The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-09-15
ROOM FOR MILLIONS
IN FERTILE VALLEY
(Continred from front page.)

mile to a mile. It lies about twelve
EXCEPT one. Their water is too cold
sor fish, and they have lain idle and
useless among the rocks for ages, do
ing nothing but look beautiful and
reflect the graceful shapes of the
,ine trees and the drifting clouds.
The only exec. ton is Lake Wal
Iowa, which lies on the eastern side
Of the mountains at an altitude of
h400 fee, between two high and
Utmost level ridges with a back
ground Of purple peaks. 1t occupies
the entrance Of a heavily timbered
canyon and receiIes the water from
wide area of melting snow that
ZONES dashing down the mountain
sides and many springs which have
cropped out along It's banks. The
AXE is four and half miles long,
IN average Of mile and half wide
md 400 feet deep in several places
where a lead has be III dropped. Peo-
Die have been co Iing here to camp
or many yeas and have built quite
M't,e village of cabins and tents,
18th a 'lancing pavilion, store, a
,itaurant and an ice cream "parlor.'
Jne shore is girdled with a roadway,
md Mrs. Maud Hamilton, an enter
)rising young woman, carries the
Jublic back and forth in gasoline
auncheS.
Lake Wallowa would make an ideal
summer resort a I'D the Oregon Rail-
Dad and Navigation Company Is
'boos ing" a mo enent to build
feature hotel" ike FL Tovar at the
irand Canyon of the Colorado and
Did Faithful Inn in the Yellowstone.
There Is no mountain resort in Ore
,on for inva'id or pleasure seekers
hat would be so agreeable or col-
yenient. 1t would be difficult to
imagine a more attractive pace.
The most intere ting thing about
he lake Is unique fish. 1t will not
bite at any kind OF bait and is caught
~ three hooks tied together at the
end of a pole, which the fisherman
pushes along slyly until he gets
hem in the right position. Then he
'yanks." This is the only way they
can be caught, and even then they
ire never seen except in the fall.
they are supposed to spend the rest
If the year in deep water, out Of
sight.
A full-grown "yank" resembles a
black bass, having a small backbone
md firm white flesh. 1t is from
.welve to fiftee en- inches long and will
weigh from two to three pounds.
Agents of the fish commission at
Washington, who wee sent out here
o make an investigation, reported
hat the "yank' is absolutely unique
ind does not appear elsewhere. The
water OF the lake has been used for
irrigation for a quarter of a century.
rhe farmers organized years ago and
quilt dam and canals to all parts Of
he valley with their own labor and
apital. They have a fall of 25O
eet and their supply will last until
now ceases to fa,l and mountain
,prings run dry. The dam has rails
I'd the water in the lake about two
eet and has covered a sandy beach
It the upper end where the campers
have been in the habit of bathing.
Only cold-blooded people go in, for
The temperature is icy.
There is an opportunity for gene
rating unlimited electric power at the
)utlet Of the Like, and a small plant
With capacity of a few hundred
horse power has already been placed
there to light the town and run a
flour mil. 1t can be extended at a
small expense at any time, but there
Is no demand at pre- sent.
The valley stretches out and broad.
ems until it meets the mountains.
many miles awav-a perfect site for
a great city. with nat Iral drai iage,
abundant water, fertile soil aid
miles from the town of Joseph, owe.
very rough trail.