Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-05-25
DOWN THE SOUND.

Ed. STANDARD: Having heard much Of
the 81 Mediterranean Of the Pacific" my
first an xieiy on reaching your pretty town
was to hasten along this Mediterranean as
rapidly as possible, aud ss it were to drink
all its beauties in one long draught; but,
like the nectar Of the gods, found that
the more l partook oft, the more wanted.
TO stranger the first thing noticeable
after, Of course, the unequaled scerery-is
the splendid steamers that ply on the
Sound, and the large number Of crafts Of
various sizes and characters which seem
always busy. l have not seen on this
coast anything to equal the fine steamer
North Pacific, aud her chief officer, Capt.
Starr, seemed to me a foe type Of tho
American officer, courteous and affablc, yet
determined and attentive to duty. The
interior arrangements of the steamer also
would attract any lover of the picturesque
and beautiful, for the cabin seemed more
like conservatory than cabin, decorated
as it was with beautiful and fragrant
shrubs, and some handsome bouquets Of
fresh flowers. At coup d'oeii, these
formed a Kaleidoscope view perfectly
charming. Having cast of from the
wharf ut 10 p. NJ, the steamer was soon
cutting her way through the waters, and
in few moments only the faint twinklng
Of the lights in Olympia could be seen, and
even this view was one of pleasure to sew
eral Of the party who were prepared to en-
joy everything on the Sound. At ga. NJ.
we reached
SEATTLE.
1t presented to US from the bay very
pretty view, conspicuous as are its neat
cottages on the hill sides. 1t has an air
Of comfort which indicates that poverty is
unknown there, and were it not for the
stumps of trees in the street, which ind-
cate its recent origin, one would take it to
be quiet New England village. On
landing, was no less surprised to see the
energy and hustle on the street, even at an
early hour in the morning, and this sur
prise was increased by the rush of people
to the breakfast table at the Occidental
Hotel. 10 stranger, who would not see
even so many at the table of u Metropol-
tan Hotel in the East, this would seem
significant and he would of course say
"Why, this is an energetic town y So far
as Seattle is concerned, he would not be
far wrong, for it is undoubtedly tho most
nterprising town on the Sound. learned
that business Of at least 81 ,OO0. 900 u
year was done there, and this can be read
lily believed. The Territorial University,
| learned, is a success, and that it has
good faculty. The entire looks of the
town from hotel to University, and from
cottage to business house, arc indicativeof
quiet, solid comfort.
TIE COAL MINES
Are at present yielding well, and tho
company owning them propose to deliver
at their wharf in Seattle 100 tons per day.
This sells at Sll per ton. From this it
will be seen that the income from this
source alone is very large, and adds much
to the prosperity of the place. Most Of
your readers are probably as well, it NOS
better acquainted with the country than
am, nevertheless cannot iorhear referring
to the beautiful scenery which looms up in
various directions. The bay-Eliot-is
one of the most picturesque pieces of wa
ter to be found anywhere. and back Of this,
in the middle ground. lie the dark and
gloomy pine forests, whose gloom is ron
dered the more striking by the ru.gedly
grand snow-cad peaks of the Olympic
range. The lights and shadows which fit
across these would put an artist in ccstntie
rcvelry. Three miles from the town lies
LAKE WASHINGTON,
The finest sheet of water in the Terrific
ry. being 26 miles long by an average
width of AZ miles. This beautiful lake
would undoubtedly make the finest naval
depot in the world. and at small expense,
separated as it is from Lake Union only
by few hundred yards, and the latter
being scarcely mile from the Sound. To
cut canal between the lakes would be-
small labor, and the country between Lake
Union and the Sound being level TO estab-
lish communication between them would,
/ should judge, not cost over million
dollars, small sum to the Government
compared to the unequaled facilities it
would offer them for having fresh and salt
water stations. That these will be estab-
lished at no distant future day is probable,
for the proximity Of the country to the
British possessions, and its prospective
commercial importance require them, and
no better place can be found than the vi,
cinity of Seattle. 1t is proposed to starta
steam ferry on Lake Washington, running
from the side nearest to Seattle to the
main land and coal mines on the opposite
side. From Seattle l took a run to Taco
ma, visited its mills, felt pleased at their
business enterprise, thence visited Stella
COON. If an Arcadia can be found any
where it must be in this vicinity. Back
of it are the rolling prairies, on which
flocks Of sheep and lambkins browse, and
this completes the picture outwardly Of the
music loving people, supposed to be ex-
tracing delicious strains from the pam
pipes being inserted mentally. The finest
natural park in the world is perhaps