Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-06-29
WALlA WALLA AND THE COTNIRY
AOJACEyT,

From q lengthy article by the editor of
the Washington Stdadard We take the
extract following:
The population of Walla WaIla is esti-
mated to be about 5000. and the total
assessed value of city property as shown
By the roll, Just completed, is S2.i2i,h so,
OF which amount 81 ,093, SO is enumera-
ted as real estate and SI,025.110 al per-
souai property. This Is an increase III
valuation of S124.62e, for the fiscal year
Just closed, and although not as large as
that of SOME OF the preceding years in
dicates a steady and permanent,if not
rapid growth. The total. valus o(sprop-
erty of all descriptions. a. sh1wn BY the
assessment of 1875, was SB4 20 that of
1876, S96o.79o: Of 1871 $1085e2; of
1878, Sl,l7e, 40; Of 1879, 4,& 90; of
1880, SLIPS, 40, and of 1881, y O4 $40.
When we consider the fact that valua-
tons of the assessor are generally placed
at the minimum rate, it viii be seen
that Walla Walla Possesses enough cap
ital TO ensure quite fair start towards
the honors and dignity Of an established
municipality.
The trade Of Walla Walla seems to
be of steady nature, lees subject to
huctuatiOn than that OF towns on Puget
Sound. This is probably owing to the
character of the inhabitants and the ma
ture of the prevailing industry-farm-
ing. It builds up permanent homes, and
furnishes different element Of growth
from the transient population here
which depends mainly upon a good
price for lumber or q brisk demand for
coal or other commodities, to ensure
their presence as aids for development
of our latent resources. 1t resembles
somewhat the population OF the older
States, whose probable number and the
ratio of expenditure to the individual.
N W be estimated for years in advance
by the ordinary rules of mathematical
computation.
There seems to be no reason why the
prosperity of Walla Walla should not
be considered assured. She is the cen
ter of a whsat-producing region whose
fertility is unparalleled by any district
of equal scope III the world. Up to the
year 1879, the charges for transportation
of grain. and the limited amount that
could. be carried even at eXtOrtiOnate
figures, amounted simply to prohibition
of agricultural development: but a new
era dawned when MIR. Willard. with that
remarkable foresight which has charac
terized all his movements backed by I'M
limited capital, opened up improved ia
ciiities and signalized the event by
material reduction in the rates charged
for placing grain in the holds of ssa-go-
ing vessels. Last season another reduc
ton was made, equivalent to seven cents
per bushel to every farmer in Eastern
Washington for his crop Of wheat, and
soon as the railroad is completed to
Portland, it ia said that forty per cent.
more will be awarded him as his share
in the profits made by the grinding
monopoly" This, with the route to
Puget Sound, will make a much larger
proportion of the product of the Column
bia valley available to supply the mar
kets of the world. It is estimated that
of the IL $1,000 acres embraced in that
region, fully one half, or 5,625. 600 acres
are arabic land, and this area, estimated
at the low yield of 20 bushels to the
acre, will produce liz, 50O, 900 bushels, or
nearly $780, 600 tons of wheat. 1t will be
readily seen. when it is considered that
with the improved facilities for trans
pOrtatiOn, but about 100000 tons were
carried down tho Columbia in 1881, that
the transportation traffic is capable of
indefinite expansion, and no matter in
what direction those efforts are made
Walla Walla city will be the gamer. It
is said that in the shipping season the
wheat wagons are compelled to fall in
line and wait their turn to approach the
depot, completely blOckading one side of
the street, while the other side is with
difficulty kept free for the passage of
unladen teams.