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LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER, LA GRANDE, OREGON
Page Eleven
'SWITZERLAND OF AMERICA' NEIGHBOR OF LA GRANDE
Wallowa Lake Country
Rich in Recreational
Value, Historical Lore
MANY TYPES OF FINE
HOMES IN LA GRANDE
LA GRANDE'S DEPOT IN 1900
In coming to the Semi-centennial
Union Pacific celebration In
La Grande next week, an oppor
tunity also presents itself to out-of-town
visitors (particularly those
who have never been to the
"Switzerland of America" to add
several more days of pleasure to
their trip by extending It to tako
in Wallowa lake, and the recrea
tional opportunities offered there.
Wallowa lake Is three miles from
Joseph, at the end of the La
Grande-Wallowa Lake highway,
and near tho end of the La
Grande-Joseph branch line of the
Union Pacific system.
In the last quarter of a century
the lake country has gained re
markable prestige throughout the
west as a playground, and each
season attracts many new visitors
to its shores. The lake itself is
about four and a half miles long
and a mile and a half wide and is
surrounded by majestic moun
tains, including three peaks that
thrust their pinnacles into the
clouds at more than 10,000 feet
abovo sea level.
The Wallowa lake country in
cludes nearly every type of out
door sport swimming, fishing,
hiking, horseback riding to addi
tional rich country In the Wallowa
Lako basin, mirvelous scenery,
golfing nearby, and -nearly every
sort of pleasure.
Incidentally, it is rich in history
of this section. It was the old
stamping ground of Chief Joseph
and the Nez Perce Indians and
Indian legends still tell of a mon
ster that dwells in the depths of
the bod? of water that is ready
to prey upon anyone who ap
proaches its hiding place. Some
Indians still will hardly stand at
the edge of the beautiful body of
water, let alone enter a boat that
would cruise over its placid sur
facethis In spite of the fact that
no white man has ever been able
to locate either the monster or
any Indication that it existed oth
er than in legend. The lake In
reality is no deeper than 288 feet,
urn
--.-:: - .,..3
Tim above I'niim Pacific depot, erected here in IJHio, will he
remembered liy most present residents of Iai i mude, since
It saw servlre for approximately 30 years before replaced by
tin present magnificent structure. When first erected, the
depot pictured above was one of the finest In Eastern Oregon.
although legend also said It was
"bottomless."
The term "Switzerland of Amer
ica" has been attached to this
part of Wallowa county and scores
of :pcrsons from all parts of the
world after viewing its beauties,
declare it Is unmatched anywhere
over the globe. There are adequate
accommodations at the lake resort
for nil, ranging from camping
grounds to a modern, well kept
hotel.
In the territory back of the lake
in found the only glacier in East
ern Oregon, and hundreds visit it
annually. This is only one of the
attractions in the country south
of the lake.
Another side trip that Is inter
esting to thousands takes one to
Buck Horn springs and the 'Box.
canyon of the Snake river, which
is the world's deepest canyon
nearly a mile further Into the
earth than the famous Grand Can
yon of the Colorado. Surveys re
veal that the canyon Is 7500 feet
in depth.
Carl Gray, president of the Un
ion Pacific railroad, is quoted as
having once said of the Wallowa
lake country: "It is the greatest
possession on the Union Pacific
system,''
nutvi:sTiM; mu win; ax chop
The Grande Rondo valley this
month is engaged in harvesting a
1,000,000-bushcl crop of fine qual
ity wheat. Of this approximately
B0 per cent Is fall-sown wheat,
and the remainder spring wheat.
This is a normal wheat crop for
the county since the government
acreage reduction plan was In
voked. Local farmers, with a good
yield and hopes of a rapidly rising
wheat market, are expecting very
profitable returns this fall, since
practically none of the crop has
been sold as yet.
HEAVY AGHICl'LTURAL INCOME
The normal agricultural Income
rn Union county Is nearly three
millions of dollars. Of this amount
tho " wheat crop, which ranges
around. 1,000,000 bushejs or more,
and the apple crop, which Is often
valued at as high as $1,000,000,
make up a large portion of the
total.
