Walla Walla County, Washington - Chapter 14: Tiik Industries of Wall.\ W.\lla County, 1901

Chapter 14: Tiik Industries of Wall.\ W.\lla County

A favorite point for picnic parties in Walla Walla is Pike's Peak. This is the most conspicuous peak in that part of the Blue mountains which overlooks our valley. From it may be seen every acre of land in the Walla Walla valley. Let us take our station on that picturesque summit and from it \iew the fair jirospect spread out like a map below us. We shall see in one glance the tokens of the chief industrial resources of Walla Walla county.

To the north and west, farthest in the distance, melting into the haze and dimly edged by some of the gigantic ])eaks of the Cascades, and if the light be just right, girded with the shining band of the Columbia, lies a vast strip of rolling prairie. This is what used to be the great cattlj range, stock raising being the first industry in time of this region. This same region is uuw ra])idly becoming the great wheat belt, though for a lon.g time thought to be so

Then looking again here and there, more' nearly in the center of the picture^ and especially around the point which with a glass we can see to ha\e clusters of tree-embowered. houses, and which we therefore know to be Walla Walla itself, we may observe dark bands of foliage beautifully contrasting with the duller hues of the plain, and these we know to be the orchards and gardens, the sign of the third great industry, horticulture. Then having looked across the distant prairie Ijelt of stock and wheat, and the middle zone of fruits and \egetal)les. our eyes now fall upon the foothill belt at our feet, rolling hills, cut with deep canons, girt with swift mountain streams, of the deepest, richest soil anywhere to be found, and with much greater rainfall than is found in any f)ther i)arts of the country. This foot-hill zone was the earliest settled part of Walla Wal- la county, and it has probably made more men rich than has any equal area of farming country in this state, and possibly has not been surpassed by any in the entire country. In it are to be found all three of the types of industry named, besides wliich it is beginning to be a region for the development of dairying, poultry, and fine stock, having for these purposes great natural adaptability, superior, perhaps, to any of the others.

As we survey the rich expanse outstretched below our lofty eyrie, we can see the possibilities of manufacturing industry, still latent, in the swift and abundant streains, in the obvious plent\- and cl:eapness of all the essentials of life.

In general terms it may be said that thus far the main industries which are revealed before us are those of stock, agriculture, and fruit-raising. Walla Walla is essentially a farming country. As we view the "lay of the land" and as we learn by examination something of the geological history of the country, we see that it was fore-ordained to be one of the food-supplying regions of the world. Like nearly all of the Columbia valley the Walla AValla country is of volcanic origin. At some time, thousands of years ago indeed, yet recent in geological history, probably in the Miocene or Pleiocene ages, there were prodigious overflows of lava, with the Cascade and Blue mountains as the centers of outflow. After the era of fire was one of flood, or more probably there were successive eras of volcanic outflow and mountain elevation, alternating with successive floods. Many curious Indian legends indicate the traditional condition of this country. Among these is the flood legend of the Yakinias. They say that ages ago, in the times of the "Wateetash," before the Indians existed, there was a beaver named Wishpoosh that inhabited Lake Kichelas or Lake Cleelum at the head of the Yakima river. \\'ishpoosh was of enormous size, half a mile long, his scales glittered like gold, and he was so rapacious that he devoured animals and plants indiscriminately, and even the rocks of the lake shore. Speelyei, the great Coyote god, perceiving the destructiveness of the beaver, determined to kill him in order to save the I'est of creation. So he harix)oned him, or some say, caused him to swallow a coal of fire, which made him very "hot." In his fury Wishpoosh tore his way through the banks of the lake, and let the water down into what is now the Kittitass valley, which was then a great lake. In like manner he tore out the banks of that lake, then he tore out the gap where Yakima City is now situated, and so the waters of all that upper chain of lakes became united with the vast lake which covered pretty much all that now constitutes the W^alla Walla country. But \\'ishpoosh was not content to leave that inland sea undisturbed, and so the Umatilla highlands below Wallula were severed and the waters of this upper region went on do\\n to the sea, and so the beaver found himself in the ocean, and, according to the old methods, he began to devour whales and other denizens of the deep. Speelyei, perceiving that all creation was threatened l>y the monster, entered the sea and after a dreadful struggle slew him. The huge carcass was cast up on Clatsop beach, and from it Speelyei proceeded to form the various Indian tribes. Thus this legend accounts for the existence of the Indians and for the obvious fact that Walla \\'alla county, like the famous McGinty of a few years ago, was once under the sea.

acre is not unknown. The volcanic dust is as fine as fiour and by the action of wind and water it has been deposited to depths almost uniieard of in other parts of the world. There are places in \\"alla Walla county where over two hundred feet of soil have been found. From this enormous depth of soil it can readily ])c seen that vegetation in this region has almost inexhaustible nutrition. Moreover it is well known that this \-olcanic dust, o\-erlaid with vegetable loam, furnishes the ingredients for wheat formation in greater fullness than does any other known soil.

Li addition to the peculiar adaptibility of this soil to farming, the climate is very nearly perfect for the great cereal crops. The rainfall is not heavy, ranging from about ten inches a year at the northwestern extremity of the county to probably forty inches a year in the most elevated part of the mountain section, while at Walla ^Valla city it is about eighteen or twenty. But this rather scanty rainfall is distributed with such general good judgment and adaptation to the needs of the growing' crops that it is abundant. November, January, and May are usually the months of heaviest rainfall, and these are precisely the ones that need it most.

Many believe the experience of the last few years to indicate that the arid part of the country is going to surpass the wetter and more fertile foothill belt for wheat production. During the summer of 1900 in particular the wheat in the foothills, though magnificent in ajipearance, "went to straw," to an unusual degree, yielding only from twenty to thirty bushels to the acre, whereas the "dry belt," though not equalling the other in appearance, "went" from five to fifteen bushels to the acre better. Moreover the cost of raising- a bushel of wheat is not

With this glance at the industrial resources in general of this favored land, let us present a view of the special industries, following them somewhat in the order of their develoimient in tune.

Stock Business

The first cattle in the Walla \Yalla valley were brought in by Hudson's Bay employees in the vicinity of Fort Walla Walla, now Wallula, and in the region now known as Hudson's Bay. Dr. Whitman brought several cows with him in 1S36. Messrs. Brooke, Bumford, and Noble, who occupied the Whitman mission property in 1S51, and thence onward until expelled by the Lulian war of 1855, had a large number of cattle. After the whites liegan to settle in the country in 1859, and especially a iter the discovery of the mines in i860 and f86i, the stock business received a great impetus and man}' cattle were dri^-en in from the W' illamette countr}-. Most of them perished in the famous hard winter of '6i-'62, but the Inisiness was at once resumed with such energy that by the summer of 1863 it was reported tliat there were 1,45 5 horses, 438 mules, 1,864 sheep, 3,957 cattle, and 712 hogs. The Statesman reported that 15,000 pounds of wool had licen shipped out that year. It is said that there were 200,000 sheep in the \'allcy in the winter of 'G^-66. Sheep were worth at that time only a dollar per head. Stock of every sort increased rapidly from 1866 to 1875, \vhen the country had become so well filled uj) that shipping to California and the east began on a large scale.

