The Placer herald., 1861-05-25
Washington Territory Correspondence.


Mess,s Editors: Perhaps many of your
readers would like to know why this coun
,rv is attractive. would not have those
who had Frazer river experience to Judge
Washington Territory by that region, for
am sure had they visited the Sound before
returning many would have certainly de
termined to settle here, where they could
have done well.
On my arrival in San Francisco | was
surprised to find the trade carried on with
this region. From five to ten vessels being
loaded for the Sound every week, and that
the coal and lumber market WAS supplied
from here exclusive y.
On our trip up we We're fifteen days to the
Straits. We stopped at Victorla-this ACE
is said to have grown rapidly the last year,
bat at present is at stand still. | did not
expect to see the town so large or well built.
1t is remarkably handsome, well laid out,
and contains large number of fine brick,
granite, freestone, and marble stores and
residences. A favorable indication Of the
piety Of the people is, that the town contains
seven churches, and very pretty ones, too
different points. The Governors side of the
Island is lovely. Here | saw style of ar
chiteciure that was new to me-belng a
combination Of brick and wood, that | will
not attempt to describe further than to say
it was ornamental, and useful in strength,
warmth, and non liability to fire. }u my
greatest surprise were the gardens. ex
pected to find Il cold, chez less climate,
where little would bloom bat they were
beautiful in their liyeres of green, and abun.
dance of flowers.
On the Island the Indians are in swarms,
and terror to the people from their hume
rons depredations.
At Victoria | found Mr.. Mcdonald, for
merry of Rattesnake. He has the principal
banking house in the city, and is well satisfied
with his business. He seemed to take great
pleasure in showing us attention while there.
He was particular in his inquiries about old
acquantances at RattIesnake.
Victoria has this disadvantage. 1t can
never be good port, for the reason that its
bay is small, shallow and the chan'e quite
crooked Vessels of large dranght cannot
enter, and even for small ones it * unsafe.
The place can never be "a great commercial
point, and the people now see il.
Leaving Victoria Port Townsend is the
port of entry on this side. In making this
point we had gale Of wind, which drove us
back to Dungeness where we lay twelve
hours. From Port Townsend we visited
Ludlow and then Madlsun After taking
this trip | can but say of the waters of the
1,,,l,o bn ,o IA
have sa;d-that they are the most beautiful
in the United States. There are nothing
like them on the Pacific. Here the largest
ships, even the Great Eastern, can sail with
impunty. No bars, shoals-every little
cove is shelter. In length the Sound is
two hundred miles from Cape Flatterv.-
The timber upon the shores is of immense
size, and inexhaustible in quantity. The
trees grow to the very edge of the waters,
and the forest is almost impenetrable to man
or beast. What a place to build navy!
what facilities for commerce! On the Sound
there are some twenty five saw mills, and
ship lumber is $l4 per thousand to San
Francisco.
The location of Seattle is one Of the most
beautiful th4 eyes ever looked upon. The
town is said to be the pleasanest upon the
Sound, and has the best facilities for ships.
The bay is large and we'll sheltered from
gales. The entrance is four miles in width.
the town being directly opposite the entrance,
and on rising ground, has a commanding
appearance 1t is surrounded by fine timber,
Two miles distant there are two beautiful
lakes, that have an outlet in the river above
the town. Seattle contains a number Of
well built two story houses-has four good
wharves, and one saw mill and grist MILL
The Masonic fraternity have a hall; there is
also neat church, several good stores, and
number of pretty private residences, with
good gardens attached. The gardens and
fruit here have been a surprise to me. Flow
ers would grow so rapidly as to be almost
nuisance; and their fragrance surpasses those
of California, which attribute to the mois-
ture of the soil. You can scarcely walk in
the suburbs without treading upon the straw
berry and blackberry vines. am told there
are about sixty families in the town and i'm.
mediate vicinity. The only ladies | have
seen are Of accomplished manners, and
seemingly possessed of the nobIest traits of
character. There is great wealth here cen
tered in the hands of the few, but it is estate
that is not productive at present. There is
an excellent opening here for mechanics, but
of that will speak in my next. ***
a,