Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1885)
124 THE WEST SHORE. largo and productive orchard aro in that vicinity. Sum acrv:!!c, la ILo wlL oiJ of Co mlloy, Los Uu Cuming mills, a planing mill and a population of 300. In Wal lowa Valley aro aovnral small towns, the lending ones being Joseph, Lost i no and Alder. IIAKKII COUNTY. The county of linker occupies the extreme southenst ern corner of Oregon, and is the second largest in the State. Its length from north to south is 200 miles and its width sixty. High timber-clad mountains in the north, breaking, as progress is mado southwnrd, into lower and more barren mountains, elevated plateaus, Mge-oovered or barren plains, characterise of the great Nevada Basin on whose edge it lies, and many streams, both largo and small, along whose bourses are Humorous fcrtilo valleys and natural meadows, are the lending tox graphical features. Of the estimated area of 11,000,000 acres only one-third has lioeu surveyed The 0. 11 A N. Co,' line, which joins with the Oregon Short Lino to mako a through routo from Omnha to Portland, passes through Powder Uiver Valley and linker City and runs down Ilurnt River. The watercourse of tlio county nre numerous and convey coutinuoUHly a great volume of water. Flowing northward along tlio upjior half of it eastern boundary is the great Hnnka River, the leading tributaries of which are I'owder, Ilurnt, Malheur and Owyhee, each of which has uumeroua largo and small feeders. The lottom lands along IIioho streams are very fertile, and frequently spread out into grassy valley of considerable width. Home of this land lying bock from the streams, and slightly elevated nlxive them, requires irrigating to ren der it productive, much of it being favorably located for that purxme. Homo of it, however, requires but slight irrigation, and still other orliou none whatever. When all tlio laud in linker County which can bo irrigated cheaply and handily shall le placed under cultivation, the productive area will le increased tenfold. The laud nearly all belongs to the Government, and the most desir able portions have leen Btirveyod. The moot thickly settled portion is tlio northern, in the region of I'owder and liurnt rivers. Powder River Valley is twenty miles long and about sixteen milt wide. Along it whole course the Powder has fertilo lottom lands, spreading out at times into quite considerable val leys, in many of which tle re mny lie found excellent vacant locations for setllemeuL Tlio large valley in well settled, and is the centre of tlio greatest po)ulntion of the county. The soil is fertile and useiptible of tlio highest state of cultivation. At the upier end of tlio valley licit lUker City, the oeuuty seat and Inrgeet commercial jsiiut in Uiat sirtion of Oregon. Tho city is Bulwtantially built, containing many quite exjwimive busiues block and private residences, ami a Mipulntioii approximating l,!VXl There are two planing mills, one saw mill, one grixt mill, four uowsMNns three breweries and numerous store, ahopa, fic Below the great Talley, both along the main stream and the North Powder, is much Cue arable laud not yet fully occupied, whoie settlors can find some most Juaiiublu luculiolio. . . Burnt River hns along its course, as have also many of its numerous tributaries, a strip of fine bottom land, occnsionnlly widening out into little valley. Many set tlements have boon made by men who are prosperously engaged in farming and raising sheep and cattle. Near the mouth of tho stream is the new town of Huntington, the point of junction between the Oregon Short Line and tho O. R. fc N. Co. Near the mouth of the Malheur is tho new town of Ontario, situated on tho bnnk of Snake River and on the Oregon Short Lino. From Ontario, following up the Malheur, tho valley has an average width of four miloa until the canyon is reached, thirty milos above. Three ditchog have been constructed, which supply all tho water needod for irrigating this tract Grain, vegotable and fruits produce abundantly, and tho climnte of the valley )roj)or is extremely mild. Near the centre of the valley is the little town of Valo. Willow Creek Valley is one of tho oldest settlement in the county, and is an excellent farming country. Just aliovo Valo, Bully Crook enter tho Malhour. With its tributaries Cottonwood, Indian, Clover and Dry creeks this stream drain an area of 400 squaro mile, which ia now ranged by stockmen, with the exception of that portiou along tho creek bottoms occu pied by farmers. This is a nowly settled region, but one which a little enterprise can convert into a veritable gar den sjNit Above tho canyon the valley land along the Malhour varies in width from absolutely none whatever to a Btrip six mile across. Wherever it thua opon out into valley facilities exist for irrigating, the construction of ditclio Iming all that is required. Along the three branches near the headwater there is much excellent land, similar in many respect to that lower down tho main stream. It is only of late year that the value of this region has boon recognized and it agricultural pos sibilities known. Stock raising in connection with farm ing will always be a profitable industry, as there are thousands of acres lying contiguous to the valley which will nevor be valuable for any purpose but grazing. Every fariuor will have a froe range for a limited number of cattle. The Snake River Valley, between the Owyhee and Malheur, consist of the river bottom and a bench, ele vated alwve tho river from twenty to forty feet, and three to six mile wido. Water for irrigating can bo brought from the Owyhee, and, when done, will bring into culti vation alxmt 40,000 acre of good land. Tho southern end of the county i drained by the Owyhee and its fork and tributaries. It i a region of short mountain range, plateau and vast plain, some of ' them covered with tho choicest bunch grass, and other having no vegetation but Bago brush. Along tho Btream are nnmorou fertile valleys, which form the headquar ter f Htockmen, who own great bands of cattle. Much of Unit region i worthless for any purpose whatever, other x.rtious of it make excellent cattle ranges, while there is not a little which i adapted to the pursuit of