, 1883-01-19
Vacant Lands.
Wnlls Walla St0tesDlGH.l

Wnlla Walla Statesman.
A little while ago we heard one of
the best posted land lawyers of Walla
Walla make the rather astounding
statement that one-half the arabic
area of this county remains unsettled
and unclaimed. A glance at the map
showed that he was correct. People
have settled upon the favorite foot
hills and the best land of the valleys
below the mountains and have neg
lected the great area of rolling hills
between Dry creek and Snake river
and the Columbia. SO, it remains
true that one half the arabic lands OF
Walla Walla county are unclaimed.
Of late more attention is paid to this
part of the country, and settlers are
making locations. Absence of living
water and difficulty in locating wells
are the principal objections. Noone
need doubt the ability of the soil to
produce crops. The fact is, settlers
have chosen the most eligible loca-
tons, and with the wide world to
choose from have passed over as good
land as need be desired. The whole
region possesses more value for pro
duction if it can be supplied with
water and eventually it viii not be SO
difficult as people imagine t. locate
wells. The land toward Sn Ike river
is high hills in part, and yet can be
made to produce wheat. Coming up
from Texas Ferry you climb a great
ridge and ride for miles over beauti-
full bunch grass prairies without see
ing a habitation or mark of plow.
Ali along the Snake river to beyond
the Tukannon, such seems to be the
case. Good land can be found in the
Blue Mountains that will be ea9 erly
sought for III few years from now.
The northern part of Columbia cCun
ty, and the southern part Of Garfield
county present many vacant placCsfOr
settlers to select from. The Assotin
county is not over one half claimed,
and from Alpowai canyon to Laws
ton, in Garfield county, there Is a
great deal of vacant land near Snake
river. The south side Of Snake river
is considered by some to be all taken
up. but the fact is that this section
yet offers homes-and good locations,
too-for thousands Of families.
Eastern kllckitat had not a single
settler last spring, and has but tew
now. For six miles east and west
with average width Of fifteen miles,
that portion Of country invites settle
mcnt. So far as appearances go.
that section possesses excellent sOI
and every advantage that can be de
sired is obtainable.
An entelprising Germal who
works III the shops at AinswOIth, has
taken land on the Columbia, near
there and has made it produce won
dcrfully. 1t has not been supposed
that that particular section was Of any
value as agricultural land, but it
seems that good land lies along the
Columbia above Ainsworth, ald there
is strip of good country between 1t
and the road north and south. The
extent of good country exceeds all
previous anticipatiOns. The mate OF
the steamer "Billings' says very
desirable strip OF agricultural land,
twenty miles long and six miles back
from the shores OF Snake river, com
mences six miles from AinswUrth ON
the north side Of that river. Only &
few months ago no one supposed
there was good land there, but it is
claimed that this particular tract con
tanning I5,OOU acres, is superior soil.
The lower part of The Palouse
county is almost entirely vacant.
Take fifty townships Of land there
AMI not one half the Government
land and not one-fomth the railroad
land is yet occupied. All these speci
fed tracts of land are in reasonably