USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 23
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Freight tonnage from Touchet in 1874 to Wallula ag- gregated 4,021 tons; in back freight, 1,126 tons; from Frenchtown in 1815 to Wallula, 9,155 tons; back freight, 2,192 tons; from Walla Walla in 1876 to Wallula, 15,266; back freight, 4,034; from Walla Walla in 1877 to Wallula, 28,806 tons; back freight, 8,368 tons; from Walla Walla in 1878 to Wallula, 35,014 tons; back freight, 10,454 tons.
The great development of all forms of in- dustry in this country resulting from the build- ing of railroads 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 increase in the output from these rich Blue motintain foothills and from the great rolling plains adjoining. But this had already oc- curred even before the railroad era. The in- crease in acreage in the staple crops in "early times" is indicated in the following records from the assessor's books :
1863
1-21
1×79
Acres of wheat ..
1.4782
9249
20760
16557
Acres of corn ..
1515
2136
:640
Acres of oats ..
.4515
50-6
4786
2995
Acres of barley.
1486
985
4-96
11271
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
There are some interesting facts to be gleaned from the foregoing figures. It should be remembered that between 1874 and 1879 the crection of Columbia conty had diminished Walla Walla to less than half its former pro- portions. 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 was quite extensively raised in early times. Then it decreased to a trifling amount. The climate was thoughit to be too dry and the summer nights too cool for the best results. Within the last three or four years it has again become quite a crop, fields of forty. eighty or a hun Ired acres in various parts of Walla Walla and Umatilla counties being of common oc- currence. It appears, too, that oats were at first a much greater crop than barley, but by 1870 barley was largely in the lead, and 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 Willamette valley, being peculiarly adapted to that climate. Experience finally showed that barley was a better crop in this dry climate than oats, and moreover the establishment of brewer- ies created a growing demand for barley.
In 1883 the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed to Walhula and there joined the O. R. & N., making a continuous line to Portland. In 1888 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 the 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 under- taking of Dr. N. G. Blalock on the tract of land known as the "Blalock Ranch." now owned mainly by 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. Com- ing to Walla 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 water courses. Dr. Blalock bargained for two thousand, two hundred acres of land, at a price of ten bushels of wheat per acre. After hav- ing gotten it into cultivation he received a yield 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 bush- els per acre on the entire tract of two thousand, two hundred acres. One body of one thousand acres yielded fifty-one thousand bushels, prob- ably 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 Milton Aldrich, or. his Dry creek ranch. The yield on four hundred acres was an average of sixty-six bush- els 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 hun- dred and ten bushels of barley per acre. Ex- amples might be multiplied of extraordinary yields both on small selected tracts and through
153
HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
the country at large. It may be said that from twenty to forty bushels is the ordinary yield of wheat in Walla Walla county.
The "Great Depression" of 1893 and on- ward temporarily 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 severe- ly 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. Al- though 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 posi- tion to hold their crops for better prices.
Evidences are multiplied on all sides that farming in the Walla Walla 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 edu- cation and travel .- all these expenditures by the farmers of Walla Walla valley are practic- ally paid for in wheat money. The inillions of dollars' worth of assessable property in our city and county are simply the manifestation of so much natural wealth, sucked out of the fer- tile soil of these hills and vales by the millions of grain stalks which have grown upon them during the last twenty-five years.
In connection with the wheat industry, it will be found of interest to see the estimate made by an experienced farmer of the cost of
raising wheat. Mr. Joseph Harbert, one of the most successful farmers of Walla Walla county, made for the special number of the Walla Walla Union some years ago, the fol- lowing 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 be seen to rep- resent a profit of about two thousand, three hundred dollars from land worth twelve thou- sand dollars or nearly twenty per cent., from which, however, should come wages of man- agement.
The land was summer fallowed in 1894 and valued at thirty dollars per acre. The estimate is in a locality where water and ma- terial to work with are reasonably convenient. The land is not very hilly and comparatively easy to work. The report is as follows :
ITEMIZED EX- PENSES.
COST.
MOS. IN. PD.
INST.
TOTAL.
Planting, 90c per
acre. .
$ 360 00
20,5
60 008 420 00
Harrowing, 11c per acre. .
44 00
7 33
51 33
Plowing, 2nd time,
June, 1894. .
360 00
18
54 00
414 00
Harrowing before sowing, 11c .....
