Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-05-01
ALL ABOUT THE TERRITORY.
MASON COUNTY.
MASON COUNI1s
OAKLAND, Mason Co., w. T.,
March 31st, 1876.

March 31st, 1876.
Mrs. A. A. Fl. STUART: In answer
to a circular from the Washington I'm
migration Society, I will give brief
description of Mason county, its advan-
tages and disadvantages.
About three-fourths of this county is
more or less billy, and some of it noun
famous. A small portion of the up
land is fertile, such as is covered with a
growth of hemlock, cedar, alder, ma
pie and other timber usually found on
good soil. There are several small val
leys of good land that are unoccupied,
some of them not yet surveyed. The
Northern Pacific Railroad owns every
alternate section. I believe land can
be bought from that company about as
cheap as from the Government. The
largest tracts of good land are on the
Skokomish river, the Satsop and Colds
borough creek. There are several prai-
ries in this region. They are not fit
for agricultural purposes but make very
good stock range. There is enough
good land in this county for several
good-sized neighboihoods
Yellow fir is the principle timber on
the uplands, and is intermixed with hem
lock, cedar, &c. The growth of tim
Der on our bottom land is spruce, cot
tonwood, maple, alder and ash. Some
of it is very hard to clear and some
comparatively easy.
The principal business is logging,
which is carried on to considerable ex-
tent, the country being wellsupplied with
timber for that business. Stock-raising
is also carried ON very successfully. We
have some very good farms. The prin-
ciple crop here is hay, which does ex-
ceedingly we'll, especially where timothy
and clover are sown together. Over
four tons have been produced when
thus mixed. Red-top does we'll on
swamp land. There are several Or
chards in this county. that do very we'll.
Apples, pears, cherries, plums, and
small fruit can be raised here to perfec-
ton. Peaches and MELONS do well in
favored localities. Vegetables of. all
kinds do we'll here. Wheat and oats
yield we'll wherever they have been
tried.
Wages for different kinds of labor
range from $50 to $75 per month. The
class of immigrants that we want are
families--those with energy and who
are not afraid of brush, black logs, wild
animals and hard work. Persons COM
ing here must not expect to find a par
adise, nor o country where they can
make a home in a month for it will
take years. Prices of staple articles
can be better ascertained by examining
the market reports than by my giving
them. Most of our merchandise is
purchased in Olympia, where we pay a
pretty high price for it. We have but
few schools and no churches, conse-
quently we hear but little preaching.
We have weekly male communication
with the rest of the world. The mail
leaves Olympia every Saturday morn
ing for Arcadia, Oakland and Union
City. .Es.-
Our roads are not very good, al
though they are as fair as could be
expected in new country. There is q
road leading from Olympia to Hoods
Canal, with several other roads inter
secting at different points. The settlers
on the Satsop have just completed q
road from their settlement to the Olym-
pia and Hoods Canal road which gives
access to large tract of good bottom
land. .-
Persons coming to this county to get
homes must not expect to get them close
to the bays, for about all the good
land close to salt water is taken up.
They will have TO go back from four to
ten miles before they can find much
good land. There are chances for larger
settlements back from the bays than
close to them. Most of the travel and
all the freighting is done by water. aa
f j. S. w. SHELTON.