The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-19
WALLA WALLA HEALTHET AND PRETTEsT TOWN IN THE STATE

est settlers OF the Waiia WaIia
valley have declared the past
~ year to have been n most pecu-
liar che. In that climatic condi-
ticns have undergone a decided change.
he unusual cold winter. with It's
marked eject CT growing grain, the
COLO. wet spring. the hot winds Of June,
and the heavy rains at the beginning OF
harvest, all combined TO cas-. q gloomy
shadow over the valley. The position OF
the farmer was huniliatinz In the ex-
IRENE, repetition OF the fall OF 1855 was
feared, and a general failure OF crops was
expected But the unexpected happened,
anG farmers we're more frightened than
injured, and with sill the droughts, un-
kindly and unsimely rains Of this season
q boantifuE harvest has been waIIa
Walla's reward. A crop failure In this
valley Is unknown 70 the oldes. !nhab-
itants. and IT Is to this reason that the
Walia is mainly attributed
Description of the City.
Situated In beautiful valley. over
Swallowed by the Blue mountains I'm the
east. and margined by the Columbia river
on the west. bearing the same name, is
TIE city OF Walla Waila. the garden city
OF washington The city has over 10. GO
inhabitants. and the county about 5000
The assessed valuation, on a basis less
thafi ~ Per cent OF cash value. Is In round
numbers S9o.G0. thus making walla
Walia county one Of the richest on per
capita valuation, In the United States
The population OF the city and county
has increased nearly 1850 within the last
two years.
Many New BuildInxs Go Up.
With this perceptfble increase a remark
able building boom has also been appar-
ent. Within the past year nearly 500. 900
has been expended for building purposes
the Whitman college buildings costing
$50. the Sharpstein school. $50 600. the
Gihert-Hnat shops. 80 900; Hotel Dacres.
ses,s5: Jayeox block. SO. $50: new fam
ming mill 10000: a new brewery. So 600:
new Waiia wafia hospital. s7.go be-
sides other buildings and many pretty
and substantial residences. numbering
nearly 200 BESIDES these many improve
ments. the city Is now considering the
purchase OF city water system, with the
view Of installing a system OF sewerage
Educational Facilities.
As an educational center waila walia
IL becoming famous. Among the educa-
rlonai Institutions are n first-elass high
school and intermediate school St. pauls
school. St yincents academy. Waila
Waiia college and Whitman college
Walia Waila college. an Advent institu-
ton. Is located on a pretty site about
mile west of this city. The main build
ing Is large and beautiful brick. while
the other halls are neat and substantial
The college has over s0o students. and IL
I'm n prosperous condition. Whitman coll
lege. named In honor OF the hero. saint
and martyr, Marcus Whitman, Is one of
the leading educational Institutions In
the Northwest. 4 new era for the col
iege will begin with the completion of lts
two new buildings. which are now almost
ready fer occupancy. The college year
opened September lS. with an enrolment
one-tfjrd larger than ever before. the
number Of students now being ITS, with
the prospects OF much larger attend
ence. The splendid administration hail.
about the size Of the main building Of
the University OF Washington, Is the gift
OF DR.. u X. pearsona. Of Chicago. who
has already shown himself 20 be the gem
erous benefactor of the college The dor
nlitory IL named Billings hail. In memory
~ parmiy and Enrich Billings. Of New
Yerk city, sons OF the late Frederick Bill
lings former president of the Northern
Pacific railroad Its cost. furnished. IL
about SEQ, 600 Roth buildings are OF cream
cniored Seattle pressed brick and Tenino
sandstone
Center Of Rich Agricultural District.
walla walia has almost become a syno-
nyrn for agriculture. and It's fame as rich
agricultural district ~ established through
out the farming world. It's rich loamy
soil. OF volcanic origin. is measured rather
by feet than by inches. and therefore It's
proiueslveuess IS !nexhaustibIe. In the
foofhii district, east Of the city. tire soil
reaches 10 depth OF many feet, and It is
not uncommon to hear OF wheat yields
averaging from Atty 70 sixty-ilve bushels
per acre Summer following Is sim ad-
hered to by the old settlers, bat the system
Is gradually growing less prevalent Soil