River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-12
a Letter from u. w. Al
version OF seattle, w. IT.

soy iVH WHY'S w my Oiu lllSHus VI
Pierce county through your excellent
paper.
| am still living near Seattle and OK.
pest to remain here, it being the most
impor tant city on the sound. Although
it has lost the terminus of the N. p. r.
r., the business men Of the place are
not the least discouraged. The city is
improving as rapidly as could be expect
ed. There has been over twenty
dwelling houses built this summer
and quite number in course Of erection,
some of which, when finished, will be
very fine houses. There are three pub.
lie schools besides the University, aud
six churches, the Congregationalists
having just finished very nice little
house.
In regard to the terminus, the pros.
pect is now that it will turn out to be a
very small affair. There was quite a
rush for Tacoma at first, but every body
seems to have become disguised with
the whole affair. There is but little
business there at present and the prob
abilities are that it will be some time be.
fore it becomes a large city. The idea
that a branch road from Kalama to
Tacoma will ever build up a city, is
perfectly ridiculous. When the main
line is built through the mountains it
will be time to talk of city at Tacoma
and the prospects are that it will be
good many years before that is done.
The probabilities are that long before
the main line is built there will be
road from Seattle to Walla Walla. The
people are taking hold of the matter in
good earnest and say 1t is bound to be
a success.
The climate here, is all that any one
could expect. The nights are rather cool
for growing corn but vegetables and
small grain do well; mercury generally
stands in the morning at from forty
eight to iiity-four degrees, and in the
middle of the day at about seventy
eight in the shade; there have been a
few days that it was up to eighty four.
We have not slept under less than two
quilts any night since we have been
here but the beauty Of it all is, when
We lie down we can bid goodbye to all
our sublunary cares, knowing that We
will not be molested by bed bugs or
reaches.
The fruit prospects are very encour-
aging. Apples, pears, plums, pruncs and
figs do well. ] have seen cherry trees
net more than three feet high, perfectly
loaded down. Apples and pears begin to
bear at three years old from the graft.
Figs have not been thoroughly tested
but what / have seen the trees look
thrifty and the fruit perfect. Peaches
grow here but for some cause do not do
so we'll; the trees do not look thrifty.
There are quite number beginning to
raise the English walnut but none on
this part Of the sound that are Old
enough to bear. Grapes do not do we'll;
the vines grow thrifty but the fruit does
not rlpen. Small fruit and berries o. all
kinds, grow in abundance with but little
labor.
In regard to soil | have to say there
is a vast amount of very poor and brok
en- land; the uplands are mostly Of this
class, and, from appearances, are incapa-
bic Of producing anything but fir and
cedar trees which is the principle
growth of timber but my impression is
that it will prove to be our best fruit
lands II is also capable Of making
good pasture land when thoroughly
subdued, but who is going to subdue it?
That question will be answered by
future generations,
The timber here is mostly evergreen
aud how so much Of it can grow on an
acre is moro than | can comprehend.
have not seen any Of what they call
large timber though | have seen some
pretty good sized sarlings, the largest
Quo measuring thirty.six feet in circum.
ferancc. I have also seen quito a num-
Der Of fir trees that would measure
eight feet through and the height in
proportion. Now think Of man going
] into et,.t tt,,I,t ..n1 tr,f,,, A., ,i,... 49,.