but when one sees the
amount stacked at the stations, the
amount being shipped and yet to be
transported to the stations, he can
hardly help but wonder why there
should be any one hungry for bread in
this world.
This leads me to speak of our own
Payette valley. AS late as 1857 the
very best portion of this country was
yet vacant and but little thought of, on
account Of the sage brush which COW
cred it, and the sandy appearance OF
the soil: now not foot of which ia
left not under cultivation and found to
be the very best wheat growing land
in the valley. An examination of the
uci1 oopvipoos mo IF tho fact fbof a