, 1863-12-12
Proceedings of the nThird House,


In obedience to the resolution requiring
members to give descriptions of their coun-
ties, the member from Claim arose and said:
Mr. SPEAKER Perhaps there is no por-
tion of this Territory with which the inhab-
itants are so little acquainted, as the county
which | have the honor of representing
from the fact of its being so situated as to
be passed almost unobserved by the general
travelling public. Cape Flattery being in
Latitude 490 N and Longitude (fmy mem
Ory serves me right) 1889 w. Bounded on
the West and North by the Pacific Ocean
and on the East by the straits of San Juan
Del Fuca, extending southerly for a distance
of about 100 miles, to the northern boundary
of Jefferson county. Cape Flattery with
Tatouch Island, is the most extreme north
western part of the American possessions.
Cape Flattery is promontory Of consider
able height, which is often hailed with ioy
by the weary and weather-beaten mariner,
and is the terminus of the Olympic range
Of mountains which traverse this, and other
adjoining counties in a direction due North
and South.
from the main land. 1t is about two miles
square, and has an altitude of about 200 f.
Upon this Island is a Light House, substan-
TALLY built of stone and brick This struc-
ture does not only credit to the govern
ment which ordered its erection and defrayed
its expenses, but to the architect who drew
the design. 1t displays a white fred light
Neah Bay, the most important, and first
"haven" after leaving Tatouch Island
which presents itself to the storns-tossed
Barh, is situated upon Fuca Straits, about
eight miles from the Cape. This, techni-
cally speaking, is not harbor; but rather,
roadstead, and so important that it is to
be hoped the attention of the government
will be called to it for the purpose of con
structing Bredb Water, whereby ships
may ride at anchor with more safety It
now being exposed to a strong north wind
So as not to weary your patience, Mr.
Speaker, l will improve this fine Nor West
breeze by squaring my yards, and sail up
the Straits of Fuca for a distance of35 miles,
which brings me to Claim Bay. "Clalm,"
also, being the name of the tribe of Indians
which inhabit this (Clalm) county Here is
not only safe harbor, and easy of access,
but surrounded by lofty banks, which quite
recently, have been discovered to be plenti-
fully impregnated with BatuninOus Coal
an immense field of wealth, which only re-
quires to be developed to compete with
some of the richest gold fields of Idaho
The next point which should attract our
attention, is the Elwha river 1t empties
into the straits OF Fuca, at distance of
about IS miles from Cape Flattery The
course of this river is westerly and derives
its source among the Olympic mountains.
For distance of Is miles from its mouth,
on either side, is soil of unsurpassed rich
ness, susceptible of producing all kinds of
grain and vegetables, which are natural pro
ductions of this latitude. 1t is by following
this river that the only practicable pass is
found to and from Gray's Harbor, which if
not already, will be, considered an import
ant item-to have road constructed through
this pass, by which means it would place
the inhabitants of Gray's Harbor within IS
miles of Victoria, where it is probable a
good market will always exist.
-Four miles above this, is Port Angeles,
the only Port of Entry in this Territory
Here are features which are all important.
Important, Mr.. Speaker, from the fact that
it is the most natural point for the perma-
nent Port Of Entry, on account of it being
so situated that ships bound to all points on
Puget Sound, have to pass this natural stop
ping place. Besides, it affords safe and
commodous harbor, and very easy of access.
Port Angeles will eventually be the grand
rendezvous of Merchantmen ana Whalers.
After first changing the name of this Port,
which originally was Ediz Hook, it was
called Cherbourg, on account of its great re-
semblance to that stronghold of France. Its
natural facilities for such purpose, besides
being directly opposite Victoria, certainly
makes it a desirable point. But since hot
headed and graspiDg politicians have become
property holders, they have changed the
name to the more euphonious appellation of
Port Angeles At this point is also Light
House.