The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-10-15
Editorial Correspondence
ALL ALONG THE COAST-.IV.
STEAMER EMPIRE.

berthed for return passage by the City
Of Chester ria Portland. to depart We'd
nesday noon. bnt learning that the
home built steamer Empire, hitherto
running to Coos Bay. like the salmon
which periodically returns from its far
away ocean haunts to the sylvan head
waters of its nativity, WAS about to re-
visit the port of its origin, we only too
gladly svailed US of the very kind
invitation Of Mr.. Fritsch, to take ill.,
stead passage on that boat. ria the
Sound. We were the more inclined to
do so, because aside from the Empire
being q Puget Sound built vessel and
the first steamship ever launched in
our waters. with perhaps one ex-
ceItion.) being scheduled to touch
at the various sea stations along the
coast between San Francisco and
Seattle, the trip possessed for us a de-
gree of novelty rs we'll as interest. And
right in this connection. We will antici-
pate the thread of our narrative a little
to say. that. to the courte>ies Of Capt
Butler, the trusty commander. ard Mr..
Place the gentlemsnly purser. We were
indebted for u very pleasant journey. in
which testimonial We Are sure We
would b. Joined by the large numbrr
of way and through passengers The
commIssary menu in particular. is in
experienced hands. the table far gener-
Gus, aud worthy Of commend.tIon.
We believe it Is not yet definitely
determined whether the trips of the En-
pire TO Our city are to be anywi.e
regular hereafter, yet VIZ should regard
its permanent establishment on rhis line
with satisfaction. ~ IL addition TO being
safe and expeditions Carrier Of
coal. il has excellent PASSENGER accom-
modatiOns aud would assist materially
III bringing in the much needed people
to occupy our vacant lands and business
opportunities.
Seattle people in particular can well
ford to patrOnize such u boat, for hav-
ing Leen built among ourselves, we can
know that the craft we are travelling on
is new aud strongly built and safe.
Besides it is matter Of pride and sat
isfsctiOn to us that we can turn out here
at home just rs good and comfortable
and as safe steamers to travel on at sea
as they can get up for us in New York
or Philadelphia.
OF promptly at O'clock Pm, we
plunged, directly off the heads, into
the inevitable white blanket of fog
that in summer envelops the Californis
coast. In California during dry seasons,
all the clouds lie in thin sheet along
the surface, off shore, instead of floating
in the central blue" above and thence
dropping as the gentle rain from
Upon the place beneath"
Though this fog is SO dense at the deck.
level that you cannot see the bowsprit
from tho main deck. at the same time
the golden orbs that tip your mastheads
are in the clear blue sky overhead, and
swimming in q sea of sunshine glory.
and at nightfsil all tho bright stars
shine out unveiled, while your vessel is
outting her way along blindly in the
darkness. immured in wool rack of in
scrutable fog. and issuing piteous cries
of warning and distress from her whis-
tie at intervals of every minute or two
We passed the burning Constitution
somewhere near the time when the
flames first broke out, bu: her signal
flames were invisible to us through the
fog.
HUMBOLDT BAT.
Early Saturday morning, Mike. first
Assistant. or Deputy Steward. looked
into our room and respectfully su-
nounced: I'VE are going over the bar. r
SURF! We looked out the window and
was astonished to see the white break
ers rolling over the nearly bare sand.
underneath. But a great deal of fresh
water runs into Humboldt BAY, aud
there is u channel of outlet, wide as our
Duwamish river, perhaps, but winding,
where vessels have at the shallowest
place, fourteen or fifteen feet of water
at mean high tide. The country bord-
ring the bay has more mountainous
aspect than that adjacent to Puget
Sound, and the shores. unlike the est
OF the California coast south Of Mendo.
elmo. are heavily timbered. the Oregon
frs blending with the redwood, but the
latter are not found much further
north. Three streams empty iato
Humboldt Bay. the Mattols in the
south. Eel river in the center and an
arm Of Mad river in the north. On the
last named is the Black Bear quartz
mine, one Of the best paying in the
State. On ell these streams is much
rich land, well farmed, though the
chief interest is numbering. Humboldt
for years has been the chief source of
potato supply for San Francisco, but
last year they did not bring cost and
this year the crop has been stricken by
the rot. % the prestige Of Humboldt in
this respect may be considered gone.
San francisco now looks largely to
Utah for potatoes. There is regular and
frequent communication with the citv
by steamers like the Empire, and q
large feet of coasting schooners EN-.
pioyed. ranging from about 80 to ESQ
tons burthen only, on account Of the
shallow entrance to the bar. We no.
ticed several Of these craft on the ways
in process of construction as we passed.
The principal towns of the district are
Eureka, Arcata. Hydesville, Rohner-
willie. and Ferndale.
EUREKA
The Humboldt metropolis was some
what OF surprise to as. Though lead
ing kind Of quiet and uuostsntatious