The valley of the Tucanon, a ribbon of fertile soil deep down in the timbered heights of the Blue Mountains and lower down its course surrounded by the wide flats and benches of Garfield and Columbia counties, is the natural home for berries and "truck" of all sorts. The strawberries and melons are of the finest. The sparkling stream—one of the finest fishing streams by the way affords limitless opportunity for easy and economical irrigating and the soil is of the best, even in a region where good soil is no curiosity.

The Snake River section, extending down the western and southern bank of the river from Asotin, with frequent breaks on account of the bluffy shores, its largest expansion being at Clarkston, with considerable areas at Alpowa, Kelly's Bar, Ilia and other points, is a unique region. We shall speak at greater length of the Clarkston and Asotin regions, but it may be said in general terms that the long narrow belt of land bordering the river, having its counterpart on the opposite side in Whitman County, has long been recognized as the very homeland of the peach, apricot, nectarine, grape, berries of all sorts, and melons. It is of low elevation, from seven hundred and fifty feet at Asotin to about four hundred at Page. It is almost semi-tropical in climate, its products getting into market nearly as early as those from Central California. Injurious frosts in blossom time are almost unknown. The soil is a soft warm friable volcanic ash with loam surface. Though there is no railroad and not even continuous wagon roads on the river bank, there are numerous points of approach down the valleys and coulees entering the river, and the stream itself affords water navigation for large steamers about half the year, and for small boats at all times. With the system of canalization now in contemplation by the Government the river will become continuously navigable throughout the year and will possess infinite possibilities both for power and navigation. It should also be stated here that Asotin County has a larger acreage in fruit trees than any other of the four counties.

SUMMARY OF RECENT PRODUCTION

While we shall speak of certain special features of each section in our descriptive chapter covering the present time, we may properly give here a summary of recent production for the four counties.

The reader is asked to recall the earlier figures in order that he may form a proper conception of the change wrought. We present here the figures preserved in the office of the Commercial Club of Walla Walla for the year 1916. They are given in round numbers, but may be considered reliable and conservative.

Production, 1916Value to Growers
Wheat—11,000,000 bushels$12,100,000
Barley—1,300,000 bushels910,000
Corn—250,000 bushels200,000
Alfalfa—140,000 tons1,800,000
Apples—1,000,000 boxes1,000,000
Prunes—5,000 tons200,000
Cherries—800 tons80,000
Onions—260,000 sacks322,500
Asparagus—500 tons50,000
Miscellaneous, including hay other than alfalfa, vegetables other than onions and asparagus600,000
Livestock, dairy products, poultry, wool, flour and chop8,000,000
Total agricultural, horticultural, and stock products25,262,500

The United Staten census report for 1910 gives a population for the four counties of 49,003. H we allow for 10 per cent increase in 1916, we shall have approximately fifty-four thousand people in Old Walla Walla County. The year 1916 represents, therefore, a gross income of nearly $468 for each man, woman, and child in the area. This, it most of course be observed, is the income from the soil, and takes no account of the earnings of the manufacturing, mercantile, professional, and laboring classes. It is safe to say that few regions in the United States or the world can match such an income representing the absolute increase in wealth taken right from the earth. It is no wonder that the farmers of our four counties have automobiles and household luxuries galore, and when harvest time is over take trips to California, Honolulu, or "back East," or, before the war, to Europe. It is of interest to add here the approximate areas in cultivation in the four counties. It was reported in 1916 as follows:

Grain lands, in hearing and in summer-fallow—
Walla Walla County500,000 acres
The other counties500,000 acres
Fruit lands—
Asotin County3,500 acres
(Note: An underestimate of Asotin County.)
Walla Walla County2,690 acres
Columbia County1,045 acres
Garfield County525 acres

MANUFACTURING

We have confined our attention thus far to what might be regarded as the natural fundamental industries of stock raising, farming, and horticulture.