, 1859-08-19

.
miles above the block house, where Messrs.
Gholson, Woodson and myself left the ca
noe, to the house of Mr.. Hill, on Black riv-
er, three miles distant Col Simmons pre-
fering to remain in the canoe and go to
Mr.. Hills by way Of the Black house.
Judge Ford also left US at this point and
proceeded home.
We reached Mr. Hill's house about noon,
and were soon joined by Col. Simmons, who
reported the navigation of Black river very
bad, from numerous shoals and other Oh
structions. We remained at Mr.. HilPs all
night, and left on the following morning for
Olympia, in wagon belonging TO and
driven by DR.. Roundtree, and reached the
town in time for supper on the evening of
the 5th, having been absent on our tour
eleven days.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.
have given above a brief itinerary of
our movements, aud will now give q de-
Scription OF the country from my own OBJ
servation, and from information furnished
me at the Office of Gen. Tilton, the Survey
or General of the Territory.
The valley of the Chehalis comprises au
area of some seventy miles square, most Of
which is a dme farming land as can be
found in the Territory. On the various trib-
utaries, and in particular, the Satsop, Wy
nooche, Wish-kahl and Um-tO.ah (Which
last empties however into Gray's Harbor,
may be found most excellent prairie lands,
offering superior inducements to settlers.
On the river itself, we could only judge by
the appearance of the banks and the growth
Of timber along the water course of its quail
iications for settlement, excepting in the
instances where We made our camps, when
we had better opportunity TO judge Of
the country.
The Chehalis river is beautiful stream,
clear as crystal, and running over hard
gravel or pebbly bottom. The scenery
along its course, from Judge Ford's to
Gray's Harbor, is varied and romantic-at
one time passing great meadows covered
with luxuriant crops Of red top and wild
timothy then long distance Of level
country, stretching back into prairies, and
covered along the water course with a
growth of willow, poplar and vine maple;
then upland and billy country, where u
magnificent forest Of fir, spruce, cedar and
hemiock offer an almost inexhdustable sup
ply of material for the lumbermaA.
At Mr.. Smiths claim, where we stopped
at the block house, we saw fno fields of
wheat and oats, and band of fine cattle
in excellent condition. The thrifty appear
ance of every thing about the premises
gave evidence of the industry and energy
of Mr.. Smith and bis wife, who have a
farm already prepared-during very
short time-that any one might be proud
to own.
Meesrs Sidney and Thomas Ford, whose
claim we next stopped at, have also most
excellent crops Their field of peas excels
! any that have yet seen this season, aud
their harvest bids fair to yield them hand
some return for their labor. These gentle
men have just completed large barn to
hold their crops. 1t is a substantial frame
building, and looks as if might last cen
tury.
At the mouth Of the Wynooche is the
claim of Mr.. Scammon, who has fine or
chard Of apple, peach and cherry trees,
some of which are in full bearing. His
vegetable garden bore signs of careful cul-
ture, and the rows Of fine currant and
gooseberry bushes reminded me of the gar
dens in the older states. Mr.. Scammon
has most excellent claim. 1t is at the
head Of tide navigation, and must be event
ually the place where the principal town
on the river will be built.
At the council ground--our next camp
ing place-Nessrs. Byles & Young have q
fine farm. Their fruit trees are in most
excellent condition, and their grass exceeds
anything have seen. Ono field of timo-
thy measured over five feet in height, and
lot Of native red top over seven feet. l
am satisfied that if our farmers would cul-
tivate some of our own native grasses, in
stead of looking to the Patent Office for
seed, they would not only produce some Of
the finest grass in the world, but would in-
trodnce new varieties which could be raised
with profit in the older states.
From the council ground we come into
what may be termed tide lands, or lands
overaowed during the winter months at
the highest course of tides. These lands
continue to the mouth of the river, and are
very fertile. Some Of them are covered
with willow, hazle aud vine maple-easily
cleared other portions, more elevated, are
covered with spruce aud hemlock. There
are several claims now taken between the
council ground and the mouth Of the river,
which yield good crops wherever they have
been cultivated