Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-04-17
! CoupEyILLE. Island CountY.
March 81, 1875.

Your letter of inquiry in relation to
this county and the inducements for i'm
migrants to make it an objective point,
is at hand, and l will endeavor to an
swer your several'inquiries in the order
therein made.
This county consists of the islands OF
WILDLY, containing about 115 900 acres,
and Camano, containing nearly 81, 900,
making o total area of 145 900 acres.
All of Camano except about 1000 or
5000 acres, and two-thirds of WILDLY,
is heavily timbered with fir, cedar, hem
lock, spruce and elder. The remainder
consists of natural prairies and re-
claimed swamp lands generally above
the average in fertility, producing of
wheat from Is to so bushels, barley 40
to 60, oats so to IS, and hay from one
and q half to three auns, 10 the acre,
and is very productive fruit and garden
vegetable land when properly cultivated.
Some of the timber land is strong, clay
land, mixed with yellow loan, but it
does not pay to clear it of the roots and
trees for general farming, at present
market prices. 1t might pay man
of q great deal of muscle and energy,
to clear for fruit and vegetable garden
ing. Much of the timber lands are fit
for grazing when cleared, producing
good bluegrass, timothy and clover. ..
| The timber is harder and stronger
than on the mainland and rivers, lin
consequence of its exposure to the strong
wind,) and is considered superior for
ship building. Several of the finest
ships built on the Sound were taken
from the forests of WILDLY and Camano
Islands, and many of the finest spars
sent to Europe and China, and that
gave this Territory its reputation in the
markets of the world, were shipped from
Utsalady mills, on Camano Island.
About half of the population is en-
gagged in farming and the remainder in
numbering and commercial pursuits.
Farm hands get here from $50 to $40
per month; lumbermen from $50 to $50
per month, good mechanics 80 80 to
81 90 per day.
This county does not offer any in
ducements to farmers hunting for lands
to locate on for homesteads or pre-emr-
| ton, but good farming lands can be
bought quite reasonably by those that
prefer to settle in community that has
made some progress. Some lumbermen
and farm laborers can generally find
employment here. There is also good
opening here for a nurseryman and for
iculturist, and tin shop In connection
with hardware store, boot and shoe
shop, drug store, smith and wagon
shop, and other manufacturing indus
tries. No better place can be found in
the Territory for building ship-yard
than either PENIS Cove (Coupeville) or
Utsalady. These places lay off the
mouths Of two large rivers, the Stilag-
vanish and Skagit, on which are extern
sive coal-felds now being developed of
good smith or Cumberland coal, which
in connection with lumber, ought to
give this vicinity some advantages over
many other localities. Tanning is also
an industry that might be made very
profitable here. The raw material,
hides, lime and bark, being much cheap
or, and the leather much higher, than in
the Atlantic States, and the climate all
that could be desired for the business.
The prices of the products OF the
county is about the same as other mar
kets on the Sound, and general mer-
iicliaEiliss can DO aSoasrLs al q ,sEaNal Sa,,
vance on Olympia and Seattle prices.
There are six public schools in the
county, and funds in some of the larg-
er districts to maintain school most
of the year.
There is one church and one saloon
in the county, with good deal less
excitement and dissipation, and good
deal more money than several commu-
mites of same size in the Territory that
has several of each. There is no county
debt; there is O local option license
law; semi-weekly mail delivered at Coup
/ vile and Cleveland, one by steamer
Libby from Seattle, and one by sail-boat
from Port Townsend. There is at Ut
salady one saw-mill one Good Templar
Hall, one Masonic Hall, ona telegraph
Office, one saloon, one machine shop
and one store. Cleveland has one -four
ing Midland wharf, county buildings, &c.
Coupeville has two stores, one Tenn
plars Hall, one Masonic Hall, one hotel,
one Grange and several private resi-
dences, three wharyes, accessible athigh
/ tide only, and two warehouses; jalai.
i Oak Harbor has one wharf, accessible
at high tide, one warehouses, one Grange;.
is surrounded BY a rich and beautiful
country. l
4 There are wagon roads connecting
most of the settlements, somevery good
and others now being constructed; and
daily ferries to Port Townsend and Ut
salady. saoiisAss,ar3 ) f..sf.lsa IL
The drawbacks of, This vicinity are
quite numerous. Much OF the land is
held by, Spectators. Want Of better
and more rapid mail facilities BY steam
/ err, and as a consequence a lack of quick
and cheap passenger and freight accom-
mediation. There is q want of wharfs
to deep water 30 that steamers can land