, 1877-08-10
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
FROM WILDLY ISLAND.

ting correct ideas OF its geography,
we were not a little gratifed to no.
tice the many evidences of a substan-
tial and healthy progress towards
those "easy circumstances" to which
, farmers look forward with pleasing
anticipation of the good times in
store. While there is nothing here
to indicate that the island--generaIly ly
speaking-can boast superior quail
ity of farming land, as compared
with other parts of the Puget Sound
basin, there is that which denotes an
! ordinary productive soil and ample
remuneration for the husbandman's
efforts to build up a home that shall
be substantial support in the years
to come. Quiet homes, surrounded
with the comforts, and in some in
stances growing into the luxuries of
! life, betoken fruitful land and give
one stray of glimpses of that comfort
and happiness which hover around
the cozy firesides of those whose
fruitful la5ors are attended with more
of the blessings of life than the toll
and anxiety attendant upon an inor.
dinate strife for gain.
From Coupeville, where our last
chapter closed, we followed the road
around a short distance to
CovELAND.
This little place lies nestled away
in sheltered spot at the head of the
cove from which its name is derived.
A post Office is established here, and
a Touring mill is among the prospec-
tive enterprises which are expected,
in connection with adjacent farming
land, to build up little town in the
future. Following the main road
further around we passed by pleas
ant fields of golden grain and occas.
ional farm houses all the way all ng
the north side of the cove. Captain
J. H. Swift has a pleasant home here,
being nothing less than farm occu.
pying a desirable location, and upon
which the Captain-haying retired
from seafaring life-enjoys in the
bosom of his family, the comforts of
rural life. Remaining here over night,
we we're entertained in a manner in.
dicative Of the most self.denying hos
pitality. A little nearer the entrance
Of the Cove on this side we called
at the residence of Maj. Sewell, and
found that gentleman well satisfied
with his location, which is indeed
one that has many advantages.
Following Il wagon road through
the woods in northerly direction
between three and four miles, the
settlement is reached which nearly
surrounds
OAK HARBoR.
Here are many fine farms which,
though notall of the richest quality of
land, are nevertheless productive and
make good homes for the owners.
One of the oldest residents at this
point is Capt. Darlington whose resi-
dence is on a sloping side hill i'm
mediotely above the Landing. The
Grangers own small wharf here, a
re-house and building which is
occupied at present by the store of
Mr.. +. n. Marsh, formerly Of Seat
tie. The post office, which many
hopeful citizens are desirious should
exist in the future as much in reality
as in name, is kept by Mr.. G.. w.
Morse, very enterprising farmer
resident occupying farm a short
distance back from the water front.
Mr.. Morse's efforts to obtain ample
mail communications for the com
munity have been very credtablc
and will no doubt with those Of
others meet with the success they de-
serve. At his farm we we're shown
as fine span Of young American
horses as can be found in the Terri
tory. This suggests the remark that
farmers on the island evince more
pride in the raising of good horses
than Of any other kind of stock.
Vending our way along the course
previously pursued, we did not again
face homeward until after visiting
the farm o. Mr.. Henry L. Merryott,
which is in the vicinity Of DugualIy
bottom. Mr.. Merryott is an old resi-
dent of the Sound; is a hunter of
some notoricty, and now has one of
the most fruitful farms in the Terri
tory. Returning from this place past
! Crescent Harbor, a number of 6ne