The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-06-04
A PORTION OF WASOO.
A Buggy Ride Through the Fertile
Region Between The Dalless and
WapinitIa.

/
t In company with Hon. NJ. P. Isenberg,
+. of Hood River, we took drive to the little
, town of Wapinitia Saturday. Leaving The
r Dalles at half-past s, the town of Dufur was
reached soon after 10 o'clock, and the signs
OF thrift and progress were astonishing to
behold. The spires of two beautiful
churches indicate the religious sentiment of
the people, and handsome residences, en-
: powered i'll shade trees and gardens
adorned with plants and flowers give evl-
dence of home comforts and permanency.
This is in the center of large farming
country, and is destined to be a commercial
point of considerable Importance. 1t is
named after the family of Dufurs, well
known all over the state and three gener-
ations of whom are represented. The old
gentleman, A. j. Dufur, Sr, is still hale
and hearty, and full of smiling good nature,
which make old age. like the afternoon rays
of the sun, more attractive, warm and
genial, than the rosy tints of early morn.
The leading merchants are the Johnston
Bros, who are active, enterprislng business
men, and who always succeed IN everything
they undertake. Hon. G. w. Johnston was
a member of the legislature last session
from Wasco county, and his record is some.
thing of which anyone might well be proud.
The public school is under charge of Prot.
Aaron Frazier, one of the best educators in
Wasco county, and by his management this
has been a great factor of development
Mr.. w. H. Brooks, the editor of the Dis.
patch, was absent from town, we presume,
on an errand OF mercy. His paper is the
exponent of the town, and is firmly estab.
| lished in the community. After shaking |
hands with M. J. Anderson, our Keno"
correspondent, one uf the raciest writers |
who ever used pencil, we drove through
country that was waving on every side with
grain fields green with the promises of a
bountiful harvest, until we arrived at
the little hamlet of Kingsley. And
here, in the store of Mr.. Robert Kelly
we shook hands with old friends, among
whom were E. L. Boynton, John Roth, p.
DOitOus alcA hCLcOu duu ". w Dlr.
Moore, the Democratic candidate for Joint
representative, was interviewing his farmer
friends, and making political hay while the
harvest was ripe. The little village is In
the center OF a very rich gram belt, and
crops have never been known to fail. Par
taking of bountiful repast, served by Mrs.
Boynton, who Is a caterer Of WELL known
ability, we journeyed on until we came to
with snall.hke alacrIty. The condition of
the road was such that Hank Monk would
have hesitated before beginning the descent.
Far different from this is the new road now
being constructed under the supervision of
Mr.. 7. ). DRYER, and the grade, as far as
completed, Is equal to any in Eastern Ore
gon. Mr.. DRYER Is a road builder in the
fullest sense of the term, and when he is
through there will be no objections to haul
ing any load of produce up Tygh hill. He
Is doing his work honestly and quickly, and
the thoroughness of it is compliment
ary to him and matter of which the people
may well feel proud. Tygh road will no
longer be dread to the farmers of Wasco
county; but will be as easily travelled as
any mountain thoroughfare in the state.
After driving through the beautiful mead
ows and farms in Tygh valley and stopping
few moments at the village to shake hands
with e. M. Vanduyn and William Cantrell,
we climbed White River hill, and was soon /,
spinning along at rapid rate over the al
most boundless plain known as Juniper
Flat. Here there are thousands of acres, 8
level as floor, of rich, luxriant soil. AL
ready several have made their homes in this
choice agricultural region, and when the .
scheme of irrigation Is successful it will be !;
the garden spot of Eastern Oregon. Two :.
hours drive over fine road, end we halt at
Wapinitia, formerly known as Oak Grove. !
Farms, horned.cattle and sheep, furnish the !,
lucrative means of employment.
A school house-the palladium of our hb-
and store, two hotels and Z
/ blacksmith shop constitute the village;
but In the march. OF progress we expect to
zee one of the prosperous towns OF Wasco :,
county situated here. In the evening we
preached a short sermon from the gospel of
and was followed by Mr.. Isen-
oerg in one of his brightest efforts. The
audience was attentive and enthusiastic in
avor of Republican principles, and we be- a.
ieve the seed sown will bring forth good "
ruit on the 9th of June. After an agree Z
lble conversation with our old friends Mr. 81
}. G. Blackely and Mr.. o. L. Paquet we
'etired tor the evening, and next day Il
cached tbe Dalles. Mr.. Isenberg met Il
With an old relic of Burks county, Penn r
ylvania, in the possession of Mr.. o. L. Pa q
iuet, and this was a constant and pleasant b
to HIM during his journey d
He is much attached to Penn f,
ylYania and anything that reminds him Of a
lome aud its environment is a source OF K
'omfort and an ever-abiding joy. As o
raveling companion Mr.. Isenberg is the "
prince of good fellows, and when facing a z
vest wind and an Eastern Oregon dust Il
torn, his ever ready with and never k
ailing anecdote would brighten the gloom t,
# surrounding difficulties. Long may he r,
i've and prosper, and never fail to vote the n
Republican ticket. al