Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-02-23


by settlers and hunters either for their
own food or else for the Victoria mar
ket. Grouse, partridges, rabbits and
squirrils are very abundant, and the Ia
goons and bays upon the salt water are
filled with ducks and geese. There is
no better hunting-ground that / am ac-
Qualnted with than the range Of country
along the base of the Olympia range,
extending from Port Discovery to Cape
Flattery-and on this whole range, no
portion is better adapted to the hunter
than Scquiln.
The most expeditions method of
reaching the prairie, for any person up
the Sound, dcsirous of visiting that por-
ton of the Territory. would be to take
the steamer EI,o Amd.rSon, and pro-
cecd in her to Dungcness. From the
village good road Of three miles will
afford easy travel either on foot or
horseback. A trip to Dungcncss and
Sequim will we'll repay the lovers of
the picturesque. and if the hospitalities
rendered Inc by the settlers of both
places are an evidence of their general
rule towards strangers, certainly no
one can complain.
The great fertility of the land in
Clallam county. and particularly in the
vicinity OF Dungcncss, is well known.
Had | the proper material to refer to, |
would give vou an account of the re-
sources OF that county, but | think it
but justice to the settlers for some one
of their own number to write you such
information syou desire. upon that see
ton of the Territory. One thing, how
ever, can add from my own observa-
tion, and that is in relation to the eli
mate. 1t is Il singular meteorological
fact that the air is milder and more
pure Oh Scquim prairie than it is here
in Port Townsend. only thirty miles
distant. The reason appears to me TO
bc this :--thc belt Of timber and hilly
country between the prairie and Dungc-
ness soften. and break the force Of the
strong northwest winds that prevail on
Fuca Straits during the winter months.
while the hills between Port Discovery
and Scquiin bay and the timber on the
foot hills of the Olympic range equally
protect it from the southeast winds
which prevail on Hoods Canal and Pu-
get Sound, as far down as Port Town
send, where they seem to cxpcnd their
force. The two winds meet at the en-
trance to Admiralty Inlet. and il is not
an unrolnmon occurrence to have the
wind blowing here from the southeast.
and below Point Wilson either calm
all the way to Dungcness or else north
west wind blowing on the Straits. On
several occasions during my visit on the
prairie l noticed the fog and scud driv-
ing down the passage between Point
Wilson and Whidby's Island before Il
strong south easter, while VIC were en-
: loving clear sunshine and a perfect
calm.
: The rear proximity of the prairie to
the base of the Olympic mountains will
make ii a convenient position for any
expedition to start from, with the intcn-
ton of prospecting or exploring those
mountains, either in the search for gold
or to discover some pass which will lead
to the fertile valley of the Chehalis.
That both these objects can be attained
| have no doubt; noeXploration, except
Il little prospecting, has us yet been un-
dertakcn, but wherever the streams
have been examined the color of gold
has been found, and last year on the
Elwha river, few miles west from
Dungencss. some very good specimens
of rich gold were obtained. No one
however has seen fit to prosecute the
search-thc attention of miners having
been directed to gold fields already
found on Frazer river, and in our own
territory cast Of the Cascades. 1t is i'll
+ contemplation to start a party of ex-
plorers through these mountains the
coming summer. The result of their
investigations will prove of great inter-
est, and | have every confidence that a
careful exploration WILDE crowned with
success. Should such prove the fact,
the benefits that must accrue to this
portion of the territory, in causing an
increased population, will more than
amply repay the present settlers for any
outlay they may be called upon to make
to lctray the expenses Of such an eNpe-
dition. Should it be my fortune toj join
the proposed party, You may rely upon
Il full account of the result for your
columns. JAMES &. Swan.
n>7y- Old maids--a class of sensible
women, who refuse to accept husband
until they get some one whom they
can love and esteen-which OF course,