, 1876-12-30

From The Oregon city Enterprise.
OREGON CITY, Dec. II. 1876

NaA'' >N' hhi AS'V'
Editor Enterprise Having promised
short sketch Of my travels on the
Sound in w. r., hope your numerous
readers will excuse my lack of descript-
i've eSpertness in letter writing, and be
content with simple facts as they APP
pear to me. Kalama, the first place of
interest | found on the line of travel
from Portland to Seattle, is situated on
the east side of the Columbia river 40
miles from the former city, and is quite
lively little place, rs the n p. r. r.
terminates at this point, running east
ward The distance by rail from this
point to Tacoma is 96 miles, Tacoma
being the present northern terminus Of
the road. The country lying between
Kalama and Tacoma is alternately rich
and poor, large majority being very
gravely and hardly fit for cultivation.
Tacoma is small place with but little
outlook tor the future metropolis Of the
Northwest. Seattle. the present center
Ol trade and commerce, is growing quite
rapidly, the present resident population
being about thirty seven hundred. The
city is beautifully situated on the eastern
shore of Duwamish bay, which is per
haps one of the most beautiful in the
world. A section of the Seattle and
Walla Walla r. r. is nearly completed
distance OF fifteen miles. The compile.
ion OF this road is only question OF
time, as the route is not only practicable,
but will pay large returns for the invest.
ment. Snohomish county lies immedi-
ately north Of King, the county in which
Seattle is situated, and is comparatively
newly opened county, but contains
some Of the richest agricultural lands on
the Sound, Snohomish City, the pres
ent county seut, is situated twelve miles
above the mouth. of the Snohomish river,
and is one of the most lively little towns
on the Sound The people are princi-
pally from the New England States, we'll
educated and energetic almost to fault.
The NORTHERN STAR is published here,
and claims to have the largest circula-
tioe of any paper Except ono otherl on
the Sound. 1t is edited by Eldridge
Morse and Dr. A. C. Folsom.
Morse, the chief editor, is the most
energetic person I ever met, | travelled
with him in an open boat from Snoho-
mish to Mukilteo, distance OF twenty
miles, one night after 9 o'clock, and |
can say truthtuily that / do not wish to
take another such pleasure trip. He is
lawyer by profession, does large bu-
siness IN that line and has been bonored
by occupying great many positions of
trust in that County. He. was the chief
mover in the organization Of the Snoho-
mish Industrial Society, and also the
Atheneum. l regret very much that /
have misplaced short sketch of his
esrly lite and education which oh.
tanned of u friend, in lieu OF which will
relate what man in rural district OF
that county said of him "He has bled
the county out Of more money than any
other man, and will finally ruin il If let
alone. He begs" money tor the Athe-
neum, the Free Religious Society, the
pupic schools, bridges, ETC., etc." But
Notwithstanding the man in the rural
district, the people have raised many
thousand dollars for these purppscs.
The Atheneum hnilding is 40x1O0 by 40
feet high; with apartments for Museum,
Library and iHaA' A large assortment
OF stuffed animals and fossils, nn1 a
large anoun, Of books for the Library,
has already been COLLECTED Or. A. G.
Folsom, an associate editor Of the STAR,
is q native OF New England anl grad
uate Of: Harvard UniVeni'y. Eie came
to California in 1919, and served n :he
U. $, Army 10th before and during the