The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-09-12
WALLA WALLA VALLEY.
Region Famous for Wheat Fruits, and
Garden Products.
WAIIA WIILA. Waah. Tar.. Is

u change as long as his ticket holds out ana the
train goes on. new road, due here under Goa
tract by Jan. ], 1883, however, will bring closer
traffic arrangements wien the Northern Pacific
10 Puget Sound and the East, project 10 which
the citizens gave "A bonus Of SlOOO0O. The out
look, too, is good for the Manitoba Road which
next year is TO be extended to the coast, coming
from Butte. Montana through Lolo Pass, in the
Rockies along the Clearwater, in Idaho thence
INTO the Palouse country, and 10 the Walla
Walla valley.
According to the Government monument in
the court yard, Walla Walla Is in latitude AS de-
grees minutes S. seconds north, and longitude
Al degrees II minutes and seconds west from
Washington, or lis degrees west OF Greenwich.
The city was laid out liberal scale, with
broad streets, the residence portion being en-
powered In shade trees. There are many pretty
homes and substantial stores and public build
ings, and everything betokens character, sslid-
ity, and wealth. One of the best evidences OF
the prosperity and importance of city is shown
in public improvements. Judged by this stand
ard, Walla Walla makes showing worthy of
older and larger cities. The Court House is the
finest in the Territory, the City Building is
model structure, while the Fire Department is
the crack organization OF the Northwest There
are two electric-light companies, a gas company.
n telephone service, and other modern comforts
and conveniences, and free postal delivery has
been ordered Two companies supply the city
with wal or, coming from springs Of temperature
varying little from forty-tive degrees the year
round Nearly every house has its hydrant, and
cooling streams thread their way along tho
streets The natural surface drainage is into
Mill Greek, a rapid stream of 2 600 iuches, hav-
ing a tail Of sixty-five feet 10 the mile which
furnishes power TO several large roller Touring
mills, a threshor factory IA foundry, and several
other industries but there 10 room for more a
wooden mill il wanted, n pottery, an oil mill, a
soap factory, paper mill, fruit canneriCs, a
jute-bag factory, etc, and fair inducements are
offered all practical enterprises
The people are n unit in local matters, a
board OF trade is on the alert for whatever tends
TO the public good, and information is promptly
given any subject. The GOO people of the
city support three vigorous daily papers, the
Union tnorningl, and the Statesman and Journal
evening publications. What Eastern city OF
equal size can boast of three dai papers? The
religious and educational facilities too are on n
par with larger Eastern places. The Whitman
College, three public schools, two business coll
leges Sisters school, and several private in
stitutions combine 10 give the city the title Of
the Athens OF the Inland Empire
Frontier roughness and rowdyism long ngo
disappeared. On the 4th OF July, wi h 10000
people in the city, no drunkenness nor arrests
maired the pleasures OF the day. No boom pre-
walls Lor is any effort made 20 create one, sim
ply substantial condition of business exists !;
the people pin cir fuith on the perna lent
value OF sound natural growth.
Nothing less than personal inspection can
convey TO the reader the varying beauty OF the
valley of WGlla Walla-"land Of many waters. +"
The mean ANIMAL temperature is ffty-tbree de-
grees, that OF Santa Fe. St. Louis, and Wash
ington. The winter rarely exceeds n month or
six weeks, with occasional low fall OF tenn
perature, and dealers are lucky 10 get ice five
inches thick. Pansies have boon pi ked N tho
open air at Christmas time. Ihc rainfall
throughout this valley is ample and scasonabls,
averaging about twenty-five inches nuuauy.
The spring rains preclude any danger OF dro Ight,
the dry season coming on after the cereal crops
have quite reached maturity. The harVestNEom
July 10 October is usually uninterrupted by
winds or rains, and crops are gene ally ca hered
and marketed from the fields. Grain is sacked
for shipment, and there are no expensive ele-
vator and storage charges. WHEAT and wool
stand the chief staples OF export, more or
less, from all parts of the Pacific Northwest.
