, 1868-09-18
Information for Immirrant..


Information for Immigrants.
The following communication furnishes much
information relative to part of the Territory of
which but little has hitherto been known, and
as such we give it place in our columns:
BELLISsHAN BAY, August 81, 1868.
EDlroR SrArEsMAS = Understanding that
large immigration has crossed the plains this sea-
son to settle on the Pacific slope, and that large
portion thereof would pass through your Valley,
branching off from there in different directions,
propose through your columns to give q de-
scrption of this portion of the Territory (hither
to so little known) for the benefit of those who
are seeking home in our midst. Whatcom
county, including the disputed islands, contains
upwards of ten thousand square miles of land I;
its population is about 45O white male adults !;
% white female adults, and about 60 white
children. 1t is the extreme northwestern por-
ton of the Territory, being bounded on the north
and west by the British and o. s. boundary line.
agricultural lands of any county west Of the Cas-
cade Mountains but owing to the want froads,
and its isolated position from the line of travel
on the Sound, but few farmers have reached here
yet The Skagit River drains the southern por-
ton of the county, along the banks of which are
large tracts of rich bottom lands, wh1rs hundreds
of settlers could obtain good farms by clearing
alder, maple and brush there is no prairie land
on this river, but great portions of it could be
easily cleared there are about twenty settlers
located there no white women. Immediately
west of the mouth of the Skagit are what is
called the Swanomish fats, a body of low prai-
re land about six miles square, connecting FL
dalgo Island with the main land. These flats
are overAowed in the extreme high tides in
winter, but never in summer, and by dykeng
they can be kept quite dry, and put in the high
est degree of cultivation for pasture lands they
are unequalled in the Territory. So says every
stranger who sees them thousands of tons of
wild grass can be cut there every year. A slough
goes through the fats, through which small
steamers and boats can pass at high water, af-
fording navigable route from the upper portion
of the Sound to Bellingham Bay, north of Wild
by's Island, giving settlers the means of obtain
ing supplies and sending their produce to market
in any direction. There is but one family on
the flats yet, Mr. Dodge, who has not been one
year on his claim, and has over forty acres in
crop about dozen claims are taken, and there
is nearly hundred left. On Fidalgo Island
containing about fifty square miles, there are
some very rich tracts of land. On Beales Bay.
on the west side Of the island, there is about a
thousand acres of prairie, on which there are
nrran Il.
glng camp of about 20 men. North from the
Swanomish fats about two miles are the Samish
hats of the same description, and about half as
extensive as the Swanomish Twelve miles north
from there brings you to Whatcom, the county
seat, situated on Bellingham Bay, half mile
from which are the Bellingham Bay coal mines
which have just been reopened on a large and
extensive scaei ready to deliver for hundred tons
per day. A new wharf is now being built at
which two large vessels can be loaded at once.
There are about one hundred persons employed
at these mines, and about fifty more miners are
wanted. From this point along the foot of the
mountains to the boundary line, II miles, thence
along the boundary line to Simiahmoo, about 80
miles, thence back along the shore to the Itartne
point, encloses body Of rich agricultural land
The Lummi river runs through it ons mouth
emptying into Bellingham Bay, another INTO the
Gulf of Georgia. On this river there are some
strips of prairie, and many valuable claims could
be bad by clearing brush, vine maple ard alder.
This portion OF the country is part OF large
and extensive coal field, extending moth into
British Columbia, which will soon be largely
developed, afording a market for the farmers
who may try their fortunes here. Within the
disputed territory three large islands Orcas,
Lopez, and San Juan, on each of which are large
bodies of good land. Immigrants will be able to
cross the Snoqualmie Pass this fall, and drive
their wagons to Seattle, from whence steamer
phys weekly to Belling5sm Bay. The greatest
want of Washington Territory is single women,
and in no part of it is that want greG than in
Whatcom county. hundred young women
that would be willing to take a working man
for a husband, are greatly needed here, and would
be godsend to the country. Any farmer COM
ing here to settle with several manageable
daughters, would have little to pay for help in
the way OF house-rasing, log. rolling, &c Any
one seeing this and desiring more definite infor-
nation can have it by addressing me at this
place. have lived here over fifteen years, and
will be pleased to furnish any one with informa,
ton on any subject connected with this country.
EDWARD ELDRIDGE.