Year: 1878

C0rreSpo0donce.


ELLENsBuRG, Dec. 25th, 1877.
To THE EDrroas OF rHE DIsPArcH


It is essential that you should
know something about our valley;
and SO 1 propose to chronicle the in
cidents, big and small which have
transpired in this neighborhood for
some time past. Winter has fairly
settled upon us; the atmosphere is
very calm, which makes the cold
bearable. As it is it cannot compare
in severity and violence to our East
ern winters. The snow is about 4
inches deed all over the valley, and
much deeper in the mountains.
Last fall and summer quite an addi-
ton has been made to our popula-
ton, new houses are going up every
where, and every available spot is
fast being taken up by new comers.
1 need hardly tell you that / am an
enthusiastic supporter of the bill
giving aid to the Seattle and Walla
Walla railroad. Some of our most
intelligent citizens entertain the same
view. Seattle, and Seattle alone ia
the place We look to as our future
market. King and Yakima counties
are united in q community of inter-
ests which cannot fail to be seen
by those who have the welfare of the
Territory at heart; a railroad across
the mountains would interfere with
no interests, disturb no business re-
lations, but would place the counties
through which it would pass in q
position of independence and pros
perity hitherto unknown. We
would then cease to pay tribute to
Oregon, and business hereabouts
would receive healthful COMPETE
ton which would allow every man
a chance to live. Strange as it may
seem, however, some men in this
valley strenuously oppose any and
all schemes calculated to dispel the
torpor that for SO long has settled
over this section. They see with
alarm the threatening advance of
the iron horse; their weak eyes, used
to obscurity, blink at the dawn of
day, and eagerly seek the welcome
shades of night. To them, well cul-
tivated fields. good roads and bridges,
school houses and churches, busi-
ness, capital and immigration are so
many evils which should be averted
by all means. The whistle of To-
comotive would throw them into epi-
leptic fits. Their argument. and OBJ
jections are peculiar, and to be can
did, logic. With capital, immigra-
ton and the settlement of the coun-
try, grass will get scarce for their
cows; therefore let the mighty wave
of civilization fall powerless on our
hills; let them turn back and stop in
its onward march; let the thousands
of homeless workingmen looking to
this Territory as the future scene Of
their labors turn away from us, SO
that our cows and bulls can have
more grass. Another objection is
the increased taxation. These very
men would protest most energetically
on an increase of S. on their tax,
and twice a year they travel $50
miles to The Dalles, which trip no
one could be hired to make for $50.
This is the stupenduous logic to
which we are treated.


The Territory has reached the
most important crisis in its history;
there is danger in weakness and hes
itation. Seattle must connect with
Walla Walla before the Northern
Pacific. If it fails in this then I au-
CUR that the south western section
of this Teri itory may seek annexa-
ton to Oregon. This calamity would
leave us crippled and dismembered
and retard our progress for q long
period of time. Send ms some Of
your best speakers; strike the iron
while it is hot. No finching nor
tagging.


I receive the DISPATCH regularly,
and I consider it is in all respects q
first class paper. I would not be
without it. L.