44 00
16
5 87
49 87
500 bushels seed
wheat, highest market price ....
250 00
250 00
Cleaning seed wheat ..
9 00
15
1 12
10 12
125 lbs. vitriol at fc.
7 50
94
8 44
Using vitriol on wheat ..
8 00
1 00
9 00
Sowing Oct., 1894,
60 00
14
7 00
67 00
sowing, 1Ir .. . . .
44 00
5 14
49 14
Cutting, 81.00 per acre.
400 00
4
13 33
413 33
4,400 sacks, $49.00 per M.
215 60
7 18
222 78
Thirty pounds of twine, 33'jc .. .. . Threshing 10,000
10 00
33
10 33
bushels, 4 12c ....
450 00
15 00
465 00
Hauling to R. R., 2 %c per sack ... Warehouse charg's lo Jan, 1, 1896 ... .
110 00
3 66
113 66
120 00
120 00
82,492 10
$ 181 90
Total cost ..
=2,674 00
1
15c per acre ..... Harrowing
after
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
We have presented in previous pages of this chapter figures showing the wheat yield in years 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.
The next of the great productive industries of Walla Walla county is that of
IIORTICULTURE AND FRUIT-RAISING.
In fruit culture, as in other respects. Mar- cus Whitman was the pioneer of Walla 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. Some 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 pre- sented by the city of Walla Walla to Dr. D. K. Pearsons, by whose philanthropy Whitman College so materially benefited.
Rev. II. 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 . Alpowa, in what is now Garfield county. These trees are still standing in a fine state of preservation.
The first attempt to start a nursery in the present limits of Walla Walla county was made by Mr. Ransom 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 place. The orchard on what is now the Ward place, in the city limits, was set out in 1860 by A. B. Roberts. In
1861 the greatest step in the progress of the fruit industry was taken by the coming of Philip Ritz from Oregon. Ile brought with him a number of fruit trees, which he sold to Messrs. Gilliam. Erwin, Dobson, MlcKay, 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 million 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. red- cheeked 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. Many of them laid the foundations of fortunes. It became plain to the first settlers of Walla Walla that om ac- count 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 disappointed in controlling the markets. Walla Walla became the great outfitting point for the miines. Probably no better frutit has ever been raised than that in those first orchards. No pests as yet affected the trees. It was found that apples, pears, cherries, plums and prunes were peculiarly adapted to this country. Teaches, 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
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
early orchards was that of W. S. Gilliam, on Dry creek. He had about twenty-five acres of assorted varieties of trees.
Those early orchards succeeded excellently until that famous "cold day" of 1883, when 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 farmers 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 that 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 re- marked in passing that never but once since the disaster of 1883 has there been any repetition, and that was in November, 1896, when 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 in- dustrial awakening inaugurated by the com- pletion of the transcontinental railways. Shrewd men then began to build for the fu- ture. Among many men whose energy and in- dustry laid the foundation of the fruit industry as at present developing, may be especially named: Dr. N. G. Blalock, O. R. Ballou, 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 1885. The place originally contained an entire section of land. .A donation of forty acres on the east end was made to the Walla Walla College, and around that quite a village has grown up. Of the remainder, the western part is still comparative- ly 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, cher- ries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Among other great public enterprises under- taken by Dr. Blalock in connection with his fruit ranch is his contract to receive and dis- pose of the sewage from the city of Walla Walla. This is worthy of special note, both as being an interesting experiment in land enrich- ment, also as being historically connected with this great step in the progress of the city by the inauguration in 1900 of a sanitary and scien- tific method of sewerage.
In connection with Dr. Blalock's under- takings it is fitting to mention here his 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 es- pecially well adapted to peaches and apricots. The season there is so early that trees blossom ir February, and yet on account of the prox- imity of the river 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 lucrative fruit ranches of Walla Walla county, time fails to speak in detail. No enterprises, perhaps, in the entire valley are so much ob- jects of pride to residents and of curiosity to visitors. Nearly every one who visits Walla W'alla is taken on a "little ride" in such a way as to pass the Ballou, Whitney, Ritz, Blalock, and Offer ranches. The position of Mr. O. R. Ballou in the history of fruit-raising is sec- ond 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. Ballou has been intimately con-
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156
HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
nected with all the fruit fairs of Walla Walla, and to his unselfish devotion much of the suc- cess of the fairs has been due.
