The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-05
WALLA WALLA LETTER
A Visit to the Ranches of Washington Terri
tory.
Harvesting, Sprague, Climate, Health, john
Chinaman, 'sIndemnity Lands"
Federal Officials, Etc.

W
last letter L have visited some of the farms,
or. as they are called, ranches, in this vicini-
ty. and therefore am a competent witness to
testify to the wonderful produetiveness of
the soil. The principal productions are
wheat and dust; and it has been truly said
that you can't sneeze without it raising
cloud of the latter product. This region is
known by the various names of the finland
Empire" columbia Basin" Eastern
Washington" Eastern Oregon, etc, and is
comprised of all that territory lying between
the Cascade Mountains, the Blue Mountains,
the Cour d. Alene Mountains and range of
mountains on the north running east and
west, near the boundary line between the
United States and British Columbia. per-
son coming by way of the Northern Pacific
Railroad is poorly impressed with the cOun-
try as the road runs along basin of hard
basaltic rock, and ii presents anything but
cheerful view from the car windows. Leav-
ING the main road, however, and coming
into the country, far different view meets
the eve. and where nothing but baroness and
sterility was observed, heavy golden grain
waves you a friendly welcome.
Harvesting Is carried on a grander scale
here than with us and though agriculture Is
said to be in its infancy, while here did not
see a single self-binder. Large headers take
their places and they can be seen in all dl-
rections. The average yield for this year Is
estimated at thirty-five bushels TO the acre,
though several fields in this ncighbOrhood,
from 1900 to $500 acres each, have yielded
forty-five bushels to the acre. | was reliably
informed that one large field had averaged
seventy bushels and three pounds to the
acre; however, doubt the reliability. Why
are these Western people given TO exaggera-
ton? AT Sprague. where we stopped for
twenty minutes. one fellow had the cheek to
tell me that cabbages grew as large as wash
tubs Che undoubtedly had studied human
nature and discovered my fOndneSs for sour
kraut); and in the next breath told another
fellow passenger. who had just. arrived from
the 'ould sod, that 'pertaters'
twelve to fifteen pounds apiece. l
had read of frontiersmen getting the
drop on a tenderfOot, so | did not say any
thing. but my thoughts wandered back to
that sweet old song. peace, be Still"
The great drawback to this country is in
having no better markets. Wheat delivered
at the depot here brings fifty cents bushel.
and farmers are contented with such prices.
The climate is delightful. and though the
days may be oppresSively hot, the nights
are always cool. The average temperature
for the summer is said to be seventy degrees
One day last week the thermometer regis
tered 102 degrees in the shade and that
night heavy blanket was needed TO keep
comfortable In the winter snow falls irreg
ular: last winter il fell to the depth of two
feet, but all at once chinook "a warm
current from the Japan coast came, and in
less than twenty-four hours it was COM
pletely wiped out. Health is generally very
good. What people need here more than
anything else l. capital and men to engage
in manufacturing enterprises. Any person
with capital who intends to engage in
manufacturing can find a profitable invest
ment, and much encouragement will De
given, especially so in wolen mandatory,
as wool is cheap and an abundance of it.
Money brings all the way from y to per
cent. per month. Anyone wishing for in
formation regarding the topography, re-
sources, opportunities and characteristics of
this region in its material social moral and
educational aspects, WILL by addressing DR..
James Braden, L. 5. Receiver Walla Walla,
w. T., receive a circular giving full particu-
lars.
John Chinaman takes the place of the
darkieS, and those not engaged in "much
washee' are generally employed as do
mestics. | happened to pass by "Chinese
row. the other day, and from the smell in
Testing that neighbOrhOod was reminded of
passing near an alley III LOuisville-whew,
smell EN- breff; nothing like it. Yey they
good cooks. They are to the coast what the
negro is TO the South. and perform all the
manual, mental labor. Though both parties
denOunce him and pile their platforms
and ''whereases' and resolves mountain
high. yet they who aIe the lOudest-mouthed
will be the first to turn around and employ
him because he works cheap.
Since / have been here / have made in
quiry in regard to woman suffrage, and opin-
ion is pretty much divided. Most OF those
TO whom have spoken are sorry that il was
ever enacted. Politically, the result is about
the same. As rule the women vote as their
husbands do; or if the unmentionabes are
worn by the better half, vice versa. /, for
my part, during campaign, would rather
set them up to the boys than kiss all the
babies in the neighborhOod.
The decision OF Land Commissioner Sparks
on Indemnity Lands" is giving great deal
OF satisfaction here, and the people feel salts
fled that we have an administration at last
that will protect the rights of settlers The
Northern Pacific Railroad Company have
been resting secure under the report of the
judiciary Committee that Congress had no
power TO forfeit the the unearned lands. The
Democratic party declared for forfeiture, and
upon that issue Mr.. ChaIes S. Voorhees, was
elected to Congress from here. His position so
far has been determination in redeeming the
pledges that secured his election. Ii the
next Congress will be as faithful to our ma
tional platform as Mr.. Voorhees, is TO this
Territory, there is no dOuH that thousan Is
OF acres of the best agricultural land in this
Territory alone will be restored TO public do
main and opened to settlement.
Federal officials in this Territory are
mostly Republicans and, with few excep-
tons, serve their masters instead OF the peo-
pie. / know of one, standing high in the
council of the opposition, who as soon as the
st. Paul Pioneer Press brought the full de-
cision above referred to, hurried off to Port
land with the decision in his pocket, and
there was seen i'm the Office of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, closeted with the
managers, for what purpose can easily be
surmised. Has the n. p. so much influence
with the powers that be to retain those
friendly to their interest in the employment
OF the Government; or is Uncle Sam not
aware how his affairs are conducted out
here? +. J. REINHARD.