There seem no separate statistics available for the amount of stock driven out of what is now Walla Walla county. We find, however, in Gilbert's history a very valuable table presenting statistics of the amount of cattle driven from the "Inland Empire" from 1875 to 1880, which shows an aggregate of 259,100 head.

"Between 1874 and 1880 William Kirkman drove 2,000 cattle to California from eastern Oregon, and he informs us that in 1873 he purchased cattle for ten dollars per head that owners had refused thirty dollars for the year before, and ten dollars became the ruling price for stock cattle until 1879. Steers would bring from sixteen dollars to twenty dollars during this time. Prices now range fifty per cent, higher; or yearlings nine dollars, two-year-olds and cows fourteen dollars, three-year-old steers twenty dollars, four-year-old steers and up twenty-five dollars. The winter that closed the year 1880, witnessed the sad spectacle of these poor brutes starving to death by the tens of thousands. A heavy snow fell upon the valley country, upon the top of which a crust was lornicd that prevented the stock from traveling. Gathered in little bands, in large ones, or singly, they were corraled by illimitable fields of ice, where the snow in coming had found them, and the great plains for hundreds of miles were found dotted in the spring with their bleaching bones. This country will generally furnish Avinter grazing for stock; but it is not safe to rely wholly, upon nature's fickle moods for such a result, as the foregoing has thoroughly demonstrated by a destruction of eighty per cent. of the horned cattle in that region. The loss in Walla Walla county was a much smaller per cent., owing to better preparation by owners for feeding. The facts are that, as there is usually so little need for feeding stock in the winter, manv make no calculation for doing

The following paragrajih gives the statistics of increase in both human and stock ixjpiilation for tlie tlecade of the seventies, for the entire territory :

The following table derived from the assessor's rolls for the years 1863 to 1879 gives a complete view of the stock in Walla \Valla C(.unty during that period. The years 1869, 1872, and 1873, are lacking.

Since 1879 the demand for agricultural land has steadily increased until the stock range has been so lessened that few range cattle or liorses are longer produced. The number of stall-fed cattle has increased, and according to the assessor's rolls the total in 1900 is 7.407. The number of hogs has also decreased, until the number is now 3,680. The most marked increase is in the munber of horses, which now.

There is a very great increase in the poultry of Walla Walla county, the numlier now contained within its limits having probably doubled within three years, though there are no reliable data available.

There is a very active poultry association in the city, and there have been several poultry exhibitions in the place, the excellence of which was a matter of astonishment to such as had not yet investigated our capabilities in that respect. Thousands of turkeys were shipped from Walla Walla to other parts of the state and to British Columbia during Thanksgiving, 1900. Walla Walla seemed in fact to be the only region with a surplus. There is also the same interest felt in Belgain hares as swept over the country at large during the last few years.

Agriculture

To one contemplating the many beautiful farms of \\'alla Walla county, and observing the millions of bushels of grain shipped hence, it seems very curious, but it is nevertheless a fact, that for years after immigration had begun to enter it was not supposed that the uplands of this region were capable of producing grain. The reason is plain. The first immigrants, coming in the fall when the long dry summer had robbed the land of moisture, saw a seeming desert of rolling prairie, with only a few narrow belts of bottom land which presented any appearance of fertility. Those bottom lands they accordingly belie\-ed to be the <inly lands capable of agriculture. These lands had been tested at various jxjints by Hudson's Bay people, and Dr. Whitman at Waiilatpu had already raised considerable quantities of produce more than sixty years ago. Dr. \\"hitniau made many agricultural improvements within a few years after reaching Waiilatpu. T. J. Furnham, visiting the mission in 1839. reports finding two hundred and fifty acres of land enclosed and two hundred acres in good cultivation. A small grist-mill was then in operation. Ir may be remarked that the mill-stones of the old mill are now in the possession of Governor Moore of Walla Walla. Li 1841 Joseph Drayton of the Wilkes exploring expedition visited the mission and discovered a very fine garden, with vegetables and melons in great variety. "The wheat in the field was seven feet high and nearly ripe, and the corn nine feet in the tassel." By 1 841 the indefatigable Whitman had succeeded in leading some of the Indians to cultivate land and tend a few cattle and sheep. The Cayuses, however, never took kindly to agriculture and the amount of land subdued by Indian labor was small.

Little in the way of grain raising was done anywhere in Walla Walla county after the Whitman massacre until the close of the great wars of 1855-56. In 1857, after the establishment of the present fort, a garden was planted by direction of Captain W. R. Kirkham. This was such a .success as to make it plain that the soil and climate were adapted to gardening.

Charles Russell, afterwards well known throughout Walla Walla, was at that time connected with the post and seeing the labor and expense of transporting from the Willamette the large amounts of grain necessary for the horses, lic proposed trying the valley lands with barley and oats. Accordingly in 1858 eighty acres of land on what is now the Drumheller place were sowed to barley. It yielded fifty bushels to the acre. During the same season Mr. Russell sowed one hundred acres of oats on the land

^vllicll lie afterwards limk up as the Russell plaee. The huliaus were so threatenint;- that he left it, ami the ealtle raui;iiif; in the country j^raxeil it so closely that there was apparently no hope of a crop. But in June, the Lidians having withdrawn. Air. Russell went out and fenced in the tleld with the result that he secured a yield of Tifl}- husheis of oats to the acre. During that same season one hundretl and fifty acres of oats was sowed on Dry creek by a man named Walter Davis. He, too, was ^varned away by the Indians, Init a detail of soldiers from the fort went out and cut the oats for hay. In i860 Stephen JiLaxon raised a fine crop of wheat on Russell creek, farther from tiie bottom than any one else then thought uortli trying.

There were few people in tlie country at that time, and the few there hatl thought little as yet of agriculture. There was no market, except at the fort. Jbit the discoveries of the Idaho mines in i860 and 1861 suddenly created a fine market. Farmers had little excuse for not making a '"raise" in that year, though the lamentable winter of 1861-62 caused most of tiiem more loss in cattle than they could make up in agricultural products.

As a sample of the prevailing prices of that time, we may quote figures presented in the newspapers of that period as to the market prices of the following articles :

Beans, from 12 to 15 cents per pound ; dried apples, from 20 to 24 cents per pound ; sugar, from 18 to 26 cents per pound; soap, from 16 to 20 cents per pound ; butter, from 50 cents to $1 per ixDund; eggs, $1 per dozen; fiour, $5 to $6 per hun'dred ; whe:it, $1.25 to $1.50 per bushel.

