Page:All Over Oregon and Washington.djvu/100

94 either settlers on the small streams, or miners on the head-waters of John Day's River. Therefore Dalles has not yet much back country to sustain it. We are convinced, however, that in two or three years more a great change will have taken place in this respect, and that portions of Wasco County, hitherto entirely overlooked, will be made to "blossom as the rose."

A United States branch Mint had been partially constructed at Dalles, which was designed to coin the products of the mines of Montana, Idaho, and Eastern Oregon; but the opening of the Central Pacific Railroad, and the diversion of bullion to the Philadelphia Mint consequent upon it, have rendered a branch at Dalles superfluous; and the building will probably be converted to other purposes. A woolen mill has also lately been erected, which is to be supplied with material from the plains of Wasco County. A fine flouring mill manufactures a brand of "best Oregon;" the Oregon Steam Navigation Company have their machine-shops on a small island at the mouth of Mill Creek; and trades in general do a good business at this place. Churches and schools prosper among the Dalles people, and the population is rather more than ordinarily intelligent.

The name of Wascos was given to this division of the Des Chutes—so runs the Indian legend—in the following manner: The Indians being collected at the fishery, a favorite spot for taking salmon, about three miles from Winquat, one of them was so unlucky as to lose his squaw, the mother of his children, one of whom was yet only a babe. This babe would not be comforted, and the other children, being young, were clamorous for their mother. In this trying position, with these wailing little ones on his awkward masculine