The wheat of the Walla Wala Valley is noted
for its superior quality and large yield
The absence OF any failure OF crops since the
earliest settlement of the country and the sue
cessful returns in large yields have not in the
past called for that diversity found necessary in
more uncertain sections. The farmer has sOwn
TO the limit of his see lime without thought OF
fGi ure Besides, where there is more or less
growth OF oats, rye, arl Y, flax, hay, and vege-
tables, with ample yields producers govern the
supply by the oemand Corn does well, while
tobacco, melons, aud sH Get potatoes mature like
indigenous crops
The unfolding OF the timber and mining re-
gions AMI connection with the vast country
through To the great lakes has added an ilnpor-
tant factor TO the agricultural prosperity OF the
Walla Walla region. This relates TO orchard and
garden products, TO green and dried fruits, and
vegetables. Nowhere else east OF the Cascade
Mountains is il possible TO produce so great n
variety Of fruits. Apples, pears, prunes, and
cherries grow unusual size, of the finest
favor, and yield politically. An acre Of pruue
trees, leo in number and seven years old. last
year produced an average of 400 pounds of
brought the owner total of 5000. These
same trees have been bearing since the second
year, nearly all varieties OF trees BEARING the
second year after planting. An acre Will hold
1,OOJ grape vines, each producing from twenty
70 forty pounds. Hot-h house grapes of the Eas L
grow out OF doors here. and come cf the wine
making varieties equal those OF California.
Peaches, apricots, ounces and plums grow in
abundance and excellence. All the small fruits,
berries and currants flourish world without end.
Strawberries have been gathered every month
from ADrU November. Berries pro-
duce a fair crop the same year they are planted,
and strawberries have yielded as high as two
tons TO the acre, and single specimens have
measured eight inches Around Buds, bios
SONS, and ripe apples can be seen on the tree at
the same time, and often so large that twenty
five 10 thirty VIII I'LL n bushel packing
box. Cherries grow RS large as the average
Eastern plum 1t is not uncommon for a tree
TO yield from $50 to $50 worth OF fruit, and when
an acre will contain 1G0 trees il is not hard 70
Approximate the profits. Peas, beans, and
many score staples AM delicacies are found on
the tables Of Walla Walla before the snow ha 8
disappeared from the fields OF New Eng and.
Potatoes yield from 300 to COO bushels TO the
acre, onions fifty tons 10 the acres, and so
on. Isolated until r,cently from easy access o
the great markets, the people have not been able
to profit by ths gen sr1us gifts OF nature. and
familiarity with abundance has bred indiffer-
ence and wasteiuluess
The wheat output of the valley last year was
over 100000 tons, the average being thirtyrfive
bushels To the acre. Instances Of large yields,
the records varying from sixty to seventy-hve
| bushels, are common In every LOCALITY. Inc III
seems adapted to the perfecting OF cereals, and
such is the fecundity that single grain OF wheat
has been known TO send out stool OF fifty or
more stalks, with heads each holding hundred
or more grains or 5000 for l.
In no art of the United S. ates, perhaps, can
so much physical and mental labor be performed
with so lii tie fatigue or discomfort. The air is
invigorating q days never too hot or too cold
to prevent laDor, the nights offer profound hours
OF rest, the water is coed and pure, and health
is insured TO reasonably caref l people The
dryness Of the air renders this sec ion compare
lively free from lung and throat complaints,
rheumatism and flver, and there has never been
an epidemic. The death rate at Fort Walla
Walla for period Of thirty wears has been oniy
6 10 1909, making Il the hcalthiest military post
in the country. The fine climate OF the North
west is due to the winds coming from the Japan
current in the Pacific Ocean.
Three great railway systems are already in the
valley and another line is coming. There is
river transportation. too and the ocean is not
far away. Telegraph ana telephone lines run in
all directions roads mad, bridges built,
and postal and express facilities reach every
point. Manufacturing is developing. and flock
and herds cover the hills AMI mountains. Not
withs landing all that has be en- accCmplis he'd by
the people OF this fine region there is great uIi-
developed future. This valley itself is n domain
capable OF sustaining hun of thousands
more people, and Of unfolding an industrial sys-
tenn second TO no part OF the Republic.
MOSES FOLSOM.
THE annual expenditure of the Sui
a. 80 ,,rlxox,'c horgaho1l =. 14