In 1864 the very important discovery was made that grain could be produced on the hill land. Messrs. Stevenson. Evans and others experimented about that time in a small way, some successfully and some unsuccessfully. But in 1867 a considerable field of oats was put in b\- John Montague on the "bench," northeast of Walla Walla, not far from the Delaney place, wliich yielded over fifty bushels to the acre. Even this seems to have been little heeded at first. As some of the old settlers now e.Kpress it, they were determined that the upland should not produce grain. While the bottom land and some of the foothill land was already recognized as the very best quality of wheat hinds, the majority of the settlers believed that the great body of up-lantls north of Mill creek was adapted only to a stock range. In the meantime, however, there was a steady inficnv if immigration, and the wheat acreage was r;q)idly increasing. In Xovemher, of 1864, the Statesman noted the fact that the wheat :ind tlour of this region was superior to much of that grown in the Willamette valley. In 1866 there were already five fiourings mills in the valley. These had imjiroved n\achinery and turned out a reallv excellent quality of fiour. In 1865 seven thousand barrels of fiour were exported from the Walla Walla valley.

The wheat yieUl of 1866, for t'.ie entire 'upper country," was estimated at half a million bushels, about half from the \\'alla Walla valley. It is recorded that in that year threshing rates were : wheat, eight cents, oats, six cents, ar.d barlew ten cents jier bushel.

Wo find in Ciilbert's history the following tia.ta with regard to shipments and prices which are of permanent value, and hence we incorporate them at this point.

.An nuviculturnl suciety was organized in July of this year, by an assemblage of citizens at the court house, on the 9th of that month, when laws and regulations were adopted, and the following officers chosen: H. F. Isaacs, president; A. Cox and W. H. Newell, vice-presidents; J. D. Cook, treasurer; E. R. Rees, secretary'; and Charles Russell. T. G. Lee and A. A. Blanch, executive committee. For the fair to be held on the 4th, 5lh and 6th of

In 1867 the grain yield of the Blue mountain region exceeded the demand, and prices that had been falling for several years, left that crop a drug. It was sought to prevent an entire stagnation of agricultural industries, by shipping the surplus down the Columbia river to the seaboard. Freights on flour at that time were: From Wallula per ton to Lewiston, 815; to the Dalles, $6; to Portland, S6, and the following amounts were shipped:

To Portland between May 27 and June i:^ 4,1.56 barrels; to The Dalles, between April 19 and June '2, i)'H barrels; to Lewiston, between April 18 and May 14, .577 barrels; total to June ISby O. S. X. Company, .5,311 barrels.

The same year Frank & Wertheimer shipped from Walla Walla 15,000 bushels of wheat down the Columbia, thus starting the great outflow of bread products from the interior.

In 1868 Philip Ritz shipped fifty barrels of flour from the Phftnix mills in Walla Walla to New York, with the following results: (It was the first of Washington Territory products seen in the eastt.

First cost of flour, S187.o0; sacks for same, 827.00; transportation to San Francisco, SIOO.OO; freight thence to New York, 8107.80; total cost in gold, 8422.30; profit realized on the transaction, 877.46, or 81.55 per barrel.

In 1869 there was a short crop, due to the drough and want of encouragement for farmers to raise grain. June 14, a storm occurred of tropical fierceness, during which a waterspout burst in the mountains, and sent a flood down Cottonwood canyon that washed away houses in the valley. In consequence of the short crop, wheat rose to 80 cents per bushel in Walla Walla, and flour to 85.50 per barrel. In November, hay brought $17 per ton, oats and barley 2 cents per pound, and butter cents.

Having traced agricultural development from its start and through its years of encouragement, till quantity exceeding the home demand, has rendered it a profitless industry m 1868 and 1869, let us glance at the causes leading to a revival of inducements for tillmg the soil in the Walla Walla country. It should be borne in mind that the farmers in little valleys and along creeks nearer the mines than this locality, were supplying the principal mountain demand, and the only hope left was to send produce to tide water and thus to the world's market. What it cost to do this had been tried with practical failure as a result. This shipping to the seaboard was an experimental enterprise, and there was not sufficient assurance of its paying to justify farmers in producing quantities for that purpose, consequently not freight enough of this kind to warrant the Oregon Steam Navigation Company in putting extra steamers or facilities on the river to encourage it. The outlook was therefore gloomy. This was a state of things which caused an agitation of the railway question, resulting in the construction of what is more familiarly known as Baker's railroad, connecting Walla Walla with navigable waters. The building of this road encouraged the farmers to raise a surplus, it encouraged the Oregon Steam Navigation Company to increase the facilities for grain shi[)ment, it caused a reduction of freight tariffs all along the line, and made it possible for a farmer to cultivate the soil at a profit. Something of an idea of the results may be gathered from an inspection of the following exhibit of increase from year to year, of freights shipped on Baker's road to Wallula en route for Portland. Between 1870 and 1874, down freights shipped yearly at Wallula did not exceed 2,500 tons. In 1874 Baker's road had been completed to the Touchet, and carried freight from that point to Wallula at S1.-50 per ton. In 1875, it was completed to Frenchtown and charged 82.50. Walla Walla rates avcaged 84.50.

The great development of all fonrs of industry in this country resulting from the building of railnads in the 'eighties was especially marked in the wheat business. Wheat became recognized as the staple product of this valley. Walla Walla wheat began to seek the markets of the world, and every year marked a vast increa.se in the output from these rich Blue mountain foothills and from the great rolling plains adjoining. But this had already occurred even before the railroad era. The increase in acreage in the staple crops in "early times" is indicated in the following ;-ecords fnjm the assessor's books:

There are some interesting facts to be gleaned from the foregoing figures. It should 1)C rememl)ered that l)et\veen 1874 and 1S79 the erection of Coluni1)ia county had diminished Walla AX'alla to less than half its former proportions. It is safe to add at least a half more to the figures of 1879 to get a true view of the growth in that period. It will be seen that corn quite extensively raised in early times. Then it decreased to a trilling amount. The climate was thought to be too dry and the sunnner nights too cool for the best results. \\'ithin the last three or four years it has again become quite a crop, fields of forty, eighty or a hundred acres in various parts of Walla Walla and L'matilla counties being of common occurrence. It api>ears, too, that oats were at first a much greater crop than barhy, but by 1879 barley was largely in the lead, ?ind the gap has greatly widened since. The reason for oats being so largely cultivated at first was that it was, and still is. the staple horse food in the ^^'illamette valley, being peculiarly adapted to that climate. E.xperience finally showed that liarley was a better crop in this dry climate than oats, and moreover the establishment of Ineweries created a growing demand for barley.

