The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-19

4
OF II being wheat, the rest fruits, veg
etables, live stock. etc. There is every
indication that the later agricultural
methods win gradually double or trebl,
this, Summer following for wheat. FOL
instance, viii not be followed forever;
which Is most wastefll method, and
ruincus for the soil. But a gren foragl
crop, such as corn. sugar beets or other
roots, or arid land vetehes, will be al
ternated with grain.
The fooihill soils OF the Blue noun
tains are stu regarded as perhaps the
best Of the up country These 1t must
be remembered embrace ghree other
counties in Washington, Columbia,
Garfield. and Asoin: Umatilla In one
gon: which with walla walla all form
essentially one agricultural district
with like products and commercial con-
ditions. The wheat production OF
these counties is nearly fifteen million
annually, and their aggregate p,pula-
tion upwards Of fifty thousand These
Blue mountain foot hill people, are per-
haps as Industrious and prosperous as
any In the Pacific Norehwest-it would
be hard to find any more so. anywhere.
Walla Walla, the oldest and most
centrally located city in the area
seems 10 represent the spirit and ideas
OF the whole region, II ls spacious,
with broad streets radlatlng In every
direction to meet the country thor
oughfares. 1t is well built; one may
stand on any business corner and count
dozen or scorN OF two and three
story stone and brick buildings. The
residences, with their ample grounds
and ornamental trees, are both hand
some and homelike. II is undoubtedly
progressive, too. for though the oldest
place Of the upper country, and hav-
iEg seeI, other places spring into cities
as the mining excitements and develop
ments have veered this way or that,
1t has still held its own. and shows no
signs Of decay. but this year much new
building, especially Of residences, is
seen. 1t is evidently broad minded.
Near the city is located the o. r. & n. [
agricultural experiment station. the de-
partment on grasses being now under
Prof. Leckenby, Of the government de-
partnent OF agrotoIogy. II is noted .
also for its intellectual as well as bust
ness endeavors, There are five pub
lie school building, with a high school
and four colleges.
1t is a credit to walla wara that
its great men, OF the early day. are not
forgotten. The big hearted, clear
minded man who first settled in the
valley, nr. Whitman. is memoralized.
both by the granite shaft over his
grave, at Waulatpu, and by the coll
lege, whose immense new building Of
stone and pressed brick is now going
up, and will be, when completed. one
OF the most slightly buildings OF the,
city.
The college itself without reference
to the buildings, is the best memorial.
Il is a gift to the young people-saving
the best Of the past, its heroism and
hope to establish the future Here
they learn the name Of Whitman and
absorb something Of his hearty gener-
osity, and unfailing courage. The city
that remembers its heroes cannot but
productive need not say heroes. but
men worthy Of them, and capable of
performing duty.
An Astorian cannot but wish, not
simply that the historic places around
our own city were marked with monu-
marts as stately as the granite shaft
at Waulatpu, but that some higher
institution, whose object was to endow
the young people with the best OF the
past, might be established at Astoria,
perhaps a Robert Gray college, to,
look over the broad river and harbor
which he founded and gave TO the
union: and If the name proved a re-
ninder cf that other Gray, the COM
nanlon Of Dr. Whitman. the leading
spirit IN forming the famous provision
al government OF Oregon and it's his
torian, and a pioneer Of Clatsop Plains.
It would be all he better. There would
be places, too, in such an establishment
for the figures Of Lewis and Clarke, Of
Rarnie and Latty and Colonel W.
Smith, and the other remarkable men
who made Astoria. A Robert Gray
college at Astoria would seem like
maybe, at Astoria; but not
at Wala Walla, where they have
Whitman college and a Whitman mon
Iment
Perhaps somebody at Astoria will
some time see how much, in many
ways, a good institution Of higher
would be to our place.
PEST AND EXERCISE