, 1858-11-12

amount Of lumber cut per diem to 200, 900
To afford some idea of the amount of lum
Der annually shipped from Puget Sound
we would here observe, that, within the past
year, the books Of the Puget Mill Com
pany." at Port Gamble, show that there
were shipped from the mills of that company
alone, to different parts of the Pacific
world, the enormous amount of 10000
feet-exclusive of the carrying on Of al
immense spar business by the same com
.pany.
In connection with the foregoing, and as
matter that will probably be perused with
interest by our readers at a distance
strangers to our territory, its geography,
&c.-we subjoin the following 1t is al
extract from q communication Of CORES
pondent Of the Alta California, who visited
this place in September last. He is q
highly intelligent gentleman, and has made
a thorough reconnaissance of our territory
His Communications have appeared in the
Aita o?er the initial "Hn Uader the
head Of " THE Washington Territory por.
tiOn of the Great American Valley of tht
Pacific" he says:
But that portion of the great valley lying in Wash
ington Territory is still comparatively even and it
natural wealth Is said 10 be second to that Of no othe
country Of equal size upon the globe. 1t Is 200 miles
from north 10 SOUTH by IS miles from east to west II
Is bounded on the north by the Straits of Fuca on the
sonth by the Columbia river, the west, by the Pa
cifc, and on the east, by the Cascade mountains
Running 80uthward from the Straits Of Fuca, two
Sounds-known as Puget Sound and Hoods Canal
which extend 100 miles through the heart Of the
sufficient to accommodate the largest ships that swim
the sea- and harbors without numeer. II Of these
Sounds that Commodore Wilkes, after having made a
carefol examination by order Of the United States
Government, and Of whom we may presume, from his
official position that he spoke upon abundant inior
nation and with regard to truth, wrote in the official
report thus:
and their safety; not shoal exists within the Straits
Of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, or
Hoods Canal that can In any way interrupt the navi
cation Of 74-gun ship. venture nothing in saying
there Is no country in the world that possesses waters
Upon the banks of these Sounds are the most valu.
able forests Of the world, whence lumber and spars
are already shipped to all quarters Of the world I'm
der the forests large beds Of coal which promise
when fairly developed TO be equal to the best Of Eng
land or Pennsylvania. The waters Of the Sound are
said 10 contain the best fisheries of the Pacific; and
TO be SUPERIOR for that purpose in many respects
any other waters Of the earth At the head Of Puget
Sound is extensive and fertile prairie rich in all
the elements Of agricultural wealth. with excellent ia
ciites for access to Market either northward by Pu-
get Sound, or southwark by the Columbia river The
country Is favorably situated for communication BY
I..sN1. II A.. III
Asia. Its climate Is mild aud Wholesome All its
lands are offered for sale at extremely low price to
the settler and much Is in the market with per.
feet titles for the distant purchaser. The people be-
long to the most intelligent and industrious class Of
American pioneers. Add to this, that gold Is known
to exist in abundance the eastern slope Of the Cas-
cades, Immediately east of Puget Sound, and that
great hopes are entertained Of the speedy deveope
ment Of Q new California and New Caledonia, which
in that case must draw many Of its supplies from the
western portion Of Washington Territory.