In 1S83 the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed to \Vallula and there joined the O. R. ik X., making a continuous line to Portland. In 1S88 the Northern Pacific was carried over the Cascade mountains to the sound. In 1884 the Oregon Short Line was completed. This enlargement of shipping facilities acted like magic on the industries of the valley. It was known by that time that almost any land in Walla Walla county, except the arid tract in riie vicinity of Wallula and the timbered portion in the extreme eastern part of the county, could be made to yield profitable returns. Probably the greatest "eye-opener" to the people of Walla "Walla, as to the latent resources of their section and the greatest influence inaugurating wheat raising on a large scale here was the bold undertaking of Dr. N. G. Blalock on the tract of land known as the "Blalock Ranch," now owned mainly I)y George Delaney, six miles south of Walla Walla. Dr. Blalock has been a pioneer in a number of the most important enterprises in Walla Walla, and not the least of his great services to this country was his inauguration of wheat raising on an extensive scale. Coming to \\alla Walla in 1872 and soon being actively engaged in medical practice, he was keenly alive to the industrial possibilities of the country around him. It was not at that time generally believed that wheat raising would amount to much at any great distance from the \\ater courses. Dr. Blalock bargained for two thousand, two hundred acres of land, at a price of ten bushels of wheat per acre. After having gotten it into cultivation he received a )^ield of thirty-one bushels to the acre, a sufficient demonstration of the producing qualities of this land. In 1881 Dr. Blalock"s ranch yielded an average of thirty-five and one-fourth bushels per acre on the entire tract of two thousand, two hundred acres. One body of one thousand acres yielded fifty-one thousand bushels, probably the largest wheat crop ever produced on an equal area in the United States. But a more remarkable yield, though on a smaller body of land, was secured by ^lilton Aklrich, or. his Dry creek ranch. The yield on four hundred acres was an average of sixty-six bushelf per acre. More remarkable yet, there was a volunteer crop the next year on the same land of forty bushels per acre. One hundred and six bushels of wheat from one sowing! This probably "holds the championship" for wheat yield. Thomas Gilkerson has raised one hundred and ten bushels of barley per acre. Examples might be multiplied of extraordinary vields both on small selected tracts and through

The "Great Depression"' of 1893 and onward tem]jorarily paralyzed agriculture in Walla Walla as elsewhere, but this section was in better condition to stand a "squeeze" than almost any other, and it recovered sooner. Nevertheless many of the largest farmers in the country, as Messrs. Babcock.Reser.Thomas, Delaney, Upton, and many others, were severely pressed by that succession of lean years. In 1897. as all inhabitants of this region will easily recall, the country began to emerge from the dark cloud. The two great crops of '97 and '98, and the prevailing good prices, relieved the pressure on the farming community. Although prices in '99 and 1900 dropped seriously, the yields of those two years were good, and the great majority of farmers are now in a position to hold their crops for better prices.

Evidences are multiplied on all sides tliat farming in the Walla \\'alla valley is a paying proposition. The beautiful city stands as a monument to the wealth that has been dug out of the ground by means of wheat. The many elegant farm houses, fine horses and buggies, the organs and pianos in the homes, the heavy annual purchases of groceries, clothing, and books and papers, as well as outlays for education and travel, - all tlie.se expenrlitures by the farmers of Walla Walla valley are practically ])aid for in wheat mone_\'. The millions of dollars' worth of assessable projjerty in our city and county are simply the manifestation of so much natural wealth, sucked out of the' fertile soil of these hills ami vales by the milli<jns of grain stalks which have grown upon them during the last twenty-five years.

raising wheat. Mr. Joseph Ilarbert, one of the most successful farmers of Walla Walla county, made for the special number of the Walla Walla Union some years ago, the following estimate of the cost of a crop of four hundred acres, which yielded ten thousand bushels of blue-stem wheat. At fifty cents per bushel for the crop, this will lie seen to represent a profit of al)out two thousand, three hundred dollars from land worth twelve thousand dollars or nearly twenty per cent., from which, however, should come wages of management.

The land was summer fallowed in 1894 and valued at thirty dollars per acre. The estimate is in a locality where water and material to work with are reasonably convenient. The land is not very hilly and comparatively easy to work. The report is as follows :

Total

We have presentctl in previous pages of this cliapter figures sliowing tlie wheat yield in j'ears past. The reader will appreciate the vast gain in production when he is told that the yield of the year 1900 is estimated as follows: Wheat, four million bushels; hay. five thousand, five hundred tons.

Horticulture And Fruit-R.-Msixg

In fruit culture, as in other respects, Marcus Whitman was the pioneer of Wal'a Walla. Whitman brought with him in 1836 apple seeds, which he planted in the following spring. Three of those ancient trees are still standing, objects of curiosity and veneration to the many pilgrims who visit that sacred spot. Smne of the citizens of Walla Walla will remember that in 1896, a beautiful cane, made from a limb of one of those ancient apple trees, was presented by the city of Walla Walla to Di-. D. K. Pearsons, by whose philanthropy ^\'hitlnan College so materially benefited.

Rev. H. H. Spalding started apple trees also in 1837 on the Clearwater river, and at the same time, or perhaps the next year, Mr. Spalding assisted Red Wolf, a Nez Perce chief, to plant apple trees at the mouth of the Aljjowa, in what is now Garfield county. These trees are still standing in a fine state of preservation.

The first attempt to start a nursery '.n the present limits of Walla ^^'alla county was made by Mr. Ransimi Clark, in 1859. In the fall of the same year Mr. J. W. Foster brought trees from the Willamette valley and planted them on his present jilace. The orchard on what is now the Ward place, in the city limits. was set out in i860 bv A. B. Roberts. In

1 861 the greatest step in the progress of the fruit industry was taken by the coming of Philip Ritz from Oregon. He brought with him a number of fruit trees, which he sold to Messrs. Gilliam, Erwin, Dobson, McKay, Drumheller, Moore, and Short, all of whom succeeded soon in raising fine orchards. The next year Mr. Ritz started a nursery of about sixty thousand trees on the place now renowned as one of the most beautiful in Walla Walla. Mr. Ritz's stock of nursery trees reached one m.illion in 1872, and continued at about that number so long as he remained in business. The gold excitement of the 'sixties created a great incentive to fruit and garden culture. Apples brought almost incredible prices in Oro Fino, Florence, and other mining camps. We have heard old-timers tell about big. redcheeked Webfoot apples, each one nicely polished and wrapped in tissue paper, being sold for a dollar apiece. That was a great time for the fruit-raisers and nurserymen of the Willamette valley. ]\Iany of them laid the foundations of fortunes. It became plain to the first settlers of Walla Walla that on account of location and evident adaptability to raising fruit and "truck," they could hope to command that market. Accordingly many trees were set out. and though the bonanza prices of the early mining times did not long continue, the Walla Walla farmers were not disapjiointed in controlling the markets. Walla Walla became the great outfitting point for the mines. Probably no better fruit has ever been raised than that in those first orchards. No pests as yet afl:'ected the trees. It was found th.at apples, pears, cherries, plums and prunes were peculiarly adapted to this country. Peaches, apricots, nectarines, and grapes were found also to do well, but were not so reliable as the first named. One of the best of those

