Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-08-07

Mountains the climate is entirely different,
being warmer in summer. colder in winter,
and much drier all the time.'
1t is proper to add that during the sum-
mcr months, the heat will occasionally
cause the thermometer to rise TO ninety. or
even one hundred degrees; hut the nights
are always cool and refreshing. Frosts
hang on till late if May or June, and oc-
cur sometimes in September, and even ear
li,r. Hence, while our climate is adapted
to raising all the products Of the Middle
States, our cool nights prevent the grape,
peach, melon and corn from being SUCCESS
fully maturtd every season.
Mahh/alness.-Dr. Alden II. Steele, for
several years Assistant Surgeon, u. S. A..
and twenty years practitioner of mcdi-
cine iu Oregon and Washington, OF en-
viablc reputation for integrity as man.
and skill as physician, furnishes the fol-
lowing
"Thc following statements are confined
to the western portion of Washington Ter
ritory, unless special mention is made of
eastern sec,ious. You inquire,
lst Are there any diseases peculiar TO
this Territory, or any special locality in
the same:
1pSmer. Not any. Diseases here are
similar to those in the Middle States, but
usually of mi!drr and more tractablc char
actcr. Fevrrs are almost entirely unknown,
and when they are met with, are distinctly
tlacrabe TO causes originating in the indi-
vidual, and not to the country or climate.
The cranthcmata, such as measles, scarlet
fever, etc, are ordinarily much milder here
than in the Atlantic States. Fever and
aguc, very rare; an occasional case in the
vicinity of newly opened land, attributable
to the effects OF the sun upon recently ex-
posed vegetable mould, but in no way to
the climate or the country.
2d. lon ask me if prodisposition to
disease. hereditary or otherwise, such as
bronchial, pulmonary or rheumatic aifrc-
tions, renders the Territory an improper
location for the party so prtdsposcd:
.Ans. TO this | would reply, that per-
sons having prudisposition to pulmonary
consumption, would not be benefited by a
residence in this country. For, though
this country or its climate is not specially
ha6ie to bring on such diseases, yet there
is no evidence of special relief Or benefit
accruing to persons who have come here
mjh tint disease. The eastern portion OF
the Territory has better reputation in that
rrs,cct than the western. rheumatism is
Known more or less throughout the whole
Territory, but it is usually found that the
persons who bring rheumatism into the
country with them are relieved, while those
with whom it originated here, are benefit
ted by change of climate. The first
cause Of rheumatism being in the individ.-
ual more than in the climate, the humidity
of our Puget Sound winters, makes but
little difference from such cause. Indeed,
my experience at the Dallcs and east of the
Cascade Mountains, leads to the opinion
that there is more rheumatism in the dry
climate, rast of the Cascade Mountains.
than on the western slope, where rain is
more frequent"
Sd. General Sanitary Conclusions: Fe.
males in this country, as in Oregon and
California, are not usually as healthy as
the men. This is occasioncd by the char
ac.cr of their work, and the construction
of houses, and is not attributable to cli-
ma,c. Those who are out in the open air,
aad dwell IN well ventilated houses, are
fully equal in general health to the men.
Children are very healthy. There is no
part Of the United States where children
arc more healthy than in this portion Of
Washington Territory. The climate APP
pears to be particularly adapted to them,
it being neither very warm nor cold, and the
purity of the atmosphere preventing tina.
virulepce common to infantilc diseases in
other countries.
HI-.As TO Puget Sound, its crtent, mGc-
agafiOn, etc.
The question asked as to the suficiency
of water for merchant vessels, VIC answer: :
The U. S. Steamer Pcnsacola, flagship OF
the North Pacific Squadron, 1900 tons.
not long since anchored within three
miles of Olympia, and could as readily have
come mile rcarer the town, at the lowest
stage of water, and abreast of the town at
hightide. The steamers Or!aamme, Gus
SIC TcIfair and other ocean steamers arc
constantly coming up to the wharves.
The extent of Puget, Sound, including
the Straits of Fuca, may be inferred from
the following measurement Of the shore
line made by the Coast Survey:
Straits of Juan de Fuca. ...............l6 l6lO
Rosario Straits, Canal de Haro, Gulf Of
Georgia. &c... ..................... .....oS..U
Admiralty lnlet............. ...SJdW
Puget Sound. ...............2 ..2SOO
Hoods Canal. ..I9Z.o
1,5W.0
This measurement is in nautical miles,
which reduced to statute miles gives a
shore-line of 1888. .l3 miles. Olympia. at
the head of the Sound. is about 200 miles
from the Pacific Ocean, via the Sound and
Straits.
IT'S to Land and Land Titles.
A small proportion Of the land Of this
Territory is occupied. The best lands,
in the opinion of many, still remain vacant.