, 1859-08-19

only used as pasture ground Tor the In
dian horses. Although composed entirely
of beach sand, with u slight mould of de-
composed vegetation, yet from the humidi'
ty of the climate on the immediate sea
coast, this land is capable Of yielding good
crops. We saw at the lighthouse on Tokes
Point, a patch of ground which Mr.. Van
Cleave, the light keeper, had planted as an
experiment, and have not seen better po
tatoes, enious or 6eets than were there
raised
Between the lighthouse and Grny's har
Dor is one of the finest beaches in the
world, afrording at every stage vi the tide
natural road, not excelIcd by any turn
pike, which is a ready and easy route fol
persons travelling between Shoalwater Bay
and ChehGls.
i HARBoRs.
As harbors, neither ShoalwGter Bay OF
Gray,s Harbor seem to be properly appre
ciated by people in this section OF the Ter
ritory. We are too apt to draw unfaVora
BILE comparisons between those bays and
the splendid waters of Fuca Straits and
the Sound and those who never before
saw salt water till they crossed the plains
are doubtful of the utility of bay where
twice in twcnty-four hours they can see
the bottom. But give it as my judg'
ment, from former residence Of four years
at Shoalwater Bay, daring which time
made several examinations Of Gray's Har'
bor, that both those bays are as good har-
bors as that of Boston, and better than
that of Philadelphia
Boston harbor in particular, very much
resembles those bays, having extensive
flats bare at low water traversed in
various directions by deep channels, and
yet it appears to be well adapted to the
wants OF great commercial city.
The harbors of Liverpool and Havre
the great commercial marts of England
and France, are not equal to either Shoal.
water Bay or Gray's Harbor as harbors
and yet we 6ud persons cArping and de.
nouncing the waters of a very important
part Of our Territory, because they have in
them great flats, which are left bare by
the rOceding tide and have an unsightly
appearance.
The entrance to both these bays is good
that Of Shoalwater Bay in particular, which
has already been surveyed by the Govern
ment, and shows depth of water at the
extreme low tides of three and one.hnlI
fathoms on the bar The soundings at
Gray's Harbor do not materially differ from
Shoalwatcr Bay, but as yet Government
has not caused a survey to be made, which
will prevent Gray's Earbor at present from
having much of commercial growth, for
underwriters will not insure vessels into
unsurveyed harbors. The rise and fall OF
the tide at the entrance to Gray's Harbor
and Shoalwater Bay varies from ten to if-
teen feet, giving ample depth of water for
vessels drawing twenty to twenty-five feet
\ Vessels drawing eighteen feet of water
have loaded in Shoalwater Bay during my
residence there, and have never known
Of any difficulty in going in or out either
the bays.
NAvIGABILITY OF THE CHEHALIs.
The Chehalis river is navigabls at all
times of tho tides for vessels of a light
draft, or for small river steamers, as far as
the mouth of the Wyhooche, at Mr.. Scam
mons place, and at high water to the
mouth of the Satsop, where there is rise
and fall Of the tide some eighteen inches
The whole distance from Chehols City is
some forty miles. Above the Satsop, the
river at the present low state Of the water
cannot be navigated by anything but ca
noes, but for eight months in the year
there is enough water to run steamer
nearly to Skookum Chuck. But to dc
this, much labor has to be performed to
remove drifts and clean out the river
Black river is impractcable for any
kind of steamboat navigation. Its mouth
is grown up with willows and obstructed
by bars, aud between its mouth and Black
Lake arc several extensive drifts of timber
To clean out Black river and build steam
er suitable to run on its crooked and mar
row stream, would require as much money
as would build good plank road all the
way from Olympia to the block house al
Smiths Prairie.
There is, as 1 have before stated, good
wagon road from Olympia to the block
house. This road with some repairs and
bridging of sluices and bottoms that, tho
dry at present, are full of water in winter
will be all that is required at present. The
distance from Olympia to the block house
is 80 miles from the block house to the
Satsop is about 20 miles; and from SatsoT
to Chebalis City about 40 miles-making
the whole distance about 90 miles.
Persons desirous Of going from Olympia
to Gray's Harber, should ride to the ferry
at the block house, where they can fine
Indians and canoes at all times to carry
them, either direct to the mouth Of the riy
er or to any point to which the steamboat
may come. The Enterprise was expected
on the river the day we left, and it is to b.
hoped is already making her trips.s
have always felt deep interest in tht
development of the southwestern portion
of our Territory, believing it destined to bt
of vast Importance to US in a commercial
and agricultural point of view, and shall a
Come of her time nraSqnt to vour raad.r,