, 1872-02-15
Rail Road From Gray's Harbor.


Rail Road From Gray's Harbor.
Our readers may recollect that in July
last, we gave an account of the myster-
ious appearance of party Of engineers
who were observed running lines on
this peninsula. No one knew whence
they came, or whittier they went. The
simple fact that they were here is all
that was known. We have recently
been informed that this party of engi-
neers was engaged in making recon-
noisance to ascertain the practicability
of constructing railroad to connecl
Gray's Harbor with the Sound. 1t ap-
pears that some heavy capitalists have
made extensive purchases of the val
liable agricultural land in the valley of
the Humtolups river emptying into the
sonth side of Gray's Harbor-in fact,
all of the surveyed land in that region
has been bought up. Explorations
made last summer develop the fact that.
from the head waters of the HumtoIups
all through to the southern slope Of the
Olympic range is an immense body of the
best agricultural and timber land in the
Territory. This land has never been
surveyed. and contains an area of over
seventy-two townships, large portion
of which is prairie. 1t is to develop
and open up to settlement this valuable
region, that this rail road project was
proposed, and the reconnaissance has
demonstrated the fact that a road can
be constructed at very moderate cost.
This line of road will cross the Olym-
pic range by means of a pass of easy
grade near the head waters of the Dungi-
ness river: thence running through the
valley between the foot range and
mountains, will reach the head of Port
Discovery Bay, and thence to Port
Townsend, which will become the ship
ping point. In answer to our enquiries,
why Gray's Harbor would not be used
for that purpose, we were informed that
the Humtolups river at its mouth,
runs through extensive flats, spreading
into a number of small streams, and
that there is no chanel of sufficient
depth to allow large vessels to toapproach,
and that Gray's Harbor is a barred
Harbor. If this road should be built,
it will be of direct benefit to, and, in
connection with the North Pacific mil
road, should that company decide to
extend its Columbia river branch down
the west side of Hoods Canal. But
whether built or not, the fact has been
demonstrated of the existence of a
valuable region of agricultural land
which has hitherto been utterly unknown
except to very few hunters, and per-
sons hunting timber for mill purposes.
1t is conceded by all these latter that
between the foot hills and the Olympic
Range on its north side, is the finest
body of timber on the American CONT
nent, which by means of railroad, can
be made available for commercial pur-
poses. We understand that the whole
region between Gray's Harbor, Hoods
Canal, and Fuca Straits, will be pretty
extensively explored the coming season,
and we advise those persons who are
about looking up claims for settle
ment, to have an eye to that portion Of
our Territory.-Port Touasend argus.
REPORTED WRECK ON THE WEST COAST.
Yesterday morning arrived the schoon-
er Anna Back. Capt. Warren, from the
West Coast with a cargo of furs and oils
for L. &. j. Boscowitz. Capt. Warren
says that on the 4th inst, while at Bar
clay Sound, he received letter from
Capt. Brown, of sloop Thornton, which,
at the time of writing, waslying at Clay
oquot Sound. Capt. Brown informed
him that the Indians. had brought in
telligence of the wreck of a large vessel
Kyucut- sixty miles north of Clayoquot,
and near Woody Point. The natives
stated that the ships company, number
ing 20 men and one woman, had reached
the shore safely and were encamped ON
the beach. That they had succeeded in
saving quantity of stores and goods;
and that they had been unable to en-
bark in canoes for Victoria because Of