The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-31

territory. and undoubtedly would be
battling yet but for the missionary,
stockman and farmer. The Jesuits
were the first missionaries to enter
this field. They came in company and
conjunction with the Hudson Bay
company at an early date. Dr. Mar
Gus whitman and his brave followers
landed at WaIla WaEla about the mid
die nf the '3os Their advent was the
real beginning of agricultural develop
ment If the Inland Empire. which un-
dnubte1iy owes its existence under the
American flag to the untiring efforts
of that noble pioneer. who finally.
with his entire family. gave up his
life that his followers might in
habit the land.
NO more historic spot may bc
found west Of the Rockies than i'm
the beautiful valley of the Walla
Walla. with its city and college, and
modern business establishments. fields
Of golden grain. orchards Of luscious
fruit, and a water course lined with
eSer-changing decidupus trees. There
in the valley uf peace. progress and
plenty will be found q marble slab.
and Oh the knoll near II shaft which
tells the inspiring story Il the paSscr-
by:
Stars and Stripes.
AN hail tn the man who saved this
great northwest To the stars and
stripes and At a time when the Ore
gon could hear no sound save its own
dashing"'
THE coal and iron deposits of the
Inland Empire are In the Cascades
while lead, silver, copper and gold
are in the west slope OF the Rockies.
chiefly in Idaho and the northern pars
of Washington. The annual proauc-
ton, including the boundary country
is estimated ut sia,cO0 400 THE great
est known body of white pine timber
In the world Is almost wholly in
northern Idaho. near Spokane, and
there are also immense quantities oi
yellow pine. iareh and fir. spruce ana
ether timber In northern Idaho. the
eastern borders Of Washington and
Oregon and In the Cascades Cruisers
report that the standing timber is a
matter If about 3so.0enooo. 900 feet. or
enough. If cut into commercial !um-
Der. To house 20 per cent ~ the ma
ton.
| .fhc Inland Empire has been called
The Land Of a Thousand Lakes
Occur d'Alenc, Pend d'Orcille and
Priest lakes are iii northern Idaho.
I and there are scores Of lesser ones
I in northeast Washington. with Okla
hogan lake dividing itself between us
and British Columbia ut the north.
There H. also the picturesque Lake
Cheian, nestled in the east slope of the
Cascades. with lofty mountains on
/ both sides. presenting Il series of
oceanic views not equalled by the
\ famed Alps. Lake chelan probably is
/ the only body If water on this cnntl-
! nent which has a glacier on one end
and dozens If well developed apple or
| ehards on the other.
+ Little Progress.
Little progress was made in farm
/ ing during the first half century of
settlement in the northwest. Here and
there would be found a husbandman
| of faith and courage who planted a
/ few fruit trees or vines and gave them
/
man who wanted some grain planted
along the valleys and more promising
I places. These early paintings were ri
| great moment. for the results obtained
encouraged others. and thus, step by
step. there was gained knowledge
IA Ia what could be done. AT the
close nj the first 30 years. TOR about
4, 1850. probably not a million bushels III
grain WAS grown. Soon afterward. on
April Is. 1881. the Northern Pacific ran
Its first train into the then little vii
lasa of Spokane Falls and IL months
later ii Was connected with the east
by the completion of the through line
between the great lakes. the Missis-
sinpi river and Puget sound. The ad
vent Of the railroad gave encourage
ment Ia the settlers but the country
Was new and progress slow.
There was fairly good agricul,
tGral production by 1880, and then
came the disastrous panic OF Isg2~3,
which retarded operations, and there
was no real increase until the great
crop OF 1897. However crops had
been quite good from 1880 To 1892. and
prices satisfactory The farmers had
Il large crop, but continued rains
which set in about the middle ri Sep
TENDER. after most III the grain was
i'm sacks ar warehouse. dampened tho
grain Ia such AN extent that probably
not 10 exceed 10 per cent ri its real
value WAS realized. | saw thousands
upon thousands Of sacks aE grain rot
where IL had been piled in the open
after threshing. The grain stored In
warehouse or grauary Jared but littlt
better. Farmers had been lavish III
expense that year. most uf them buy.
ing even their butter, eggs. bacon ami
other staples. so that the loss If NJ
entire crop after 1t MAS in the sach
WAS "A staggering blnw. Damaging fal
rains had never been heard OF by even
the oldest settlers. The crop was lost
and the panic WAS an In dead earnest
\ smaller acreage MAS sown in 1884
and the harvest Was the iightest il
history. Fine wheat Was sold al 4
cents a husheI, and very little went a