Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/652



Wilkes in U. S. Exploring Expedition, volume XXIII, Hydrography atlas, callls the western part of the island "Yapats I" and the eastern part "Kotse I," and the channel to the south, now known as Wallace Slough, is called by him "Natsox Run." Wilkes does not explain these names, though they are apparently of Indian origin.

WALLACE SLOUGH, Columbia County. This is probably the small river described by Broughton, which he named Swaine's River on October 26, 1792. Its appearance emerging from behind Wallace Island doubtless led Broughton to believe it was a real river.

WALLALUTE Falls, Hood River County. These falls are on the northeast slope of Mount Hood. They were named in 1893 by Miss A. M. Lang of The Dalles. The word is the Wasco Indian term for strong water. Miss Lang and Will Langille explored the falls on September 26, 1892. Langille and Will Graham had been there about a year before, but Miss Lang was the first white woman as far as known to visit the place. She asked Wasco Sally for a list of names from which to select, and Wallalute was the result. Sally told Miss Lang the word meant strong water, and her statement was confirmed by Sampson, a prominent Indian at the Warm Springs Agency.

WALLOWA, Wallowa County. Wallowa was the first post office in that part of Oregon that now comprises Wallowa County. The office was can lished April 10-1873 with lohn Smedona established April 10, 1873, with John Snodgrass first postmaster. It was on the Union County list at the time.

WALLOWA COUNTY. Wallowa County is the extreme northeast county of Oregon. It has a land area of 3178 square miles. Wallowa is a Nez Perce Indian word used to describe a structure of stakes set in a triangle, used to support a network of sticks called lacallas, for catching fish. These traps were put in Wallowa River below the outlet of Wallowa Lake. This information was furnished the compiler by Levi Ankeny of Walla Walla, who was thoroughly familiar with the early history and tradition of the Wallowa Valley and on intimate terms with many Indians, who knew the facts of the matter. This origin of the name has been disputed, but the compiler is disposed to place great weight on Levi Ankeny's opinion, which was confirmed by J. H. Horner of Enterprise. Wallowa County was created February 11, 1887. See F. V. Holman's "History of Counties of Oregon," OHQ, volume XI, page 60. Wallowa River is a tributary of Grande Ronde River, which Lewis and Clark named Wil-le-wah. The explorers also gave the name to a tribe of Indians.

WALLOWA MOUNTAINS, Baker, Union and Wallowa counties. The Wallowa Mountains are an important geographical feature in Oregon and represent a structure quite distinct from most of the other mountain ranges of the state. They are granitic and are not of volcanic origin, or the result of lava flows. They are rugged in character and alpine in appearance. They take their name from Wallowa River. These mountains were formerly known by a number of names, most of which were applied by prospectors. These names included Granite Mountains, Powder Mountains, Eagle Mountains. J. Neilson Barry, at the time living in Baker, recommended to the USBGN that these local names be eliminated and the name Wallowa Mountains be used to describe the features in question. This was done and the new name