, 1881-11-11
JOttings of Trip Through Eastern
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON.
The following letter written by Hon. A.
w. Bash, Collector of Customs. TO the Sc
attic acknowledgement descriptive Of
his recent trip to Fort COlvllle and vicini-
", will be read with deep interest by our
ubScribers-because it is new and gratify-
ing evidence of the immense undeveloped
resources in the territory, and because it
shows that Mr.. Bash is live man and
proposes TO do something for the land he
has come to dwell in We commend it to
the thoughtful attention OF all, as the re-
liable uttcrances of one who observes
keenly wherever he goes:
embarked on the revenue cutter Oliver
W0!c0tt At this port, Sept. al. 1881. for
Seattle and Olympia Leaving Olympia
Sept. 9th, Travelled by rail and steamer
To Portland. There | was joined BY Mr..
J. Z. Horr. Special agent of The IRE .sury.
according 10 arrangement. and on the 9th
of September started for Waila Walla,
arriving there Sept. Sth. We spent one
day there, gathering necessary iniorma-
tlon To guide us Oh onr further journey.
Walla Walla is the largest and most flour
ishing city in Eastern Washington. Great
piles of wheat could be seen lying about
the railroad station awaiting shipment
Leaving Nalla Walla on the evening OF
the Sth OF Sept. we proceeded by rail to
AlnswortlI, where stopped for The night
fhiS,is i most doIefuI looking spot. No
vegetation. nothing but sand and sage
brush. The railroad junction is all that
| makes the town. We left AinswOrth on
the morning train and had good day to
View the country which Is one vast olain
or desert. with very little grass OF any
Kind growing npOn il for the entirs. dis
tance To Sprague. IL has been at some
time. apparently, great lava bed. as The
f"rnation is very similar TO the lava beds
of Nevada. But cattle aud sheep do well
upon the short bunch grass that grows.
ScstIt as il is. At Sprague is beautiful
lake. and several tine springs. Green grass
anu other vegetation abound Oh the bord-
ers OF the lake. 1t il said that wheat is
raised Oh the uplandS. This may be a
city sometime in the future.
Alter leaving Sprague. we pass for a
considerable distance through country
covered with small pine timber, until we
arrive mt Cheney, q new town I'm the
woods. the location OF which is very good.
but think the town is growing faster than
the country will support. The Cheney.
lies claim that there are good wheat lands
II few miles back from the town, From
Cheney towards Spokan Falls, IL distance
of about l6 miles. the country Is rough.
>parSeiy timb-red and uninteresting. Just
before reaching Spokan, we emerge from
the timber upon as pretty little prairie
IA ever saw. The soil near the TOWN is
not very productive. as it Is solid bed Of
gravel. but they have probably the finest
water power i'll the Territory. and the tti-
ture oil the place Is certainly very promi.
sing. AT SpOkan Falls we lett the rail.
ROAD and Travelled by stage to ColvilIe gar.
riSnn. distance of eighty miles. through
beautiful natural park. Splendid pine
timber all along the route and very it'll,
nnderbruSh. giving the woods the appea =.
ance OF park. The country generally
is quite hilly. The Colville valley Is pro.
ductive and many good farms are to be
Seen.
We left ColvIlle garrison by stage 70,
sold Fort Colvil!e, or Kettle Fails Fer.
. ry. OH the Columbia River. passing by
good farms and large wheat fields. The
Catholic Church has mission school abeu,
ten miles, OHe-haif the way. fIOm the gar.
riS0n 10 KETTLE Falls. and a Eua,bt.r o
good buildings, including "A school 10,
boys AMI one for girls. Also a small saw.
mill. Many years ago. the Hudson Bay
Company had Fort at Kettle Falls, and
here also the Boundary Commission win.
Tered anu built number OF log houses.
which are still in good preservation and
, occupied by two traders, each firm carry.
. ing stock OF provisions and general mer-
chandiSe. Across the river the Indians
, have quite village. AMI nearly all the
Collville Indians winter here. Kettle Falls
Is 4 great place for salmon fishing Al
THIS point the Kettle river empties into the
Columbia. and the later is navigahlc for
large river boats for two or three hundred
. miles above the falls. There is also an
open roa'l from here to Fort Slnpberl
British Columbia. distance of about &c
miles, Looking to the west. the country
, seems almost impasSable, but by followins .
up the hettIe river. We soon come TO n
large open valley. The country ALONG the
river is generally hiily or NOMINATIONS
Most of il can be cultivated as it consists
OF table lands. The soil is very rich and
productive. About half OF these hills.
piateiiis ana valleys, are open prairie,
covered with bunch grass knee Iiyh to the
cattle grazing upon it. White pine. spruce
4hd very large tamarack trees grow here.
Bear. deer. and three or four species OF
grouse are found IN abundance. AT Kettle
taliS we procured an Indian Guide and
ponies and Travelled north by an open trail
np the Kettle river, across the boundary
line. where we inte.sect a Trail betweeI,
Fort Shepherd and Sooyoos lake. Follow.
ing UP the above mentioned trail, crossing
anu re-croSSing the boundary line. we keep
along The Kettle river. which is a beauti-
tul stream abonnding in trout and salmon
All along the banks 0i this river signs OF
gold and silver aIe seen. and the country
Is the finest that / have seen in this dis
triet. Large herds OF fine fat cattle were