The Whitney and Ritz places are near to- gether about two miles southwest of town, on one of the richest bodies of land out-doors. The Whitney nursery was established in 1884, Bow 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 in- terest. The name of Philip Ritz is connected with almost every important event in the his- tory of this region. farming, fruit-raising, rail- reading and general improvement. The active and useful life of Mr. 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 busi- ness of this county. He has been for two years president of the Fruit Fair Association.
The Offner place, of ninety acres, is lo- cated about a mile west of town. and has been famous for its enormous productiveness, as well as for the beauty and convenience of the build- ings and all the improvements. The dis- tinguishing feature of Mr. Offner's connection with the fruit industry, however, has been his business as a shipper.
The Thoney, Chew and Berney places are east of town on another rich spot of land. In- deed all the spots of land on which these or- chards 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 busi- ness 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 which are equally worthy of notice, though not having yet come so conspicuously into public notice. No small amount of fruit is pro- chuiced 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 1885 there were estimated to be but about four hundred acres of trees, while in 1895 there were 2,810 acres, of which 1.830 were in bearing, pre- sumably about 325.000 trees in all. There has been no reliable estimate since 1895. Some good observers think the acreage to be some- thing over three thousand acres.
We have not given here any detailed ac- count of the garden business of Walla Walla. 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 Amer- icans in that line of work, and that they pro- duce a prodigious quantity of all the common vegetables, both for supplying the town and for shipping in all directions. The vegetables, like the fruits, of the "garden city" are re- nowned for excellence, as well as quantity.
The following brief summary of statistics gives a conception of the present extent of the industry of fruit and vegetable-raising :
The business of the Walla Walla Produce Company for 1900, about $150.000; of WV. S. Offner, $150,000; of other dealers and ship- pers, about $150.000; total. $450.000.
The total number of car-loads shipped from Walla Walla in 1900 was about six hundred, and of this eighty-five per cent. was fruit.
There are consumed at home probably the
Besides these places which have received equivalent of about two hundred and fifty car-
157
HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
loads. Some have estimated the total yield of the county at nearly one thousand car-loads.
The Walla Walla Produce Company shipped in 1900 about fifty thousand boxes 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 Walla 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 indus- try of Walla Walla would be incomplete with- out reference to the fruit fairs which have 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-growers associa- tion, of which Dr. Blalock was then presi- dent.
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 for 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 display of a character which has astonished visitors. Concerning the fair of 1900, the fourth in order under the management of the
Fruit Fair Association, we find the following excellent account in the Inland Empire of Oc- tober, 1900:
"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 south- eastern Washington. This was true as to 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 re- sponsible for much that goes to make up the category of the virtues of the Walla Walla valley. Give our agriculturists and horticult- urists a year with a well regulated rainfall, and frost which considerately stays away when not wanted, and they will with diligence and care- ful culture produce grapes, pears, apples and al- most every kind of fruits and vegetables of such quality and size as are seen in no other part of the Union.
"In 1899 the fair continued six days, but this year a full week was given, and the at- tendance exceeded that of previous years by over three thousand paid admissions. The vis- itors were not restricted to Walla Walla and the immediate vicinity ; fully one thousand came from Waitsburg, Dayton and other neighbor- ing towns, and five hundred from Pendleton, Milton, Athena, and various points in our sister state. The scope of the 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 be con- gratulated. The gross proceeds of the fair were something over seven thousand dollars, and about eleven hundred dollars of this is profit, and is deposited as a nestegg for the
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IHISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
fair of igot. This is the first year in the his- tory of the fairs that any material profit has resulted in dollars and cents. Last year eighty dollars was taken in over and above expenses, and the year before nothing. Better manage- ment is responsible for this result. and a more thorough appreciation of the requirements of the fair.
"T. IT. Wagner's military band, of Seattle, furnished music for the fair, giving concerts every afternoon and evening.
"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 pro- gramme of the fair was an Indian war dance. .A score of bucks and a half dozen squaws from the U'matilla reservation were the performers, and their presence recalled to many of the vis- itors the days when the proximity of redskins was a consummation devontly 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 exhibi- tion 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. llere the farmers and those interested in the various lines of agriculture and horticulture have an opportu- nity to see the results of each others' labors.
and profit by their experience. They are en- couraged by the success of others, and obtain suggestions which 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 ag- ricultural pursuits.
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