, 1883-09-08
1aE nvxcn GRASS corxrr..
Of Aercs open % Setileoeaa--Cheesfnx
Prospects fer the Csunsry--Ese,

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Of Acrcs opea % Sesileoens.--Cheesfps
Prospects fer she Csunsry--Ese.
A trip over tie mountains at th;. se,,oo
Of the year is not unpleasant, ia spite of the
dust. and when one il accompanied by a
practical and interesting conversstiouslis,.
time speeds rapidly. Leaving Walls Wall.
on Saturday afternoon, in company with
Mr.. Rinehart, the well known farmer and
miller OF the Grand ROnde valley. we soon
reached Weston, and at an early hour San
day morning climbed the bill leading to the
summit Of the Blue Mountains, BY the road
connecting midway with the Linkhlm
road.
The whole country. almost to the summit.
is in fair state If cultivation. and j; i. one
of the most picturesque farming countries
east ct the Cascades; but the tine views OF
this occasion were not available. owing to
the smoky state Ct the atmosphere. a,
noon We arrived at Woodward's fJr dinner
and socn We're jogging on again toward cur
destination. There i. immense wealth III.
these mountains in the timber, and some
red fir We passed must have measured AT
least 6vs f,et in diameter. Most Of the
timber is red fir. spruce, white pine and fr
balsam, but the formation ci the country be-
ing basait, no Minerals can exist.
About dark we catered the foot hills, and
here, to my surprise, found that qui.e Q
los Of settlers had taken up claims 10 the
midst Of heavy timber hnd were cleaning 1t
ready for the plough. The pine hefe pre-
dominates, and magnificent tree, they are.
Sdmaerville was reached about 9 P. 81, too
late TO look around but walk around the
town early next morning developed thriv-
ing little place. There are several large
stores there, EIs. class hotti, kept By Mr..
Alfred Hacker, whose attention to his que,
is pleasant feature, but not the least If his
attributes.
Mr.. Henry Ruhl is erecting a tine build
ing fsom stone, which is found in the v.cin-
ity. 1t IS the color Of granite, but so stft
that it can be very easily dressed, and hard
ems on exposure. / see the day when quite
business in this building material will
spring up between Summerville and Walla
Walla. 1t is a good trading point, beng
situated at the extreme lower end Of the
Grand Ronde valley and the nearest to the
Wallowa valley. The latter is settled up by
= class OF farmers who do not devote their
attention entirely to raising grain, but di
yersfy their productions and raise large
bands Of stock, for which the country is ad-
mirably adapted. Between the valley and
Snake river are hundreds Of thousands of
acres Of fine rolling prairie land, covered
more thickly with the nutritious bunch
grass than any l haves ever seen elsewhere
The altitude is over 5000 feet, but expert
ments are being made to prove whether or
not it is adapted for grain, and If so. there
will be room for thousands, asst is all Gov
ernment land. For dairy purposes no coun-
try offers more Inducements to those WHO
desire to enter into this business.
Island City. about twelve miles from
Summerviile, is another thriving place, and
has some very nest-looking stores. but Is
Grande, iew miles further on, is city OF
greater pretensions. 1t was originally the
county seat of Union, bat now claims q
bright future, IS the railroad has been prom
ised them. Captain Garry, an old-timer,
who is well known to many in tins valley.
il receiver in tho land Office here. In she
early days Of this now furnishing great in
terinr, be perf1rmed splendid service in
fighting the Indians, and paving the way
fr the present prosperity f the country.
Oar people owe much TO this class OF piO-
ne-rs. dis colleague in Office. MIR. Henry
Dwight, is another old-timer. and pleas
an. gentleman withal. all along the Grand
Ronde rirer, where it runs through the
mountains up Pc lean creek to Mesehaa-s.
aud beyond to the plain, again, are to be
seen the railroad builders, busy al work at
every point. AMI i. ia presGm' ID that ere next
srnmer oar oHn Waiis Wslls will be wed
ded with ire. lands ana the heretofore sup
posed ,.surnoantstis obstacles OF the Blue
Mountains will vanish as if they never ex-
isted.
Everyone over there look upon Walls
Wslls as the only town of importance in the
couatry, and have much better opinion OF
US than many Of our citizens imagine. It's
a good field for on. trade # We only avail
ourselves Of It. The country IS fast settling
up and they will haVe much produce to eZ-
change. For years the Grand Ronde valley
WAS the granary q this interior, and now.
in the nes era last dswniag uPon us. WILL
be very important factor III ssppiy'os as
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