East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-02
ORIGIN OF THE TERM,
"INLAND EMPIRE" a"

Pendleton, Ore. oct. 80 19O6-(To
the Editor )-Numerou inquiries
have been made of me in recent years
respecting the origin of the phrase.
THE Inland Empire" and for that
reason I hand you this communica-
ton, hoping that among your read
ers some one may be found who can
definitely state when the expression
was first used in designating the
great area of country between the
Cascade and Rocky mountains. lying
in oregon, Washington and Idaho.
and from the 42d 20 the 18th parallels
which is now generally referred to as
"The Great Inland Empire"
have a very distinct recollection
of the time when l first heard this ex-
preston. 1t was during a conversa-
ton between Rev. George II. Atkin-
son. II. D., who came around Cape
Oregon City June 16 of that year and
Rev. d. b. Coe. DID. of New York.
in the summer of 1867, in Portland.
These gentlemen had just returned
from a trip to Walla Walla and the
region roundabout. and DR.. Atkinson
was endeavoring to impress DR.. Coe
with the great Importance of the re-
gion lying east of the Cascade noun
tains. and the prospect. from his point
Of view of its affording the oppor-
tunity for homes to countless thous-
ands of persons in the not very re-
mote future.
At this time DR.. Atkinson stoutly
maintained that where bunchgrass
would grow luxuriantly wheat would
grow, and reinforced his views with
evidences which would have been. sat
isfactory 10 the average man. But DR..
Coe was not to be convinced, as it
afterwards proved, because in my
hearing after the interview with DR..
Atkinson, he referred to him as "a
visionary enthusiast"
DR.. Atkinson followed up his con-
victions, however, gathered soils from
the hill country around Pendleton.
Walla Walla. Colfax, Spokane, up in
the Big Bend country, analyzed them,
finding that these soils contained all
the elements for the successful pro-
ductiOn of wheat Then he secured
soils from the most productive re-
gions of Europe, and analyzed them.
Thus he ascertained that the soils
of Oregon, Washington and Idaho
contained all the elements necessary
for the successful production of wheat.
Then he was met by the stockgrower
with the argument that most of the
81 4 n.,I
never could be made to produce wheat
without irrigation. This was met by
DR.. Atkinson with the statement, sup
ported by many experiments, that the
proper cultivation of the soil would
result in securing a good degree Of
moisture, which, added to natural
moisture, would be sufficient to ma
ture the crops.
In this manner he, in large measure,
fought the battle between the stock
raiser and the farmer. During these
years the term INLAND Empire" came
to be used occasionally
do not think the expression came
into general use until 1873. That year
Thomas B. Merry, well known news
paper man of the early days, started
a newspaper at The Dalles, and called
1t "The Inland Empire" 1t did not
live long, but the name became fast
ened to this region, and 1t has been so
characterized ever since.
/ hope some reader Of the East
Oregonian can add to the information
here given, in order that the origin
of the phrase under discussion may
be correctly settled.
GEORGE II. HINES.