try, but almost unknown west of the Cascades. There is a considerable rain-fall during this night and another day—clearing and cooling the air—making our voyage down Snake River truly an agreeable one.
The impression gained of Idaho, from this glimpse at one spot on its western border, is more favorable than we had anticipated. It confirms the belief, which has been gradually growing in our mind ever since we left Walla Walla, that the whole of this Columbia Basin has been underestimated as a country for settlement. The people who are now here and have been here for several years, have always been in the habit of looking upon this as only a mining region. They have never intended to remain here longer than their interest in the mines compelled a residence, and, consequently, have never been inquisitive about its agricultural capacities. Within the last two years, however, a change has taken place in the sentiments of these unwilling settlers, and they are commencing to plant out fruit-trees—the surest evidence that they intend now to make this country their permanent residence. Several thousand dollars have lately been invested by the people of Idaho in young trees, imported from the East. In connection with these observations of our own, we clip the following from an Oregon paper:
"Mr. D. P. Thompson, the surveyor, was in town during the forepart of the week. In a conversation with him he informed us, that, in surveying north of Lewiston, this last summer, he was much surprised to find it such a beautiful agricultural country. He says, it contains more land adapted to agriculture than is embraced in the entire Wallamet Valley, including all its tributaries. He saw whole sections that would
