The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-08-03
FROM WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
SNoHoSIsH CITY, SNoHoMIsH Co.,
WASHINGTON TERRITORY,

| SN0HONIsH CITY, SNOHOMIsH Co,
WASHINGTON TERRITORY,
July 9th, 1871.
EDS. HERALD Permit me to send you few
lines in my way of writing. We landed here the II,
ofJune, after long and tedious journey. We
started from San Francisco on the Sd of June and
had rough time of it you bet. We took steer
| age and it put me in mind of soldering. We were
! there all together and when the old boat would
rock then We would go, and we went pretty often
| for rocking was common at that time; the sea
was rough all the way except the last day. l
would say that riding on the salt water had it's
effect on nearly all the passengers it was plain
| to be seen every fellow wants a bucket to him.
self and can allow no interruption. The boat lay
at anchor one night and half day on account of
the wind. Whales made their appearance; now
! and then porpoise or sea hogs went rolling past
for that is the way they travel: the sea lion were
to be seen along the coast in great numbers
Leaving San Francisco of Saturday we landed in
| Portland on the following Friday. Portland, on
| the bank of the Columbia river, is nice town
| We stad there one night and left the landlord 81
! to console him after gone. Saturday
morsing at O'Clock we went aboard the Mail
boat, enroute for Matcsella Landing at Pumph-
! res about six O'Clock then comes the stage or
wagon. The stage being full hired Il team TO
| take me to Olympia for thirty dollars; the dis
/ lance sixty five miles and the worst roads | ever
saw. On Sunday we startcd, ridirg and walking,
| till the third day. about 10 O'Clock, then camp
! ed out ~ days waitin for the boat. At niIe
O'Clock of the second day left for Seattle and at
| six in the morning reached there then took an
! other rest Tor two days on account of the boat
then another effort was made to accomplish the
journey; arrived here about dark and the thing
was done and we are at Puget Sound among
timber of the largest size. The crops raised here
are hay, potatoes, turnips and some barley
There is more money in hay than any thing else,
grass growing well the yield is from two to
three tons to the acre, and is worth $12 per ton
| baled and all that is required to get this is to
roll it the bank of the river. A II the meadows
are on the bottoms. The boat will take all you
have to sell at your door. The bottom lands here
are covered with pine, maple, halle, and other
kinds that l am not acquainted with. Fifteen
dollars per will clear it ready for the plow-
The cedar grows on this land to large size, from
eight to ten and fifteen feet. l stepped one
that was five five steps across. i stood by
one that was two fee: higher than could reach,
and from 100 to 200 feet in length and splits nice.
The mr. is used for saw timber, spruce pine and
hemlock is not used. There has been a great
large generally as 1 expected, still there is any
amount of timber. Fyou had sprinkle of it in
Iowa it would be fine thing. The high lands
ostly along the river. l have seen one little
field on the high lands, and it has the appearance
of good land if the drOuth does not hurt it. There
were potatoes, cabbage, and corn. Timothy
grows ON this land, and think wheat will grow
and do well but the object is to get a farm on
the river on account of market. The steamboat
comes twice week and produce can be sent to
any part of the Sound. This river ia a nice
stream boats run upon it to this place all the
year. like the climate here well, there are no
hot, sultry days and the nights being cool, sleep
ing goes on fine, Git be carried to the great
est extent under two quilts). Fruit ofall kinds
IL abundant. There is kind of berry here called
Summer Berry, very good they are now ripe
Strawberries are about gone; currants in
full blast, with cherries ofthe best kinds; then
comes raspberries, and thimbeberries, blackber-
res, dewberries, Gran berries and whortleberries
so you see there is a continual stream of berries
till about Christmas. Apples and pears grow fine,
the oaly trouble being they begin to bear so
young that the trees not able to to stand IN
der their loads without prOpping; even at five
and six gears old the limbs are bent to the
ground. Old settlers say this has been an
common year, never before knowing much
high water and 30 late frost. On the east
the mountains covered with snow are plainly to
be seen, they are grand sight; down in the
valleys everything il green and Summer like
The water OF the river is az cool as well water
Though have as yet seen nothing larger than a
pheasant, l am told there is plenty of game in
the timber have seen several bear skins, whose
original owners had a naughty way of carrying
OF hogs and sheep. Ducks and geese are plenty
in winter, and of course, feathers are low--only
one school, and that three fourths of mile dis
tant The Republicans are the ruling party. No
paper is published here, or even nearer than Oym
pia ard that a little sheet at So per year Rail
road rumors are rife, and all know just the line
where the projected road will run, each having
u favorite course, which the road MUST follow
Farming is carried on a small scale, the people
work but about half the time, yet make good
living Have seen no horses since my arrival
oxen, cows, sheep and hogs are raised here and
they are very profitable. Flour is worth so per
barrel, bacon % cents per pound, butter IS to 40
cents in summer, and 80 to IS in winter, eggs 20
| to 80 cents per doz. My short acquaintance pre-
vents lengthy description of the country but
to those coming here will say, prepare to see a
heavily timbered country and you will not be
disappointed.
Yours Truly,