, 1883-01-27
N.vieatiop-.Its Prespsssz.

The Columbia river pse.ents more ana
greater obstacles TO Tree navigation ;hau
suy other river of equal magnitude On the
American Continent. Appropriations
have been made, and weik is stil, IN pro-
gr.ss IA overcome these obstacles On the
lover river, and by that means render ITS
NAVIGATION more free and less expensive
A prcjec; is nos in contemplation oy the
O. R &. n. Co. in the spring, to run
line Of steamboats, frcm Priest Rapids ~
Kettle Falls The route is beset with
.ou,e difficulties betEeen the points
named there is very rapid water AZ Rock
Island. some 10 miles above Prizes, Rap
ids. The mex. difficulty met With IS at
the mouth of the Chelan, another very
rapid place in the river; but none OF
them are so difficult but what NAVIGATION
is possible by boats Of power. The navi-
cation of the Columbia, to the highest
point named, would open up for settle
neut large distric, OF country that IN lis
natural state is well adapted for the rais-
inr Of cattle, horses and sheep. The east
side of the Columbia, is, in the full sense
of the word, bunch grass cOuniry. It's
adaptation to the growth of cereals is 10
large degree favorable, and its accomplish
ment by no means difficult, except as to
the proyisement Of timber tor building
and fencing. There is some timber IN
places, such as alder, birch and Gotten or
balm wood but lis growth is confined to
narrow strips along the Columbia river
aud abose the mouth Of the Chelan. The
mountains, however, iut close to the river
on the west side, and are covered with
the finest kinds of timber, from Priest
Rapids TO the mouth Of the Chelan, dis
tance of over fifty miles The bottom
land that is level and suitable for cullva-
ton for that fifty miles Just below the
mouth of the WeEatchie, Is oi.ly about l.
or I3 miles long, with an average width
of l ! miles Ii possesses one OF the finest
climates to be found IN the Territory, and
will grow all kinds Of tender fruits and
vegetables, such as peaches and grapes. al
kinds of melons and tomatoes, all oi
which ripen fully as early as the fruits
and vegetables do in this vslley. The
hills on the west side Of the Colnmbia
river, from Priest Rapids to the mouth OF
the Wenatchie river is one immense stock
kaven, to which large bands Of horses,
cattle and sheep are driven from the Kit
titass and Yakima valleys, to make their
own living during the winter months.
For many years the stock so wlntered
cams out i'll good order IN the spring,
with but one exception, and that was two
years ago seyen-eIghths OF all the cattle
dependent on catching what they could
find. perished by reason OF the heavy
crust on the snow. The whole of the
country from pr.est Rapids up TO the
Wenatchie slopes to the east, and in con-
sequence is shut off from the cold winds
that prevail so g,ner ally from the west,
by the great altitude to which the summit
rises between the kittitas valley and the
Columbia river. Tie east side Of the NV
er, from the confluence OF the Snake up
to the mouth of the Chelan IS devoid oi
timber, but covered with heavy growth
of bunch grass The quality OF the SOL Is
good on all the valley hills from White
Bluff up to the Okanagan, except where
the mountain heights are too steep to ad-
NIT Of cultivation The hills, too, IA the
vicinity of Crab Greek, are composed OF
a rich black soil, which the writer Gc-
lieyes would be first-rate for the produc-
tion of winter wheat. The whole reg.on
however, here described. Is IL the dry
belt of country In which irrigation IS IN re
OF less a necessity
The country along the mouth Of the
Chelan Is embraced in the Moses reseiya-
ton, which extends north to the British
line. So long as the reservation is held
for the exclusive use and benefit Of the
Indians, there can be no material deyel-
opment Of that portion OF this fertile re-
gicn. 1t is true the country Is rot used
by Moses nor any Of his little band. He,
as well as the majority OF his subjects,
spend the most Of their time in Yakima
county, wholly removed from The land
awarded them by the Howard Moses
treaty. Moses has no use for the reser-
walton and doa't want to live on 1t. Why
is it held from settlement and cultivation
by the whites, is an enigma that can only
be solved on the ground that :hose IN an
thority are ignorant of the true state Of
facts IN reference 70 the life and habits OF
Moses the Great and his hand. The facts
in this regard are known to the military
officers who have lived at f. Chelan and
Camp Spokane, 1t Is Reasonable 20 sup
pose that the existing state OF affairs have
long since been communicated to Wash
ington authorities but no steps have
been taken to al;er the condition OF things
n that valuable country. The navigation
of the Columbia 10 Kettle Falls would
give Colvilie an outlet fCr her products
that would be Vast benefit 10 that lso-
lated region. 1t is highly probable that
the Moses reservation VII ere long pass
from his possession, and DC thrown o IN
t. settlement tor the whites IL must
necessarily take several years 10 bring the
country into cultivation, aud until that
occnrs, the business through that channel
must he limited bat something of that
kind is needed to give the country start,
as well as 70 hasten more Tap:d devei-
opment The main reliance for business
on the upper river must come from the
east side, where, at this time, hut ittt:e
progress as vet is made. We ike to see
these new channels of trade established,
as they are powerful auxiiiaries IN the de-
veiopment OF any country.