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

summary, while IN winter the CHliiy uiasss
rarely reach the protected spots On the
bench lands along the river are many nne
orchards, and the peach, that native OF
milder cline. develops to perfection In
years TO come all the available lands along
the river viii be utilized for orchards. Sc
curing ample supplies Of the most luscious
fruits for home consumption, while there
viii be . sufficient surplus 70 keep in opera
ton immense canning factories, source
of industry that viii give employment 10
many people and at the same time spread
abroad the reputation of Washington.
While there is a vast extent of country
in the Big Bend that will in time blossom
and fructify under the coaxing influence of
cultivation, that is now part of the great
domain of that common kinsman, Uncle
Sam. yet there are portions that can never
be utilized-a barren waste, producing
only meagre crop of grass, in many
places so inaccessible as to be almost out
of reach of even that crag-climbing herbiy-
orous animal, the native cayuse. Still
this small fragment of useless land is not
without its attractions, and some day viii
be looked upon by the traveller as one of
the curious features of the state. We have
reference 10 those two singular freaks of
nature, the Grand and Moses coulees, two
monstTous gashes across the country,
probably hnger marks of the glacier period.
The Grand coulee extends north and south
nearly 100 miles. In places it looks as
though the earth had been rent asunder by
some gigantic CONFUSION. The walls are
perpendicular for hundreds of feet in
height, and the contours of the sides look
as though they would fit together if at
some time mother earth would conclude
by another CONFUSION to close this huge
gap. So precipitous are the walls that the
coulee is barrier TO wagon or railroads,
and there are only three or four places
along its whole length where a crossing
can be made. The most accessible avenue
to the west is the crossing at Coulee City,
where the Northern Pacific has already es-
tablished grade. The approach from the
east at this point Is very gradual, but TO
reach the top of the elevation on the west
side, only distance of six or seven miles,
it has been necessary to zigzag over the
hills, with very heavy grade, for twenty
miles. Moses coulee is an infant in COM
parison with the Grand coulee, still it
stretches out many miles, can be crossed
only at few points. and presents the rug
ged outlines only small degree less strik-
ing than those so conspicuous in the
greater coulee.
CoULEE CITY.
The Big Bend has not been prolific in
the production of towns and villages. Be-
sides Coulee City and Waterville, there are
only few postoffices scattered over the
country, and some of these have devel-
oped no further as hamlets than the build
ing to which the mail is consigned. Cou-
lee City is a new place, its birth following
the presence of the railroad graders. The
omnipresent Western real estate man was
there; town naturally followed. How
ever, Coulee City does not depend upon
the vaporish mouthings of spectators for
an existence, and the place will continue
to spread out and develop into quite an
important city. The territory is amply
large for it to grow, and those who base
their hopes upon its future viii not be dis
appointed.
VAUDEVILLE.
Waterville, the shire town of Douglas
county, is the metropolis of the Big Bend,
and as such will PROBABLY always continue.
As yet it is only small place, the greater
portion of the buildings concentrated on
forty acres, but few towns in the state have
brighter prospects for steady growth. Not
only is its location such as 10 warrant this
assumption, but within its corporate linn
its-for it fourishes under municipal Or
ganization-is class of men wide-awake,
liberal and enterprising, who will enlist
their voice, time and means IN pushing
forward the town. Waterville was origi-
naliy located on government land, and it
is only within the past few days that deeds
have been issued to holders of lots. Con-
fined at nrst to so small fraction of land,
the main town was compactly built, and,
looked at from distance, it presents a far
better appearance than town of like size,
or larger, scattered all over creation
The founders of the town made a
most excellent selection in choosing
the site. 1t is on the center of consider
able stretch OF almost level land, that has
a slight slope to the south, insuring In
time to come excellent drainage. The To-
cation is really picturesque, and if beauty
of natural surroundings can contribute to
the advancement of q place, there is no
reason why Waterville should not take its
place in time among the leading cities of
the state. On all sides thrifty looking
farms reach down 70 the very limits of the
town. The view TO the east is shut out at
little distance by the rolling prairie. On
the south, only short distance of, that
conspicuous landmark of the Big Bend,
Badger mountain, reaches an elevation
many hundred feet above the plains. 1t is
q long, rambling backbone, beginning at
the Columbia river and working it's way
across country in southeasterly direction.
The west end of this ridge is covered
with a growth of pine timber. 1t is the
only timber in the Big Bend, and without
its presence today there would not be a
dozen settlers in the country. Its forests
are taxed to supply fuel, fencing and
building material for miles and miles
around. 1t seems as If kind Providence
had supplied this isolated woods Just to
make it possible for human beings to
occupy this choice country. On the west.
and stretching TO the north as far as the
eye can reach, is the Columbia range of
mountains, that sweep westward in con-
tinuous pillows, until they mingle with
the Cascade range, their green-cIad tops a
foil for the snow-crowned peaks of the lat
ter mountains. Whether clothed in the
virginia. purity of winter robes, rejecting
back the iridescent rays of the sun, or
darkling purple in the unbroken stretch of
evergreen woodland the view must be
seen TO De fully appreciated. But aside
from its vantage on the score of natural
location, Wateryille can found its hopes
from commercial point of view. Ii is
the center OF q large territory that will al
ways De tributary 10 it. The agricultural
resources in its immediate vicinity are rety-
resented by thousands of acres. Il is re-
mote from other TOWNS and fs hive h~,,,,,.hs