Those early orchards succeeded excellently until that famous "cold day" of 1883, wlien the thermometer dropped to twenty-nine degrees below zero, by far the lowest temperature ever known in Walla Walla. The result was very disastrous. Many of the fanners lost all or nearly all their trees. Some who had hitherto taken great pride in their orchards, concluded that the danger of severe cold was so great th.at it was not worth while to reset trees. So for a number of years following the cold snap the fruit industry languished. It may be remarked in passing that never but once since the disaster of 1883 has there been any repetition, and that was in November, 1896, the mercury descended to nine degrees below zero. The loss of trees was not then, however, so great as before.

Early in the 'eighties began a new era in fruit-raising, cotemporary with the general industrial awakening inaugurated liy the completion of the transcontinental railways. Shrewd men then began to build for the future. Among many men whose energy and industry laid the foundation of the fruit industry as at present developing, may Ije especially named : Dr. N. G. Blalock, O. R. Ballon, W. A. Ritz, Charles Whitney, W. S. Offner, H. C. Chew, John Thoney, and U. H. Berney.

Dr. Blalock began the development of his magnificent fruit ranch in 18S5. The place originally contained an entire section of land. A donation of forty acres on the east end was n-.ade to the Walla Walla College, and around that quite a village has grown up. Of the remainder, the western part is still comparatively undeveloped. The major portion of the place, some four hundred acres, now contains about sixty thousand trees, of which half are prunes, a fourth apples, and the remainder pears, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Among other great public enterprises undertaken by Dr. Blalock in connection with his fruit ranch is his contract to receive and dispose of the sewage from the city of Walla Walla. This is worthy of special note, both as being an interesting experiment in land enrichment, also as being historically connected with this great step in the progress of the city by the inauguration in 1900 of a sanitary and scientific method of sewerage.

In connection with Dr. Blalock's undertakings it is fitting to mention here hi:, vast enterprise on Blalock's Island, in the Columbia. There he has sixteen thousand acres which he proposes to put into trees. Ten thousand trees are already out. The soil and climate are especially well adapted to peaches and apricots. The season there is so early that trees blossom in February, and yet on account of the proximity of the ri\-er and the constant movement of the air, there has never been a destructive frost. Though not in Walla Walla county, this is essentially a Walla Walla enterprise, and hence worthy of mention here.

Of all the various beautiful, successful, and lucrati\-e fruit ranches of Walla Walla county, time fails to speak in detail. No enterprises, perhaps, in the entire valley are so much ol)- jects of pride to residents and of curiosity to visitors. Nearlv every one who visits Walla Walla is taken on a "little ride" in such a way as to ])ass the Ballon, Whitney, Ritz, Blalock, and Offner ranches. The position of Mr. O. ]\. Ballon iu the history of fruit-raising is second to none in our entire county. His ranch is one of exceeding beauty, about six miles south of the city in a rich section, abounding in springs. Mr. Ballon has been intimately con-

The Whitney and Ritz places are near together about two miles southwest of town, on one of the richest bodies of land out-doors. The Whitney nursery was established in 1884, now occupies a hundred acres of land, and gives employment to twenty or more men. The Ritz place is the most beautiful suburban place in this county and is of great historical interest. The name of Philii) Ritz is connected with almost every important event in the history of this region, farming, fruit-raising, railreading and general impro\ement. The active and useful life of I\lr. Ritz was ended in 1889, since which time the place has been in charge of William A. Ritz, who has been intimately connected with every feature of the fruit business of this county. He has been for two 3-ears president of the Fruit Fair Association.

The Offner place, of ninety acres, is located about a mile west of town, and has been famous for its enormous productiveness, as well as for the beauty and convenience of the buildings and all the improvements. The distinguishing feature of Mr. Offner's connection with the fruit industry, however, has I>een his business as a shipper.

The Thoney, Chew and Berney places are east of town on another rich spot of land. Indeed all the spots of land on which these orchards and nurseries are located are so fertile that every one seems richer than the others. Mr. Thoney and Mr. Berney have for several years devoted their main energies to the business of the Walla Walla Produce Company. Mr. Chew has for the past two years been conducting the Walla Walla nursery, and has made large sales of trees in all directions.

this special mention there are many others w Inch are eijuall}- worthy of notice, though not ha\ing yet come so conspicuously into public notice. No small amount of fruit is produced right in the corporate limits of Walla Walla itself. Part of its beautiful shade is rich and fragrant with blossoms in spring, and weighted with luscious fruits in summer and autumn. The growth of the acreage of trees can be seen from the fact that in 1880 there v>ere estimated to be but about four hundred acres of trees, while in 1895 there were 2,810 acres, of which 1,830 \vere in bearing, presumably about 325,000 trees in all. There has been no reliable estimate since 1895. Some good observers think the acreage to be something over three thousand acres.

We have not given here any detailed account of the garden business of W^alla W'alla. Suffice it to say that many of the rich spots of land in the near vicinity of Walla Walla are worked by Chinamen and Italians, both of whom seem to have greater ability than Americans in that line of work, and that they produce a prodigious cjuantity of all the common vegetables, both for supplying the to\vn and for shipping in all directions. The vegetables, like the fruits, of the "garden city" are renowned for excellence, as well as quantity.

The Walla Walla Produce Company shipped in 1900 about fifty thousand lioxes of apples. The Blalock Company, which handle only their own fruit, shipped in 1900 about five hundred tons of prunes, two hundred tons of apples, and one hundred tons of mixed fruits.

The most notable recent event in the fruit industry is the consolidation of the Walla W'alla Produce Company and W. S. Offner, and their engagement of the large warehouse erected in the first part of 1901 on Main street, adjoining the Washington & Columbia River Railroad depot. The consolidation of the two largest shipping houses of the place and the establishment of their business in such commodious and convenient quarters will mark an epoch in the history of this very important business.

This review of the fruit and garden industry of Walla Walla would be incomplete without reference to the fruit fairs which liave now become an established feature of the autumn's enterprises. There have now been six of these fairs under various auspices, the first one being held at the court house in connection with the meeting of the fruit-grov.-ers association, of which Dr. Blalock was then president.

