Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-06
EAsrExx Ixarss,gs.

VI shS trEtDI CfSk vi tue tAts
cades:
We are frequently called upon b,
friends and others in the States. by let
ter for information respecting this sec
tion and the Territory at large. A ionl
letter from an Iowa friend lies before
ms nov. In this article we shall give
our impressions regarding the different
points OF inquiry.
| The topography Of this Territory is
/ 90 varied that one nust mention it by
| sections. East of the Columbia river
and south of the Snake there is little
variation from undnlating slopes and
table lands. The valleys of the rivers
and streams and the Blue Mountains
are the exceptions. North of the Snake
the hills and undulating plains con
| tinue, but generally the surface is less
| broken and the elevation greater and
the timber stretching farther away from
| the mountains. West of the Columbia
and east of the Cascades the country Is
cut by lJng, los mountain ranges with
ont timber. and the valleys are as rule
quite level. Reaching the foothills OF
the Cascades the surface is more broken
and timbered. rhe mountains are
mostly covered with timber of the ever
green varieties.
Answering as 10 the amount of agri-
cultural land and speaking of eastern
Washington, We would say that nearly
all Ut the valley, hill and undulating
table, lands may be termed agricultural.
East of the Columbia these lands Weld
bountifully without irrigation, as do
much of the valley lands west of the
Columbia. The bench lands of Yakima,
however, require irrigating TO make
them pr sfitabie for farming purposes.
The bills may yet produce well without
irrigation, like those east of the Colum-
bia; but it will be after general cultiva-
tion Of the country brings greater rain
fall. These lands, upon which water
can be taken, are worry valuable and can
be made 10 raise from thirty to eighty
bushels TO the acre of wheat, barley or
oats. Corn and sugar cane do well in
all the valleys abont Yakima and below,
with little irrigation. Vegetables of all
kinds attain perfection in size and fla
vor We have never seen excelled. Small
fruits ditto. Apples, peaches, plums
and pears do well in most of the valleys.
The Walla Walla country is the
grandsst wheat field of the Pacific
slope; and as fruit garden is hardly
excelled. The Palouse country is excel
lent-has a higher elevation, winters a
little longer and colder than south of
the Snake river.
The climate varies with the locality.
West Of the Cascade mountains the
weather from Septs.aber to June is
cloudy and 1t rains frequently. Snow
seldom falls there. During the snmmer
the Sound Is a paradise. In the inter
ior oil the Yakima country it rains fire.
qucntly during the spring and autumn
months. and as rule, occasionally dur
ing the summer. In those parts Dor.
dering the foothills of the Cascades the
suow usually falls about three feet deep
during the winter. and the mercury fire.
Quently reaches fifteen below. Those
regions farther east receive less snow
and the cold is less severe. About Yaki-
una 1t IL not surprising to have a winter
pass with no extreme cold. There is no
wind In winter east of the Cascades ex-
cept the warm winds called Chinook,
which take the SHOWS as if by magic. II
10 not strange To see "a deep snow disap-
pear in one night almost entirely. In
the Walla Walla country the winters
are much like those of this section ex-
cept that there is less snow and occa-
sional rains. Flowing may and is often
up to Christmss in the coun-
try, and is sometimes done in all the
winter months.
Thunder and lightning, in the Iowa
sense, Is unknown here. Cyclones and
blizzards ditto. Occasionally We have
. dust storm, which may last half an
hour. This and the necessity of irri-
eating in parts, are considered the
drawbacks of the country. Much of
the hill and valley lands in the interior
Of the Territory are covered with sage
brush-a brush from one to six feet
high, with fine limbs and sage looking
leaves never found except in dry
countries. This has to be cleared at an
expense Of 81 30 per acre and then the
land is ready for the plow. The balance
OF the land IA covered with rye and
bunch grass in the valleys and bunch
grass on the hills.
The Yakima aud Kittitas valleys of
this county are among the best agricul-
tural sections of tha Territory. The
yield of grain to the acre Of weil-tilled
land il, without exception. the largest
we have ever seen. Hops are very
productive and profitable industry here.
Sugarcane Is being raised with the best
of results, and stock raising liz prin-
cipal source of wealth. The timber is
confined 70 the mountains, except that
the bottoms Of the river and streams
usually contain a growth Of balm and
other soft woods.
The minerals Of the Territory are
hardly sxcelled. The Cascades are full
Of gold, silver. copper, iron and coal
anthracite aud bi.uminous. The gold,
silver and copper are SD far found most
abundantly Ia Yakima County, where
there are being developed some rich
mines. North, near the British line,
are said to bt some paying quartz.
Placer mining is prosecuted on the bars
Of many rivers. Iron il abundant on
the east and west slopes of the noun
tains The developed iron and coal
mines are all on the western slore.
Limestone IL only found west of the
mountains.
Railroad building is the grand feature
Of this epoch in the history of the Ter
ritory. East Of the Columbia the coun-
try is now we'll supplied with railways.
The Cascades branch Of the Northern
Pacific Is partially under contract, and
a large force at work on its construction.
Il leaves the main line at Ainsworth,
near the confluence Of the Columbia
and Snake Rivers, follows the Yakima
westwardiy, and will terminate on Pu-
oct Sound. One hundred and twenty
i've miles is TO be completed in nine
mouths. Tue system Of roads on the
Sound, completed and protested, will be
ample for the great traffic which will
cluster around that magnificent inland
soa.
Immigration into this Territory dur
iue the year past has been immense
considering the facilities of getting
here, The completion Of the. Northern
Pacific having now been accomplished.
Il il expected that the future will see
the food tide Of immigration. The
cities and towns OF the Territory are
growing rapidly in population and com
mcrcial importance. Seattle aud New
Tacoma are destined to be large cities.
Walla WailA, Dayton. Colfax and Spo-
kane FAlls are good towns IN the east,
with WaIia WAlia ahead. In the IN
terior Yakima. EllensburR and Goidon-
dale are the leading towns.
Speaking generally, this Territory IN
point Of health il unsurpassed. few
| localities are sabiect 70 diphtheria. and
aQue Il mot unknown though there ~
vory little of it. Fevers are little ex
perieneed in comparison with Iowa. {
have some hot weather but seldom the
/ ..x,<,k ar{no hnf Kind NYfSaFiapoed East.