, 1872-07-04

ing is inches, have any difficulty in the
ascent; besides, the river is remarkably
clear of rocks and snags. The average
width, from bank to bank, is about &C
rods. The depth of the channel Of
course varies, but we are informed by
tho Indians that at the lowest stage OF
water on the worst bars, there is depth
of three feet. If this is SO, we have on
ly to solve the questions-How to get
! STEAMER
above the jam? and the all-important
question in every business enterprise
| Will it pay? We sought for passage
through slough which makes out on
the north side about two miles above
the jam, and traced this some distance,
but learned that it spread out below,
over the Swinomish fats, and could not
be made navigable for canoe. A steam.
er would then have to be built above the
jam, or taken over the road around it.
There is at this moment no trade for q
boat on this route worth mentioning
The Indians are poor, ambitionless and
few in numbers, subsisting principally
on fish and berries. They have few
SKINS to traffic, and scarcely any money
They have never learned to want much,
and the trade with them would be insig-
nltcant. There is but one white settler
on the river, and yet, Notwithstanding
all this we believe that the enterprise
would pay from its inception. Steam
IS great missionary of civilization.
So soon as it should be known that a
steamer was to run on that route, bust
ness would offer, claims would be taken
up by actual settlers, families with their
household furniture and supplies, lum-
Der, stock, farming implements and mer-
chandise, would be ready to 60 up be-
fore the boat would be. Government
should do no less than aid this enter
prise by establishing a postal route,
and give liberal compensation for car
rying the mail. The first trip would
then pay, and each successive trip would
pay still better. Should the Northern
Pacific Railroad locate over the Skaeit
Pass, the business of that Company
alone would employ steamer, and the
travel on the Skagit would be immense.
We have no knowledge or information
respecting the
- MINERAL RESOURCES
of this region. Discoveries of valua-
BILE coal lodes have been reported, but
we are incompetent to say whether we
even saw indications of Coal, Gold
and silver have been found and profita-
bly, mined on Baker river, and there is
reason to expect discoveries of the pre-
cious metals on other streams flowing
from the Cascade Range, which is a
link in the great chain of gold and sill
yer bearing mountains extending the en-
tire length of the Continent. On Mr..
Dewitt G. Dennison's place, near the
mouth of the river there is a ledge of
cement rock, throughout which streaks
of virgin gold are plainly visebie. ap-
parently in paying quantities.
The Cascades have never been pros
pected. Gold which has been washed
therefrom is found in the sands of all
our rivers and we must infer from this,
and the geological formation, that in
this region are districts yet to be de-
veloped rich in precious minerals as
well as coal and iron.
With this statement, gentlemen, we
conclude our written report. 1t sets
forth our observations and views as
truthfully, fully, and carefully as we
can express them in limited paper
To those who desire to examine the
Skagit country for themselves we would
suggest as starting point the new town
of La Conner ON the Swinimish slough
where there is good hotel kept by Mr..
Marston and where Indians and canoes
can be procured for the trip at reasona'
BILE charges.
We returned to Seattle Wednesday,
June 26th, having been absent on this
tour ten days. The accompanying pri.
vate memoranda herewith submitted
are self-explanatory. Any further infor.
nation in our power to give verbally will
be cheerfnIly furnished.
| Respectfully submitted,
j. S. HILL,
J.W. SWEENY,
To MEssns. ROBINS, LEARY, HILL, CAT.
zERT AND COLLINS, Directors Skagit
River Co..
Seattle, June 9th 1872.
A Scandal Monger's Murder.
Andrew johnson, ex-Alderman and
ex-President, having been summoned
to appear here and testify before the
Committee of the House, on Tuesday