, 1889-02-14
FROM wATERvILLE.
Present Progress and Flatteriug Pros
poets In Douglas County.

Present frORTosb anu
poets In Douglas County.
WATEavILLE. w. T.. Jan. 90.
EpIyoR REVIEW: Reports from the
different points in our territory are al
ways read with interest, at least BY some
people, and at this time especially there
are many who are ready to leave the old
home and Its associations and who are
casting about for place to locate and fre-
quentiy End In the letters from cores
poudents where to obtain the very things
they have been looking for. Such being
picture should not be overdrawn. Better
by far the immigrants should find the
country and its possibilities better than
had been represented.
Douglas county has been coming into
notice pretty fast during the last two or
three years; and strangers have the right
to ask, why Is this trueP" In answer l
will say there are several reasons.
First--The great extent OF rich prairie
land, where thousands Of good homes can
be made at very trifing expense, COW
cred with u heavy growth OF bunch Yrass
where cattle and horses can find subsist.
ence until crop Of grain can be grown.
Second--The large area Of land In the
southern part of the county 10 adapted to
the business of stock raising, where the
growth Of grass is heavy and the winters
are Aot so cold nor the SHOWS 80 deep as on
higher portions Of the county.
This large belt of country can never be
used for farming for the reason that II 10
rocky and sandy formation. When the
native grasses are destroyed, which can be
done by Overstocking, the question is,
WHAT nextp IL fruits can be successfully
grown where the weather is much colder,
may not this seemingly sterile country be
the great orchard and vineyard OF Douglas
county? Fruits and grapes are grown
successfully at Wenatchee and other points
on the Columbia river Of about the
same altitude as these grazing lands,
and there does not seem to be any logical
reason why fruits should not grow there
also. IL water should be needed for start
ing the vines and fruit tire o. perhaps
several Thousand acres could be- supplied
from Moses lake. Ii may be that irriga-
tion would not be necessary. think
some parties will prospect this question.
Third The northwestern aud south.
western border of Douglas county 10
washed by the urand Columbia river,
which in the near future will be one OF the
highways OF commerce, where steam pal:
aces will be seen floating, carrying pro.
duce from the farms and mines, connect.
ing with the railroads, and distributing
to the outside where our surplus products
will bring rich returns 10 the hardy pion-
grand country under subsection TO the
weapons of the agriculturist, horti-
culturist, miners and stockraisers. The
miners | refer to are in the OkanoRan
| country, yet they are our neighb0rs and we
expect 10 help them all wa Can. Mei-
chants, too. will feel the influence OF the
great development now making and very
soon to be made in this big Bend
country" and on its borders.
| Il o.,
press surprise at finding the settlers 80
comfortably situated. and apparently 30
coutented and happy-so full OF hope and
so strong in their faith OF the possibilities
| of this country, so rapidly being devel-
oped. Another attractive feature 10 the
measure OF intelligence found among the
pioneers. Those who come now expect
ing to get good homes near Waterville,
our county seat, will do we'll to bring with
which the present occupants rnay be In.
duced TO "move of" and 20 farther back
aad rough 1t again for short time. 1t
is not quite two years since the FIRST
building Ia blacksmith shop) was erected
in WAterville. Now there are 20 busi-
ness houses, 65 residences, "a 9oodly num-
Der of barns and other outhouses, with
some 20 business houses and residences
and other structures in course of con-
1
be erected when spring opens.
The assessments Ut property for 1887. OF
! all kinds taxable was S256, ,056 for 1888
was $3.50. 1885, for 1889. will probably be-
at least 81, $50 900, rate Of taxation 151e
mills.
The population is probably double what
it was one year ago. 1T is estimated now
to be 5000.
Up to January 1, 1889, the number Of
claims filed in this county was 2024, and
the work is going on quite rapidly.
Four townships have for some unex.
thereby greatly retarding progress in them
settlers, some of whom were the very first
ships incident to settling q new country.
finding out who is the cause Of
this delay, and when found the party or
parties will be called upon to explain. We
expect to hear from this very soon.
So far we have had delightful winter,
with more fog than usual. but no very
cold weather.; mercury has been down to
zero three mornings. and snow enough to
make shedding good and making excellent
roads. The people have been utilizing the
opportunities in hauling lumber, timber,
fencing and fuel from Budget mountain.
The entire fall of snow here TO date Is Is
inches, and it is now Is inches on the
level. RICHARD CoRBALEY,
what World We Live In.
Honesty is not possession of any par
tiCular class Ut society. The poor man and
thc rich man 10 claasiHaJ oI;ta M mad