, 1853-06-11
From our steIIacOOm Correspondent.


MrssRs. McELRoY & BlEsE:
promised you in my last communica-
tion, t93giyc in my next, a few items relative
to the interior portions of Pierce County.
| shall now make an clIot 10 redeem that
promise sincerely hoping that the few sim
pie facts may relate, will serve TO benefit,
in some measure, the settlers upon our eX-
tensive prairies, and the many worthy peo-
pie who a.e continually pouring into our in
FAINT Territory, with the hope strong in their
hearts of finding good " claims upon which
they can settle, and fol the remainder Of
their natural lives, live in peace and plenty.
From some cause or other, probably narrow
sectional feelings and prejudices, late has
gone abroad, and been pretty generally re-
ceived as truth, that the soil of our praries
is, for the far greater portion of them, bar
rem and unfruilful, and that they never will
repay the husbandman for the labor he may
bcstow upon them. 1t is certainly 10 be re-
GREETED that SC false an impression relative
10 the lands Of our county should have been
made, as II has a tendency not only to re-
tard the progress of it, and initiate against
the interests of all who reside within its
borders, but also TO hinder many who are
looking for comfortable homes for them
selves and families, from finding them here.
A ride over a goodly portion Of the
" Stclacoom Plains," a short time since,
and look ct the many beautiful and pro-
ductlve farms, that are to be found scattered
here and there, completely undeceived me
in regard 70 the productiveness of the soil,
for | too, had listened to the stories aAoat,
which, together with the gravelly appear
ance that the ground in some places pre-
sents, that led me 10 believe that they were
unproductive, and that nothing Of use or
benefit would grow upon thea. Heretofore
have estimated the value Of the lands in
this neighborhood-ior agricultural purpo-
ses-at very 4" low 6gure," for | honestly
thought that there were but few spots, and
those small and widely apart, where any
thing that man desires, could be raised but
an examination of some small fields of grain
and potatoes, that recently made, where
skillful attention has been bestowed, has ei-
fected an entire ,evoluIion in my estimate
of the fertility of the soil,
Upon the farm of w. p. Doughcrty, Esq,
| noticed a small patch Of potatoes, say hall
an acre, which looked as thriving as any
have ever seen, and which, verify believe
will produce two hundred bushels, and that
too, upon soil of precisely the same nature,
as the generality OF The prairies. Near by
this is the farming claim Of Mr.. ]. Bradley
which, by his skillful management, and un-
firing industry, will be in few years, one
of the most fourishing in our county. His
wheat, oats and potatoes look finely, and
promise good crop, but what struck me as
more Aourishing than all, was a piece Of
rye, than which, ! have seldom seen any
grain in more prosperous, or healthy con-
dlion, on any Of the well-manured farms oi
the Atlantic States Candidly speaking,
do not believe there is an acre Of ground
upon these beautiful and widespread plain:
that will not, by proper management and
attention, produce crops sufficiently large
10 handsomely remunerate the farmer fol
his labor and care and further than this,
venture the prediction that every foot ol
ground upon these prairies will soon be
claimed and improved, and tina; Pierce coun-
ty will boast Of community as happy and
prosperous as that of any in our well-be-
loved Territory. In future article shall
say more upon this subject. B.