La Grande is a city that in the
last 20 years has become noted for
its fine residential dwellings, large
ly located on the south side of the
railroad track, although there are
several fine homes north of the
U. P. main line.
Studded throughout with mag
nificent trees and surrounded by
well kept lawns and flower gar
dens, the residential areas around
this city's business section are a
Joy forever to people living here
or visiting tbls community.
In the many fine homes over
La Grande, one also may see traces
of early history, Styles are ever
changing and to one adept in
architecture, a glance often tells
him approximately the! age of the
home at which he is looking.
Just a casual glance at some of
tho fine homes to determine their
type. The Dr. A. L. Richardson
residence is a true Georgian type
colonial house, refined In detail of
tho Adams period of England. It
was first introduced into this
country about 1725. Across the
street Is the Bouvy home, a type
of design ' more nearly American
perhaps than any other being
built today. California Mass Ion,
with Italian adaptations in cor
nices and wood lap siding, Che
combination makes a very good
design. The home of A. T. Hill
is of plain California Mission type
with wide eaves, simple straight
and substantial lines. The home
of Dr. J. L. Ingle Is a Spanish de
sign, almost typical, originating
many years ago from the adobo
houses. The home of Adolph Sic
grist Is a Dutch Colonial typo,
originating in America about 1717, ;
first being built In tho Hudson
valley and on Long Island, Tho
homo of Aug. J. Stange Is of tho
very early types of New England
colonial, detailed lightly with dorlo
porch columns and wrought Iron
balconies, modern openings, sided,
with paneled shutters. The homo
of W. H. Reutcr and Charles H.
Reynolds are both of early colon
ial, type, typifying a certain de
sign of its own. Tho W. R. Leis
man home Is of English half tim
ber design in stucco, and Its steep '
pitched roofs, leaded casements
and iron baskets are typical of
the English home. The William
Siegrlst home Is a typical Call-
fornla bungalow with attractlvo
exterior enhanced by beautiful
planting. And there are many
others, but to touch upon them
all would be Impossible In the lim
ited space in this edition.
;itAM)i;'.s payroll LAUit2
La Grande's payroll, In normal
times, ranges well over $4,000,000,
and Is not for below that figure
at present. MMch of the payroll
comes from tho Union Pacific
railroad shops, the two large saw
mills and the flouring mills.
The Story of the
Railroad is a
Story of Service
From its very beginning down through its great progress un
til today, the story of railroading is truly a story of both
human and mechanical effort devoted to public service. We
of La Grande owe much to the railroad progress of these past
50 years. It is well and proper that we fittingly observe the
anniversary of its coming here.
At times there comes to the
thoughtful traveler a dis
turbing realization of the
Immense labor that planted
the rock-sure roadbed over
which his train is traveling.
These railway - worker keep
in repair the foundation of
our speedy transportation.
TtailweM Workers
The stAtlon master seeing
' the rest of the world rush
by Is Intent upon their
safety and convenience. Like
the man described by Tho
rran, "He Is so busy that he
may escape attention. He I
so necessary that his ab
sence will imedlately empha
size his Importance."
'tf -rti 3rfr.
Sfaiion Master
WALKERS Funeral Home
Phone: Main 42 - La Grande, Ore.
"See the Birdie!"
. . . said the photographer man to
Gus and Lizzie, and there and then
the dream was complete. They were
married! Joined in huly wedlock, as
the photograph would prove, and in
spite of what Lizzie's Pa said about
Gus never amounting to much. Lizzie
wasn't blinded by love, however. She
knew that though Gus never earned
much, he saved plenty. So they up
and did it.
Newlyweds of
today !
i
. . . and Old Weds and every other
kind of Weds and Unweds will do well
to investigate the savings to be ac
complished in trading for your hard
ware needs at this store. - All quality
merchandise that will perform right
up to standard and make life easier
and happier along the way.
WAGNER'S
HARDWARE
" 1210 Adams Ave.