The next two fairs were held in Armory hall. The display was so magnificent and the crowds so great that it became evident that larger quarters must be provided. Accordingly fcir three years the fairs have been held in a pavilion on Second street. Every one has more than paid for itself, and every one has had a d.isplay of a character which has astonished visitors. Concerning the fair of 1900, the fourth in order under the management of the

"The fourth Annual Fruit Fair of the Walla Walla valley was held in the city of Walla Walla October i to 7 inclusive, and was in every way the most successful and satis-- factory exposition ever attempted in southeastern Washington. This was true as tij the financial aspect of the fair, as to the attendance and as to the quality of fruit on display.

"Nature was responsible for the latter feature of the success of the fair, as she is responsible for much that goes- to make up the category of the virtues of the Walla Walla valley. Give our agriculturists and horticulturists a year with a well regulated rainfall, and frost which considerately stays away when not wanted, and they will with diligence and careful culture produce grapes, pears, apples and almost every kind of fruits and vegetables of such quality and size as are seen in no other part of the Union.

"In 1899 t'le l^^ir continued six days, but this year a full week was given, and the attendance exceeded that of previous years by over three thousand paid admissions. The \-isitors were not restricted to Walla Walla and the immediate \'icinity ; fully one thousand came from Waitsliurg, Dayton and other neighborir.g towns, and five hundred from Pendleton, Milton, Athena, and \arious points in our sister state. The scope of tlie fruit fair is broadening and exhibits are received from an ever increasing extent of territory.

"From a financial point of view, the officers of the exposition have every reason to l)e congratulated. The gross proceeds of the fair were something over seven thousand dollars, and aliout eleven hundred dollars of this is profit, and is deposited as a nestegg for the fair of 1 90 1. This is the first year in the history of tlie fairs that any material profit has resulted in dollars and cents. Last year eighty <lollars was taken in over and above expenses, and the year before notiiing. Better management is responsible for this result, and a more thorough appreciation of the requirements of the fair.

"Mrs. Jennie Houghton Edmunds was the vocal soloist, and Herr Rodenkirchen, who is known to fame in the east and west, was their cornet soloist.

"One of the special features of the programme of the fair was an Indian war dance. A score of bucks and a half dozen squaws from the L'matilla reservation were the performers, and their presence recalled to many of the visitors the days when the prnximity of redskins was a consummation devoutly to be dreaded.

"The woman's department was this year under the direction of Mrs. John B. Catron, and formed the most interesting and tasteful display at the fair. A part was devoted to collections of Indian curios and relics, and this department was always crowded with visitors. Lee Moorehouse, of Pendleton, had on exhibition many of his photographs of Indians and scenes on the Umatilla reservation, pictures which even now are of interest, and which fifty years hence, when the development of the country has crowded the redskins further to the wall, will be of great historical value.

"More than ever before have the people of this valley appreciated the value of fruit fairs and industrial expositions. Here the farmers and those interested in the various lines of agriculture and horticulture have an opportuiiitv to see the results of each others' labors, and profit by their experience. They are encouraged by the success of others, and obtain suggestions whicli are invaluable in their work. They learn in what direction the efforts of their neighbors are being exerted, and keep in touch with the development of the various agricultural piu-suits.

"The Belgian hare exhibit, prepared by S. C. Wingard and E. A. Coull, was a feature not before seen at these fairs. This exhibition, with its hundreds of dollars worth of valuable imix)rted specimens of Belgian hare.? and fancy stock, was perhaps the most valuable at the fair, and of the greatest interest because of its novelty. Belgian hare culture is yet in its infancy, and the gentle long-eared creature was the center of attraction for those wlio wished to know more of these animals which are monopolizing so much attention among breeders of pet stock.

"The railroads doing business in Walla Walla took a most active interest in the fair. Two pretty and unique booths were erected and they proved among the attractive features of the event.

"The Northern Pacific and Washington & Columbia River Railways took the cue of the Boxers and a pretty fashoda was designed. The structure was erected near the band pavilion and was provided with seats and accommodations for the ladies and children. The fashoda was built of native woods and finished with moss brought from Tacoma for the purpose. The work was artistically done. At night a number of colored electric lights gave a finishing touch to the scene. The design was largely the idea of Manager McCabe and Passenger Agent Calderhead. of the ^\'ashington & Columbia River Railway.

entrance and it was neatly planned. A commodious square booth was finished and trimmed with grains and fruits taken from the company's experimental farm near this city. The ceiling was made of a variety of handsomely colored wools in the unwoven state, blended together with artistic effect. The walls of the booth were hung with pictures, and chairs and reading offered rest and entertainment to all. The booth was in charge of General Agent Burns and C. F. Van De Water."

One final item of interest concerning which the reader is likely to desire information, and that is the location and character of tjie market for fruit. Mr. W. S. Offner, who is probably better qualified than any one else here to report. prepared a statement for the Walla Walla Union some time ago, which we insert here :

"The markets for Walla Walla vall'ey fruits and produce are world wide, as the past season has proven. Our market in days gone by has been confined to a small scope of country, owing to a lack of proper transportation facilities; the fruit industry being in its infancy, we were known only to our local markets in our own state and portions of Idaho and Montana. However, as our orchards and gardens ha\e increased, so have our transportation facilities, and to-day we practically have four through or transcontinental lines, viz. : the Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, Great Northern and the Burlington route, carrying our fruits into other states. This gives us a choice of the above named routes to all eastern marl:ets. All these roads make every effort possible to supply us with suitable cars and accommodations for handling our fruits.

"Our early fruits and vegetables are marketed principally in what we term our local market - Washington, Idaho and Montana, the latter two being a good market the entire season. As stated before, we furnish a large portion of our own state with early fruits and vegetables. As is well known of our valley, owing to its mild climate and early springs, we are able to bring our produce into the market from two to three weeks earlier than other parts of the state. This gives us a great advantage, especially with strawberries, allowing us to ship the bulk of the berry crop before they are in market elsewhere in the state. We have, until the past season, marketed most of our berries and cherries in the local market, but experience has shown us that we have a market for berries in car-load lots in Denver, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Paul, Minneapolis and other eastern cities. Our berries ripening at the time they do, do not come in competition with the home-grown berries of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Minnesota.

'"When we come to our larger fruits, especially the prune, pear and apple, for which our valley is particularly adapted, I repeat the \i .regoing assertion that 'our markef is the v/orld,' having demonstrated the fact by shipjiing a number of cars of prunes and pears to Si. Paul, Minnesota, Chicago, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and New York. We have had calls from many other eastern cities for our fruits that we cannot supply as yet, our output being too limited to supply the demand. Another market unknown to us until tl.e last season is British Columbia. They lia\e been calling upon us for our fruits, and a great many cars of apples found their way to these markets the past year, whicli only made the purchasers give us orders which we were unable to fill. Right Iiere I will state that the greatest trouble the fruit or commission men have is to get sufficient quantities of fruit to fill their orders. While the past season's fruit shipments from this valley have been numbered by the hundred cars, had we had a sufficient quantity of the right kind of fruits our car shipments would have been numbered by the thousands. W^ith increased production and better facilities for transportation to the eastern markets, we will soon be shipping our fruits by the train-load instead of car-loads, for it is a fact wherever our fruits have been tested they have met with favor and have created a demand which we have been unable to supply.

