Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-09-16
ROOM FOR MILLIONS
IN FERTILE VALLEY
(continr ed from front pageJ

a mile to a mile. 1t lies about twelve
miles from the town of Joseph, over
a very rough trail.
All OF these lakes are uninhaDited
exce-t one. Their water is too co!o
for 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
pine 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
400 fee, between two high and
almost level rilges with a back
ground of purple peaks. 1t occupies
the entrance of a heavily timbered
canyon and reef es the water from
wide area of melting snow that
comes dashing down the mountain
sides and many springs which have
cropre1 out along its banks. The
lake is four and half miles long,
an average OF mile and ha.f wide
and 400 fee. deep in several places
where a lead has be IN dropped. Peo-
ole have be IN coming here to camp
D.. many years and have built quite
| little village of cabins and tents,
with dancing pavilion, store,
restaural ut and an ice cream "parlor." J"
)ne shore Is girdled with a roadway,
and Mrs. Maud Hamilton, an enter
prising yong woman, carries the
public back and forth in gasoline
| aunche3.
Lake Walloya would make an ideal
summer resort I'd the oregon Rail-
.old and Ma, gait IN Company Is
'boos ing" a mo enent to build a
feature hotel" like Ell Tovar at the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado and
Did Faithful Inn in the Yellowstone.
There Is no mountain resort in Ore
son for inva ids OF pleasure seekers
hat would be so agreeable or col-
venient 1t would be difficult to
imagine a more attractive pace,
The most intere ting thing about
the lake is a 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 gats
them 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 res
Of the year in deep water, out of
sight.
A full-g!own "yank" resembles a
olack bass, having a small backbone
Ind firm white flesh. 1t is from
twelve to fifteen inches long and will
weigh from two to three pounds.
Agents of the fish commission at
Washington, who were sent out here
o make an investigation, reported
chat the "yank' Is absolutely unique
Ind does not appear elsewhere. The
water of the lake has been used for
irrigation for quarter of a century.
The farmers organized years ago and
QUILT dam and canals to all parts OF
he valley with their own labor and
apital. They have fall of 250
'eet and their supply will last until
snow ceases to fall and mountain
springs run dry. The dam has rails
ed the water in the lake about two
eet and has covered a sandy beach
1t the upper end whe the campers
nave been in the habit of bathing.
only cold-blooded people go in, for
the temperature is Icy.
There IS an opportunity for gene
rating un!imite1 electric power at the
outlet of the lake, and a small plant
with capacity of a few hundred
morse power has already been placed
there to light the town and run a
Hour mil 1t can be extended at n
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 away-a perfect site for
great city, with natural drai,ag.