, 1877-03-03

From tie Olympia Transcript.

On the 9th Of June, 1914, the Oregon
Provisional government divided Oregon
INTO districts. North of the Conmnin
up to 81 deg. 40 min. north, west of the
Rocky Mountains, constituted the dis.
lrlct OF Vancouver. On December 81,
lSi5, after little American settlement
had been established mt Tumwater under
the name of New Market, the county of
Lewis was set off from Vancouver, its
north boundary still 54 deg, 40 min
While yet part of the organized Ore
gon Territory, that Legislature, Jan. 12,
1852, set off from Lewis county the ter.
ritory including the Puget Sound Basin,
Grny's Harbor and the north bank of the
Chehalis, bounded on the north by
British Columbia, naming it Thurston,
IN Donor OF the memory of Samuel X.
Ihurston, Oregon's first Congressional
Delegate, who died April 8, 1851, while
returning from Washington. At the
next session of the Oregon Legislature.
1898, the area of Thurston WAS di
minished by the erection ont of its ter.
rltory of four northern counties, VIZ;
Pierce, King, Jefferson and Island. At
the first session of the Washington Leg.
isatHrc, 1864, the organization of the
counties of Chehaiis and Mason abridged
its limits, since which several changes
of boundary have followed, TIL its area
hos been reduced to $50 square miles.
Population, $500; taxable property.
$l,539,322. Number of school districts
26; public school houses, 81; children
OF school age between and 81 years
l,Ol2; paid to teachers, $5,063.82.
The southern portion of Puget Sound,
ia" Ch.halis, Nisqually, Dcschu,es, Black
Scatter creek, SkoOkum Chuck, with
their Several afiiuent streams, together
with numerous lakes permeate its ter.
ritoEy. These lakes and streams are
skirted with rich bottom land affordina
considerable areas of excellent agricul.
tural lands. The greater portion Of it's
surface is heavily timbercd, but besides
the bottom land above referred to- there
are II number Of prairies and marshes.
The latter only require draining to be.
come the richest and most available az
Ticultural tracts. The prairies are of a
light gravelly and sandy soil, seemingly
almost sterile, yet well adapted to graz.
ing. These prairies were first settled
upon and generations experience has
demonstrated that they are adapted to
the cultivation of fruits and berries, and
with the aid of fertilizers will yield fair
crops of all the cereals and garden vege.
tables. Timber of excellent quality
abounds, consisting of fir, cedar, maple,
alder, oak and ash. There are several
saw mills, ard logging is extensively
followed. The prufuse distribution OF
hazel and young white oak has made the
manufacture of hoop, poles quite a busi.
ness. Six millions were shipped to San
Francisco in 1875. Cranberries grow
wild and in large quantities in several
localities. Many varieties of Salmon
and edible fish are found in the Sound,
the streams are filed with trout. Game
large and small is plentiful.
Extensive beds OF coal lie in the
southern part, and iron has been diScoy-
cred. The Northern Pacific Railroad
runs through considerable portion, its
nearest approach to Olympia heing Te.
nino, 10 miles south from the head Of
the Sound. The Deschutes river is wor-
thy of special mention because of the
Falls near its mouth. The river rapid
mountain stream having flown snme 90
miles in north westerly course from its
source in the Cascade Mountains, when
within 800 yards OF it's mouth, makes
three several falls through walls of rock,
with an aggregate descent Of so feet
The scenery at any stage of water is TO.
mantle and beautiful--when the river is
swollen TO its fullest capacity, really
grand Another feature inviting the
attention Of the student Of nature and