"Another market opened to us is Texas, Arizona and Mexico, for it is a well-known fact that warm countries to not grow good apples, and e\en California, with all her wealth of fruit, orange groves, famous vineyards and big orchards in other fruits, comes to us in the spring for our fancy, well-kept winter apples. \Miile California and Mexico may send us their gold, oranges and lemons, we will send them in return the famous winter a])plcs of the Walla Walla valley.

"La'st, but not least, comes our market in England for apples, some having already been shipped there. When our apples are once well known we will have a market for more than can probably be raised in the state, as our winter apples we would be glad to compare with the fruit of the most favored parts of the United States.

"As to our fruit drying, it is yet in its infancy, we having been able so far to dispose of our fruit in a green state. There were several cars of prunes dried here last season and they were eagerly sought for in our eastern markets. Our Italian prune (which is nmstly raised here) commands a higher price than the famous California French or Petit prune, as it grows much larger and is of superior quality. An interview with any of tlie commission men of this city will undoubtedly \erify the facts that I have heretofore set forth and there is no question that we will find a market for all the fruit we can possibly raise in the Walla Walla valley."

We have now spoken at length in regard to the three fundamental industries of this region. It remains to note more briefly the other lines of business which have become evolved from the necessities and opportunities of the country. It may be said that ihiiugh it is yet too early to find extensive manufacturing here, yet Walla Walla county has many of the natural facilities in abundance. Rapid and abundant streams may be made to furnish water-power in unlimited quantities. All the fruits of the earth and the products of animal life can be secured cheaply and of the finest qualities. The greatest drawback to manufacturing is that iron and lumber must be shipped in for every kind of work.

The chief industries of a manufacturing nature in Walla Walla are the flouring mills, tlic Gilbert Hunt separator manufactory, the Weber tannery, the various creameries, the sash and door factory, jind other wood work factories, the saddle-tree factory, and the marble works.

The Flouring Mills

The first flouring mill in this county was liuilt in 1859 by A. H. Reynolds, in partnership with Dent and Simms. on the place owned now by Charles Whitney. The building was afterwards used as a distillery. It is still standing, being used by Mr. Whitney as a storehouse. In 1862 Mr. Reynolds built a second mill on the Yellowhawk, known as the Star mill. In 1862 H. P. Isaacs erected the mill in the eastern part of what is now Walla Walla, named it the North Pacific flouring mills, and thereby entered upon his long and successful career as the leading miller of this county. In 1883 he erected the mill at Prescott, then the largest in eastern Washington. Andrew Mc- Calley was another pioneer mill man, cijming here in 1872, for some time superintending the North Pacific mills, then purchasing a mill west of town, erected by I. T. Reese in 1866. ' Mr. McCalley was burned out, but rebuilt, and' the business was maintained by himself, and, after his death in 1891, by his sons, until the property was sold to W. H. Gilbert, who lost it by fire in 1897. The Eureka (first known as the Agate) mills were built by Ritz and Schnebly and conducted by W. C. Painter. Eventually they were sold to Welch and Schwabacher, who in turn sold them to Dement Brothers the date of the latter transfer being 1880. The grades of flour manufactured by this mill have become famous wherexer used, and in fact they have found their markets in all parts of the world. The Washington Roller mill of Waitsburg was established in 1865 by S. M. Wait, the founder of that "burg," but was sold Ijy him to Preston Brothers, who enlarged and improved it, and now do a business in all quarters of the globe. Paine Brothers and Moore bought Mr. Wait's stock, and afterwards owned an interest in the mill, but sold out to Preston Brothers. It will give one an added sense of the largeness of this industry, as well as of the commercial closeness of the rest of the world, to learn that flour from these various Walla Walla mills goes to England,

Italy, China, Japan, Philippine Islands, South Africa, Alaska and British Columbia. The City mills were erected by Scholl Brothers on Paluose street in Walla Walla in 1898. There is also a mill on the Yellowhawk, known as the Rising Star, erected by H. S. Kinzie, but now owned by Mrs. Rattlemiller. Several chop mills are also in operation in different parts of the valley.

Such is a very brief summary of the flouring mills of this county. As to their capacity it may be said that the North Pacific mills of Prescott can grind five hundred barrels per day. Its average output, however, is about three hundred, and it ordinarily runs about three hundred days in the year, thus representing about ninety thousand barrels per year. The Washington Roller mills of Waitsburg and the Eureka mills of Walla Walla have each a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels per day, aggregating in the year about sixty thousands barrels each. The City mills and the Rising Star mills turn out about seventy-five barrels each per day, or a yearly output of about twenty thousand barrels. Their total output may thus 'be seen to amount to about two hundred and fifty thousand barrels annually, or a business in flour alone of over three quarters of a million dollars. In addition to this it should be noted that for every barrel of flour there is, on an average, seventy pounds of bran and chdp, or an aggregate of perhaps eighty-seven hundred and fifty tons. In addition to this, large quantities of breakfast food, as farina, germea, whole wheat and graham, in addition to the ordinary standard lirands, enumerated above, are sold at home and shipped abroad. It may doubtless be stated in round numbers that the annual output of mill products in Walla Walla exceeds a million dollars.

factory of Gilbert Hunt & Company. This great industry originated in machine shops owned by Byron Jackson. Gilbert Hunt and Christopher Ennis bought the establishment in 1 888. Its work at that time was little more than that of a repair shop. In 1891 Mr. Hunt bought out his partner and conducted the business alone until 1893, ^vhen the business was reorganized under the firm name of Gilbert Hunt & Company, with Mr. Hunt as president and manager, and Walter McCalley as secretary and treasurer. Associated also in the business are Frank Hunt and Jay Williams. The business was conducted in wooden buildings, seeming rather to invite disaster by fire, which was realized in 1898, when the entire works on the north side of Main street, together with the foundry of J. L. Roberts, were swept from the earth. Laidismayed by the heavy loss the company at once proceeded to the establishment of a far more complete and elaborate plant than before. Large brick buildings were erected and every department of the enterprise was reorganized on a vastly larger scale than before. AMiile the company makes the "Pride of Washington" separator their specialty, they do a vast business in engines, pumps, wind-mills, hose, leather and rubber belting, water-tanks, and in fact pretty much everything concerned in farming, harvesting and irrigating machinery. Their business extends all over Washington. Oregon and Idaho. During the year 1900 they manufactured fifty threshers and employed an average of seventyfive men throughout the year. They now make all their castings, as well as every sort of wood

