The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-14
IRRIGATION IN DOUGLAS COUNTY.
Difficult to Get Water Owing to Alti
tude and the COulees.
From a Census Bulletin.

tude and the COulees.
From Census Bulletin.
Douglas county is a trifie east Of the center OF
Washington, aud comprises q large part Of the
area known as the Big Bend country. 1t Is
bounded on the north, west and partly Oh the
south By the Columbia river, which, rs before
stated. describes roughly a great semicircle in
this part OF the state, cutting deeply into the
nigh plain or plateau formed by the lava sheets
which cover Eastern Oregon and Washington.
The surface OF the country as a whole falls
gradually from north to south, aud is deeply
cut by steep-walled raviaes, or coulees, as these
are locally known. OF these Grand and Moses
coulees are the most important, bott traversing
the northern half of the county diagOnallF from
northeast to southwest The former begins on
the Columbia near the east line OF the county
aud continues for about fity-five miles toward
Badger mountains The walls OF this chasfn arc,
according to the report OF Lieutenant Symons,
about $50 feet high, and are nearly perpehdicu-
lar, being broken down in only one place about
hall way of its length. At eome places the
coulec reaches width of nearly four miles, and
in others becomes quite narrow. The ncarly
level bottom is about 1000 feet above the
Columbia river. The soil in many places is
rich, but crops can not be produced without
irrigation.
F Moses coulee is from twelve to fifteen miles
west of Grand coulee and lies nearly parallel
with 1t. Between the two is high land with
rich soil, producing good crops wherever Guilt
waited. The difficulty OF procuring water for
stock and domestic purposes has, however, re-
tarded the settlement of this area. West of
Moses coulee and between it and Columbia
river is another area of high land, on which are
most OF the farms OF the county. This Is well
adapted for agriculture in every respect save
that of water supply. On these high grounds
crops IRE less liable to be injured by frosts than
OH the lower lands. and there il probably q
greater amount of moisture in the SOIL 80 that
wheat, oats, rye and barley, aud even some fruit
trees. thrive and produce abundantiy. The
early settlers tried the low lands first from the
supposed better facilities for water, but soon
discovered the great natural advantages
OF the higher grounds, both in possessing more
moisture and in freedom from alkaii. In many
cases, however, they are compelled to bring
water for long distances for household use dur
ing the summer. All the higher lands are
farmed without irrigation, but on the low lands,
both along the Columbia river and in the cou1
lees, owing to the intense heat OF summer moth
ing can be raised unless watered.
The southern half OF the county is lower and
less fertile, having almost the character of a
desert. Apparently the droughts are too severe
for the cultivation of cereals, and the pas
turage 10 comparatively poor. There are
low lands along the Columbia river
above Priest rapids to which water
uiSuI poSsloiy INC OIougHt from tHe COi6 molas
although requiring considerable expenditures.
Wherever these lower lands can be brought
under irrigation by water from some spring or
small stream the yield of the various crops is
enormous, and it has been found that all the
grains and fruits of the temperate zone reach q
high degree of excellence. As yet the country
Is sparsely settled, few farmers having been
there for more than four or five years, and the
water facilities have been SO poor that irriga-
ton has made little progress. There are few
creeks in the country, and these, like the Column
bia river, flow in deep gorges, SO that their
waters can be used only on the frineing bottom
md