The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01

Ia fs70 ". s. Gillian had q bearing orch
ard Of apples, PEACHES, plurns, rrunes and
cherries N, in his ranch on Dry creek.
In The came year ]. " Cove and
ID. ". lessee set out their orchards and be-
gan experimenting IN fruit raising. Every
thing grew 10 perfection There we're no
insect pests. the climate vas just right, and
the soil. with OF without irrigation, Of the
finest on earth. Gardens we're planted and
yielded prodigiouAly. Small fruits and
berries grow in Wild Inxnriance. Grapes
are as luscious as those Of California.
Strawberries ripen the first week in May.
On the warm graveIly bottoms, with plenty
Of irrigation, several crops are raised IN
each season, and all are marketed at
handsome profit. The industry has as
sumed snch proportions that organization
has been found necessary 10 handle
the crops. and the walla WsIla Fruit
Growers Association has recently been
formed TO further this end. The fruit and
garden belt Of WaIIa Walia extends from
west Of the city, at about Whitman sta
ton, across the valley TO the Oregon hills,
taking in Milton, skirts the foothills OF
the Blue mountains and incIrdes the Dry
Greek valley. One Of the needs Of the
county Is practical gardeners and orchard
lists TO develop these two great industries
The belt here described includes only that
part Of the county which is peculiarly
adapted 10 raising very early crops, sppar-
emily having climate all its own
HORSES AsD CATTLE.
Walla WaiIa Is the natural home Of the
horse. Colts mature as early as In Cali
fornia, and have better bone and muscle
than either California or Kentucky. This
important fact is fast becoming known TO
horzemen. The WzIIa WaIla Valley Con-
soiidated Agricultural Society has the
finest mile track in the North west, and at
its annual fair may be seen colts represent
ing such celebrated strains Of blood as the
Jay Bird, William L., Bedouin-Suitan,
Meredith, Belifounder, NutEood, Caution
Eiectioneer, Wilkes and others. All that
the horse requires 70 attain equine per-
fiction is found In abundance here The
same is true Of cattle. All the thorough
bred strains are well represented. The
hne horses and cattle and beautiful homes
are the pride Of WaIIa WaIIa
Is AND ARoUSD THE CITY.
Walla Waila city has a population Of
500. 1t has most desirable site, sloping
sixty feet TO the mile, gravelIy soil and
perfect drainage. It's healthfulness is IN
surpassed, no native malaria, no marshes
Or sfagnant water. Its clear, cold, rnount-
ain spring water Is the delight Of every
visitor. Its altitude, 100 feet, is Just
right; its climate, healthful. II has no To-
cal diseases. It's markets are not equaIled
for good things 70 eat, nor for eheapness.
Ii has beautiful homes, green lawns and
flowers all the year round. 1t has churches
for all the orthodox. and a prosperous lib
erai society. Its educational institutions
are Whitman college, High school, two
cornmodious public school buildings, with
100 pupils. st. Paui's school for girls, the
Sisters school for girls, and st. Patrick's
academy for boys and an excellent busi-
ness college. There is also a very lively
school for the heather Chinese in success
full operation. It has two building and
loan societies, local and national. both
doing good work. 1t is rich, moral, and
happy.
Municipal improvements during 1880
were very marked Many new streets
were opened and graded. 4 public school
building, costing $4,000, was built. Brick
and pressed brick and stone business
blocks, with frontage Of 1909 feet, we're
dences erected at cost Of $4,000 The
city has but one insignificant indebted
ness. and its tax rate is very low. A large
and handsome industrial exposition build
ing viii shortly be completed, and will be
used TO advertise the productions and re-
sources of the country.
The city is lighted by the arc electric
lights, and very complete incandescent
plant is being put into the private resi-
dences and business houses, supplanting
gas in many instances. The question of
pctt:ng in a complete system OF sewers is
being agitated, with good prospects of
acceptance by the people. Walla Walla
presents a fire illustration Of constant
growth and permanent prosperity with
out the stimulus Of adyentitious causes,
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Nalla Walia county is one Of the small
est and wealthiest counties in the state.
Its population is 1900, and its assessed
wealth in $50 was sl0,045, III, an increase
over the assessment of lss9 OF s., 2lI, 75s.
The development of the agricultural
lands of the county was very great during
the past year. The Oregon & Washington
Territory railroad completed its lines
through Eureka Flat and opened I'D an
immense wheat country which was form
erly too far from market. The same road
has also created large business in ship
rnents Of -four, other millstuffs, feed. cattle
and vegetables 10 the cities of Seattle, Ia
coma and other Puget sound points, and
the better prices obtainable at Sound points
for wheat has given that road the bulk of
the shipments from competitive points
and created a feeling of mutual depend
ence and cooperation between the two
great divisions of our state
The completion Of the Spokane branch
of the Union Pacific railroad opened I'D
most desirable market in the Falls CITY
and the Cpur d'Alene country for orr
fruits and vegetables, besides giving us di-
rect communication with the great Pa
louise country and its prosperous cities.
Although Walla Walla is an s1old
county" there yet remain within her lin
It's many thousand acres of good govern
ment lands and railroad lands awaiting the
settler. The attention of Immigrants de-
string homes outside of city limits is called
20 this county and It's many striking al.
vantageS as place TO build home where
all the comforts of life and many of itx
pleasures can be had at the least labor ard
the least cost. II. 5. BLASDFoRp.