It is fitting to mention here the Walla Walla foundr}^, conducted in 1879 by Messrs. Marshall and Jones. J. L. Roberts, for many years prominent in business and political circles in Walla Walla, became a partner in the enterprise in 1879, ^"d the entire owner in 1887. The business became extensive and lucrative, but the disastrous fire in 1898 destroyed it, and on account of inadequate insurance proved very unfortunate to Mr. Roberts. The foundry was not replaced, but the assumption of the same kind of work by Hunt &; Company has filled the demand for that class of manufacture.

of Walla Walla the sash and door factory of Whitehouse and Crimmins occupies a very important place. This extensive industry was founded in 1880 by Messrs. Cooper and Smuck. In 1888 George Whitehouse and D. J. Crimmins became chief owners of the establishment, although Mr. Cooper has continued to be a partner to the present time. The mill is equipped with all the most recent and improved machinery, and turns out annually an immense amount of finished lumber, sash and doors, mouldings, lath, besides large supplies of cupboards, desks and other house furnishings. There is handled annually from two to four million feet of lumber. The number of men employed varies from twenty to thirty, according to the season.

Two other extensive lumbering houses in Walla ^^'alla, the Chamberlin Lumber Company and the Oregon Lumber Company, deal in lumber, although not engaged in its manufacture. The supply of the former comes in part from Gray's Harbor, that of the latter in part from Bridal Veil JMills in Oregon. It is estimated, however, that ninety per cent, of the lu.niher used in Walla Walla comes from Puget Sound, although these last named lumber companies of the county. The lumber business of the amount of the lumber used in a community is so large an index to its progress that we shall find it of interest to note the volume o.f business performed by the various companies of the county. The lumber business of the city and county are performed substantially by the three companies named in the city, together with two establishments at Waitsburg, one at Prescott, and one at Eureka Junction. The entire amount of business is estimated to amount to about ten million feet of lumber, five million shingles, fift}^ thousand cedar fence posts, and six thousand doors and windows annually.

The Weber tannery was established by Frank Weber, Sr., in 1871. In 1879 it suffered destruction by fire, but was at once rebuilt on a larger scale, and since that time has continually broadened its business. An important part of the leather, as well as other of the harness-makers' and shoe-makers' supplies -of all kinds for this entire upper country, come from the Weber tannery.

There are three creameries in the county a1 the present time, and their products in round numbers is estimated at 133,189 pounds of butter, besides considerable cheese, representing a total value of probably over thirty thousand dollars.

One of the most interesting and prospectively important enterprises of recent establishment is the Cox and Bailey Manufactm-ing Company. This company has been established by the purchase of the building and plant of the Walla Walla Fanning j\Iill Manufactory, which was started by Messrs, Carnahan and Fuller in 1898. Cox and Bailey acquired the property in the beginning of the year 1901 and are, at the present writing, actively engaged in equipping their factory with the best machinery and material. Their design is to do a general nianufacturing and repair business, especially in the line of agricultural implements. They will also have a first-class sawing department, and will be prepared to furnish all kinds of scroll and bracket work of the best sort. They expect to ship logs directly from the Cascades. When fully equipped they will employ from twenty-five to thirty men.

The inauguration of this enterprise at this time is not only of importance in itself, but is one among many indications of the broadening and ever enlarging business activity of this section.

Another home manufacturing establishment worthy of more extended notice than we can here give is the saddle-tree factory of Ringhofer Brothers. This was founded by Steve Ringhofer in 1880, his brother joining him in a few years. Few people in W'alla Walla realize the amount of work done by these two industrious men with their assistants. Nor do they realize the wideness of the market reached by these Walla Walla saddle-trees. It is nearly as large as the market for Walla Walla fruits. In Calgary, Caribou, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and southern Oregon, to say nothing of points near at hand, cowboys, vaqueroes, prospectors and packers sit astride saddles whose frames were shaped right here in Walla Walla. This business is about as nearly a home enterprise as any here, for though wood must mainly be shipped in, the hides, which are an eriually essential feature, are secured from the Weber tannery in Walla Walla. The extensive marble and granite works of two different firms here, those of Xiles & Vinson, and Roberts & Son, are deserving of an elaborate description did space permit. The extent of the supply, as well as of the market of both these establishments, is as much of a revelation as are similar facts in regard to some of the other lines of business described.

Li a review necessarily limited as this is in space, it is not possible to present an exhaustive account of every worthy and interesting industry. We have endeavored to present in the preceding pages a clear picture of the essential lines of constructive industry, to describe the basis of those agencies by which the people of this country actually create products A rough estimate would probably show the aggregate value of the material thus made by the people of the county in 1900 at somewhere in the vicinity of four million dollars; certainly a very large amount to be produced by less than twenty thousand people.

In addition to the true productive industries hitherto described, Walla Walla city has a correspondingly active list of mercantile and miscellaneous establishments, \\hich may be summarized as follows : Three banks, of which two are national banks and one a savings l)ank ; three hotels, beside five lodging houses and a large number of boarding houses, and eight restaurants ; eleven general merchandise stores ; six hardware stores; two furniture stores; four house decorating and painting establishments; five watch and jewelry stores; seven drug stores; three shoe stores; thirteen grocery stores; five regular meat markets, besides four fish and poultry markets; four plumbing establishments; four bakeries, besides a dozen confectionery and fruit stands ; four dressmaking and millinery establishments ; five aericultural implement houses, and these, it may be added, do exteiisi\e business not only in this but also in adjoining counties; two saddlery stores; three toy stores; thirty- four saloons; five clothing stores; three wood-yards; two bicycle and sporting goods stores ; three music stores ; four book stores; two breweries; ten barber shops, of which six have bath rooms connected; four photograph galleries; and seven livery stables. In addition to these, which may be called the standard lines of business, there are a large number of work shops and repair shops of various kinds, laundries, of which one is a large steam laundry, and various small, miscellaneous establishments.

As an interesting evidence of the steady increase of manufacturing industries in this county, we may add the following statement with respect to a factory at Waitsburg, which api)eared in a paper of that city, while this work was in preparation :

''The Evans Harvester Manufacturing Company is the name of a new company organized in Waitsburg. The new company will erect a factory in that city in the near future for the manufacture of the combined harvester patented by J. G. Evans. The incorporators are J. G. Evans, Frank ^IcCown, A. Storie, Arthur Roberts, J. W. Morgan, G. -M. Lloyd and J. L. Harper.

"The board of trustees for the first si.x months will be G. M. Lloyd, J. L. Harper, Arthur Roberts and Andrew Storie. Mr. P'rank AlcCown is mentioned for president with J. G. Evans as secretary and Arthur Roberts as manager. The arrangements will all be perfected within a few days.