The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-06-03

the coast couafries north Of Oregon, To write
out an account of nv late travels in that d.
reetion, I have concluded to indite short
history Of nv pereyrinations in that quar-
ter; and in so doing. to give plain facts.
ar what | believe to he such according TO nv
own observation and the hest information oh
tainable at second hand. The countries to
which refer are Washington Territory and
British Columbia. the former of which being
a part Of the q. S. Territory will he more par
ticularly spoken of. That Territory emhrac-
es large area Of conntry. in the central part
Of which lies Puget Sound with all its rami-
ications. a many-armed body of inland nav
igable water unequaled in respect to beauty.
safety of navigation. and as affnrding COM
mercial facilities for the adjacent country.
The exact superficial measurement Of the Ter
ritory do not now rec1llect. 1t is very
large, however, and in the near future will
be susceptible of being converted into an i'm
portant State. 1t borders on the sea from the
mouth of the Columbia river to Cape Flatterv
at the entrance of the strait of Fuca, in lati-
tude 4oo POI north, and its extent from the
sea easterly into the interior is much greater.
All of the central part Of the Territory is
to use a significant but homely term--comeat-
and its numerous branches. The central
part embraces that division os the country
lying between the Olympic or coast range of
moutains and the Cascade range in the inte
rior. IL is within or between these two
mountain ranges, in the great valley of the
Sound, that the immense forests of evergreen
timber grow, in the main, and where, be-
lieve, all the lumber is now manufactured
The timber out of which the vast amount of
lumber is manufactured and exported, con-
sists of species Of fir, indigenous and pecu-
liar to the suil and climate 1t is wood of
remarkable strength, stronger than the oak I
The understanding facilities of the Sound
vallev-as everybody and ''the rest of man
kind" ought to know by this time-is, in all
human probability, not surpassed, if equaled.
on the American continent, north or south,
if indeed elsewhere on the globe. The oppor-
tunties presented far the manufacture of va
rions descriptions of lumber are so easy and
tempting. that too many are already engaged
in the business. reducing the prices below
profitable rates by overstockng the markets
At present the lumber Manufacture consti-
tutes the staple business of the Territory, and
especially that portion of it bordering on the
Sound, agriculture and oil other business at
tended to being but incidental to the great and
leading one of lumber manufacture. If the
standing timber could he preserved by cut
| ting only enough to supply the actual neces-
stiles of the markets. good prices might be
obtained for the lumber, and the forests OF
Washington Territory prove mine of wealth
tor it's present and future generations. But
if the timber is to be cut away at the rate a,
which tits now being done. and sold at prize
es las now) ruinons to those who cut and
manufacture it, with the annual help of the
fires, TIE extensive forests Of beautiful timber
yet remaining will. ia n comparatively short
space Of time. he DESTROYED. and the Terri
tory become minus of. and impoverished bv,
| the (seemir elvl wanton destruction Of what.
with proper economy in its use and disposal.
would have been its (the Terri'ory's) greatest
resource of laid and comfort" through a Sc
ries Of future years which the Judgment of
man is not competent to limit. 81 much for
ri linz nor &c -
Among the important resources Of the coun-
try under descriution the next in order of no.
tee are its facilities for agricultural opera
tions. Il is no DEPRESSION from s,the facts of
the ease" to say that the agricultural facli-
ties of the country are not equal to its capa-
hilties for the production Of lumber. vet it
rontains much very rich and nrnduetive soil.
| have already spoken of the two great rang
eS ef mountains which divide the country
into several and different belts. Numerous
rivers arise in these mountains and flow ac-
and the water both Of the outside sea and the in
side Sound. Along the course of some of these
rivers are ''hottoms' of great richness and
capable of producing ahunaantly such crops
as are adapted to the climate between the
Olympic range of mountains ard the sea coast
10 a wide belt nf country which I believe to
he we'll adapted to various pursuits of agri-
culture. As stock raising country | be-
lieve il to be almost withou, an equal any
where, having damp, cool climate we'll
adapted to the production of the best var:e-
ties of the wild grasses. AMI also to that of
the usually cultivated kinds. 1t is likewise
a remarkably healthy place for cattle. On
this belt of country but little if any snow ev-
er falls, and the ground remains unfrozen du-
ring the winter season. With the excep-
tion il may be of some attention during long.
protracted and heavy rain-storms in 'sthe
dead of WINTER stock would REQUIRE no as.
sistance from its proprietor. and not even
that mentioned, providing it could find shell.
ter in the timber growth, of which there is
an abundance along the base of the coast
range of mountains above spoken of. On the