The Nevada Democrat., 1858-05-05
Washington Territory,

rltory, furnishes some Interesting lhlorulaton
in regard to the country north of the Columbia
river. The article was published in the STATE
Journal, We omit that portion which relates 10
mines: .t .i
THE CLIMATE
The climate of Washington Territory and the
Southern portions of British America is of the
same general character of that which obtains
all along the Pacific coast. The rains Of winter
are much lighter than in California, aud the
dry season is some two or three months shorter.
The intense heats Of the interior of California
are never experienced there, and the winters
are no colder than those of the foot hills of the
Sierra Nevada.
have kept, at Olympia, in lat. 400 30, q me-
neurological table for the last year, and find the
highest temperature Of last summer was 900.
and that only for a few days. and the lowest
temperature Of last winter was l2o above zero,
and that only for two days The remainder OF
the winter showed range of the thermometer
of from $50 to 600 above zero The winters al
Olympiaare colder than they are tive degrees
! further north, owing to the fact that the mOdi
| flying currents of wind from the ocean exert
more influence to the northward, Altitude will
of course vary the above figures sit
uations giving q lower temperature in proper
tion to the elevation. M rrt
Our winter rains are very moderate; so much
than rains. These rains very rarely ever stop
out door work; and through the most Of the win
ter, persons can work out all day without get
ting wet. The Hudson Bay people say that our
winters are strikingly like those Of England,
while our summers are much drier.
The health Of the ssrthern coast is undoub bt-
ed. Some error ia regard to thie matter seems
to have crept into the public journals of the
day. l state il as fact, patent to all the citi-
e hat hat fa.r r,.1c aa
known north of the Columbia river Indeed
fevcrs of any kind are Of veiy rare oocurrence.
The most common ailments are rheumatism and
colds amongst those who are exposed and even
these do not occur to any remarkable extent
| Bad whisky Is the bane of that country as well
as this, and every one who will let that aud all
the copper colored danes of the country alone
will almost surely live to good old age.
TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL, ETC.
The Puget Sound valley, extending from the
! Olympic or Coast range of mountains on the
west, to the Cascades or SierTas on the east, and
from Vancouver's Island on the north to the
Columbia river on the south, is an elevated
plain varying from fifty to five hundred feet
above the waters of the Sound, and possesses eve
ry variety Of soil, from the barren, gravey prai-
ries to the richest muck bottoms. 1t Is finely
watered in every part with streams of various
sizes aud of delicious cooness These streams,
from the spring branch to the river, are cool all
the year, and Of most heathful quality.
Along the Sound, aud running back from
one to five miles, the country is covered with
dense growth of splendid forest trees, affording
the finest numbering facilities in the world
Back Of this belt of timber occur prairies and
woodlands interspersed. The Cascade range
on the east rises several thousand feet high,
decorated here aud there with enormous peaks,
rising far above the snow line. and dazzling in
the sunshine like mountains of FURNISHED silver.
Such are Mounts Baker, Rainier aud st. Helen Is
looming far above their neighbors, like giants
upon natures everlasting watch towers. These
mountains give variety and grandeur to the
scenery and render voyage through Puget
Sound the pleasantest and most picturesque i'm
aginable.
The Olympic range. on the west, rises also in
places above the snow line and presents many
imposing features. Gold has been discovered
in these mountains alse and will probably afford
large returns in the future.
RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY.
Washington Territory possesses many advan-
tages over any other portion Of the Pacific slope.
Aside from its gold fields. it has the finest lam
ber. fisheries and coal beds on the coast. It's
soil responds beautifully to the labors OF the
husbandman, and its commercial and manufac-
turing facilities ure unequaled. Indeed the
western portion of the Territory is full Of the
finest harbOrs in the world. The Sound is easy
of access, having no bar at its entrance--the
water being more than thousand feet deep;
aud through its entire length and all its various
ramifcations, making q coast line Of ,698 miles
according to the u s. Coast Survey, Of interior
waters, it is navigable by the largest ships,
Lumberingis ia carried Oh heavily on the Sound
-one milling company alone turning out ten
million feet annually. Ships from all parts Of
Eurn in ihnaa faro fol in
for the European market-the spars Of that re-
giOn being the best in the world.
1t is impossible. in the short space OF letter,
TO elaborate these matters fully. / therefore
pass them without further comment, advising
all who discredt these statements to go and see
for themselves and be satisfied.
A LITTLE ADVICE TO EMIGRANTs.
Keep cool. There is plenty Of time yet to
go the mines. The best time 20 work there has
not yet come. The best mining season begins
in August, after the melting of the snow, and
lasts TIL DeceEoer. and then begins again In
March and lasts till May.
LoafeFs, free-nnch eaters, gamblers and
blacSlegs had better not 20 at all, as there is
more bread aud cheese to be eaten, more dupes
to be deceived and more money to be won In
the populous State of California than in the
sparsely populated regions OF New Caledonia
aud Washington Territory,
None but the hardy, perseverlng and enter
prising should lGunch forth into this new field
of discovery and wealth Such will receive
hearty wslceme from the pioneers Of the conn
try, and will there fHd ample scope for the ex-
ercise ofall their ensrgiss, apd the road to
wealth fairly open.
The population of the country is ss yet small.
Therefore the means Of sustaining large pop
uation is iflited. The surplus products OF the
country have been consumed at the numerous
mills and ships on the Sound, and care must be
taken that the sudden influx of population does
not raise provisions to famine prices Let
these matters be carefully looked to by the en-
igrants, as their health, comfort and interests
are involved in the matter,
ExPLoRoTIoN OF THE CoLoRADo--I.ieut. Ives
Colorado river exploring steamer arrived at
Fort Yuma on the 18th OF April. having as
ceDded the river five hundred and twenty-five
miles, and two hundred miles above the point
L. o. ~r.k Naswx