The Indianapolis journal., 1884-02-01
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
Something About the Climate, Sell, and Pro-
ductions of This Far Western Land
Correspondence Of the India napoiis Journal

Correspondence of the India napefis Journal.
WALLA WALLA, Jan. 20.-What kind of a
country is thisl Washington Territory is more
than twice as large as Indiana. The Cascade
range of mountains run nearly north and south,
dividing it nearly equally into western and
eastern Washington. The western division is
nearly all timber land the greater portion of
which is hilly, and rough and rocky; but there
are large bottom lands that are smooth and rich
The timber consists of fir, cedar, tamarac, and
all species of pine. Some of this timber will
make saw-logs from two to five feet in diameter
and from forty to eighty feet without a
limb. Sawmilling is a large business in
this portion of the Territory. Along the
coast of Puget sound they are working large
coal mines and upon both sides of the Cascade
mountains will be found coal, iron ore, gold and
silver. Puget sound waters and the Columbia
river supply twenty-five large fish-canning
adjustments, which afford employment to a
large number of workmen, and yield large in
come to this country. In the western division
there numerous farming districts, that
grow nearly all kinds of grain and vegetables and
fruit.
Eastern Washington is made up of prairie and
timber. The timber is confined mostly to the
sbedns, put Is not n1st-claSs TIMBER, nor is the
soil firstclass. The prairie is composed of hills,
bluffs, slopes and plains Two-thirds of the
surface can be titled Some hilly portions are
too steep and rough for cultivation The soil is
as varied as the surface, and is entirely different
from anything seen east of the Missouri river.
One writer describes the soil as being 'decom-
posed lava" which conveys no correct idea of
the soil. Another speaks of it as an ''ashy
loan" which, perhaps, is better term. The
color is ''greyish drab," and the texture or CON
slstenee is a very fine powder, almost unpalpa-
bic. The chemical characteristic is strongly
alkaline. The soil is productive and, what is
singular, the more the ground is turned over and
cultivated the more productive it becomes The
third and fourth crops are always much larger
than the first and second. The natural growth
on these prairies are the bunch grass and sage
brush. Where the bunch grass grows the soil is
considered better although all of the lands yield
well under proper cultivation.
Wheat is the great crop. Oats, barley, timo-
thy, clover and millet grow finely. Farmers do
not regard the wheat crop good under thirty
bushels to the acre, and numerous instances are
cited where fifty bushels have been harvested
from each acre. Generally the seasons are too
dry for corn. Vegetables and fruits and berries
grow finely | have never seen finer potatoes
grow than here.
The climate is mild in winter; the thermometer
has to0ched zero once only here this winter.
Generally the thermometer has ranged from 200
to 350 during the night, and from 30o to eao dur
ing the day. Almost every week we have the
benefit of the warm sea breeze, called the
chinook Winds" which viii carry the ther1nom-
eter up from 200 to 56o in six hours time. We
very seldom have a ''blizzard" here and
during the warmer seasons of spring,
summer and fall very seldom have
thunder storms. Hurricanes and cyclones
are unknown here. One unpleasant feature of
the summer here is the dust. The long dry
summer creates immense quantity of dust
out of the fine light soil, which dust is carried
up into the atmosphere with every moving
wheel or disturbing hoof. The only drawbacks
70 INV 41o-
and timber in some localities. The rainfall from
May to October is very light.
The bunch grass already spoken of is the great
prairie grass 1t grows in punches tufts
from six to fifteen inches in height, and attains
its growth by July, and then begins to cure, as
the grazers say here 1t soon ripens and turns
to a dry, sere color, but seems to retain
its sweet nutritious juices in a dried state, and
the seeds are held in closed tough hull OF cap,
during the entire winter season, until new
growth begins with the next season. This
seed is very nutritious Large herds of horses
and sheep are kept the year around on this grass
without feed or shelter. Cattle do well In sum
mer but during SHOWS they will not paw away
the snow, as horses and sheep will paw this
grass and they require more feed and care dur
ing winter. farmer can sell everything he
raises, and can buy everything he needs. The
mild air is healthy diet for the lungs-and for
the region just below All food and and drink
especially drink-are in ample supply. The
cost of groceries, hardware, and dry goods is
Government lands for settlers are abundant
Anyone desiring to go into timber to make a farm
had better go west of the Cascade mountains
Those preferri ng to make farms out of prairie
land can find plenty of land east of the Cascades
Those desiring to go into stock-raising don't
need any land.
Are there any Indians there2
There ares several Indian reservations in the
Territory, and the Indians guard their grounds
jealously, but disturb no one outside or inside
unless it be some gross intruder The chiefs
have their herds of ponies and CATTLE
but there is not one-hundredth
part of their reservations used by
them. Indians fight Indians as often as they do
white. Here we have splendid military gar
rson of four hundred cavalry under Gen. Miles,
but their services have not been called for since
IT. and no Indian outbreak is feared here. There
are less than 10000 Indians in the Territory.
The people in this county are intelligent and en-
prising and clever. If you could see the large
number of New York papers and magazines,
received at this Office, as we'll as the able papers
of this country, you would at once conclude that
these people are great readers and so they are.
We read the full account of the unveiling of the
Morton monument in our papers the next
day. With our railroad, telegraphs, schools,
churches. gas and water works, magnificent
stores and factories and banks we ought to be
happy and so we are. j.