Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-04-29
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL % 1876.
THE SEAGIT RIVER.

Very few Of our readers are aware OF
the size and length Of some of the
rivers flowing into tie Sound, Or OF the
large tracts Of fertile land, which lie or
their borders. available for settlement,
soon as natural distractions are re-
moved. The Ska9it river, according to
the report Of the editor Of the Northern
Star, who has recently visited that dis
trict, and consequently formed his i'm
from personal observation, can be made
iayigable for hght-draught steamers, a
distance cf sayenty-f five miles. 1t rises
east of the Cascade mountains. and re-
ceives much Of its water from streams
draining Mount Baker and other high
peaks. It's waters are consequently
higher in Summer than in Winter, rise
slower and do not ordinarily overflow the
banks, as in rivers subject to freshests
whenever Il prolonged season Of rainy
weather, extending over a wide extent
of country, saturates the earth and
taxes to the utmost these natural drains.
The Skagit flows into the Sound by two
months, called the North and South
Forks, forming a delta, on which the
new town-site Of Skagit City has been
laid out. 1t is located upon bottom
land, above. the reach of high water.
The North Fork is about five miles long
and enters the Sound about five miles
from La Conner, and the SYinnomish
flats are considered part Of the river
valley. The South Fork is the main
channel, about eight miles long, and
can be easily assembled by light draught
steamers at any season Of the gear.
The peculiar feature of the river is
the Jam, about two miles above Ska
git City. The lowerportion Of this OBJ
struction is about quarter of a mile in
leneth, and the river is clear for three
fourths of a mile to the upper jam,
which is half mile long. 1t is COM
posed Of drift-wood, the accumulation
OF many years, which has become 50
firmly interviewer that its removal is
an engineering problem Of no small
magnitude. The jam is tie great bar
10 an extension Of settlement and the
progress OF civilization to the head of
the riycl. Only two families have
settled above the jam. All of the set
Elements are crowded within the delta
or along the forks Of the river, while a
magnificent country along a fine navi-
gable stream, for over sixty miles above
the jam, is by this means prevented
from being opened to settlement and
cultivation, to say nothing of the mum
beIlass mines Of the best coal found on
the Sound, or the great amount of the
finest timJcr that this obstacle prevents
coming into market. Logging can I've
carried on only to 4 limited extent I'M
til after their removal, as the high land
is too far back from the river to haul
lumber from Even the most favorable
town site, Skagit City, was located on
the bottom land, near the forks, for
the reason Of there being no high land
on the river below the Jam.
Perhaps 10 river in this Territory Of
fers greater Inducements than this for
settlement, provided this jam was re-
moved. It's bottom land, timbered main
Il with alder. yinc-maple, &c, is more
easily cleared than the Stillaguamish,
Srohomish or most other river bottom
lands in the Territory. The timber, on
the high land, is of excellent quality,
rs we'll as easy to get out and float
down, there being few obstacles in run
ming logs, after the removal of the jam,
to what are found on other rivers, the
current of the Skagit being stcadier and
slower than the Snohomish. Several
coal mines are prospected, and some
work done toward opening them; two
Of the mines are situated below the jam,
and between the South Fork of the river
and the Stllaguamish The rest are
above; the removal of the jam is neces-
sary to secure their early development.
Can we wonder then that the whole en-
oreios of hepeople are directed towards
obtaining Government aid for the re-
moval of this obstruction: or is there
an object on which the people of the
Territory can more properly unite?