Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-09-12

located as 1t is, right OH the banks of
the Columbus river. directly opposite
what is known as the "White Bluffs. :"
These "Blutfs" are of fine white sand
almost as tine as flour. They look like
clouds Of snow after night when the
moon shines on them ind are very
beautiful, but in the full glare Of day
light they are very firing to look at
and the sight soon becomes monoton.
Gus. Father has $50 acres partly I'M
der cultivation. He has a fine orchard
composed of peaches. pears, apricots,
plnms All apples, also nice vineyard.
His land like nearly all parts of this
country requires irrigation. Only y
part of it sGb-irrlgntes itself from the
river. On this land he raises his al
falfa of which he cuts four crops q
year. The vegetables and fruit grown
in this soil are very large and of fine
quality. His orchard, vineyard and
the garden, he waters by the use of q
monstrons water wheel which is so
feet across with SIS buckets on each
side, each bucket holding 1871 gallons
OF water. This wheel is propelled by
the current IF the river. can tell
you it throws big stream of water,
running all the time both day and
night. This water is carried away by
pipes into bitches, distributing it over
the land. The soil is light and loomy
and very productive. must not for
get to tell you about the game in this
country. There Is any amount of it
ducks, geese, cottontails, jack rabbits
and sage hens; fish of nearly all kinds
trout, bass, pike, pickeral, perch and
salmon. l was told of q sturgeon some
fishermen caught here which weighed
over 500 pounds when dressed. Now
this was told me for the truth, IT it
does sound like fish story. Pa has
been in this place some IL years and
l told him he had more courage and
strength than u Samson to accomplish
such an undertaking, for 1t has GER
tainly taken great amount of perse-
verence to go OH to land where moth
ing but sage brush grows and build y
nice home. lie is now 40 miles to his
nearest post office, although they have
surveyed a railroad within six miles of
him aud if u station should be built
hear would make his land very valu-
able, as he could then have way to
ship his produce of which he has plen-
ty-truit. vegetables, hay and cattle.
AS 1T Is now he has no market Cor any
thing he raises. DULY lives we'll him
s,lf and seems to be happy and con-
tented. Well, such is pioneer life, l
suppose, but l don't want to be a
pioneer. We visited 10 days with
father and then started for home
again, this time on q raft down the
Columbia river. only wish you and
Mrs. ID. could have enjoyed this trip
with US for it was one of the most en-
joyable trips / ever had. We started
from White Bluffs and drifted to
Pasco so miles down the river. We
left pas ranch at $3.50 one afternoon
and drifted 10 miles down the river
where we stald all night at what is
known as the "Muir Ranch" AS We
neared the house l noticed heavy,
coarse screening covered the lower
half of the open door way. Thought
that queer sight. l remarked that
didn't think that kind of screens
we're of much force. was informed
that they were made thus to prevent
the rattlesnakes from coming into the
house. 1t is not an uncommon thing
for the housewives on these ranches
to have such visitors as rattlesnakes,
Indians and hungry coyotes, but for
all that they seem to be very happy,
contented people, and was never en-
tertained better than while at this
ranch, everything good to eat, and
you know that suited me all right. ]
AT half past six next morning we pur
sued our journey. The river was
beautiful and there was delightful
breeze. He had quite a large raft
made of heavy cedar and pine logs.
There were seven of us in the party.
We had books, sunshades and nice
places to sit. 1t was a grand ride.
The raft glided along so swiftly and
yet so smootly, we could not tell we
were moving at all only as we watched
the shore. We soon left the White
Bluffs and Black Snake mountains far
behind, and then we cane to the
mouth of the Yakima river, which
was a very pretty sight. 1t was near
this where there is Cable ferry, the
first one l ever saw and 1T was of much
interest to me. On our ride we passed
one canyon where we could get four
distinct echoes from our voices You
could imagine you were in the midst
of flock of msgpies. l must not
forget to tell you of the Indians along
this river. They are shlftless lot
known as the "Moses tribe" They
never stay in one place but short
time, hunting, fishing and roaming
around. On either side of the river
the banks are dotted here and there
with their teepees. They build their
own canoes and 1t seems to me white
man would find 1t difficult to manage
one Of these 1.-the, agile affairs. Yet
the Indian handles them with ease,