, 1878-05-15
THE PUYALLUP.
A DAY IN THE VALLEY.

Il IA IN LhO VhbHHAs
The Sumner settlement in an agri-
cultural point of view is the cream of
the Payallnp valley. This Settlement
properly includes all that part of the
valley from Bowman and Grainger's ferry
up the valley to Elm. Having a day to
spare recently on Mr.. Graingers invita-.
ton to ride with him from New Tacoma,
to his place, it was improved and . day
very proftably spent in seeing again
many Of the settlers there and conversiDg
with them in regard to their wunts and
interests Mr. Utter Of Olympia was
there at the same time, and delivered
several very thoughtful discourses; one
in the beautiful new Presbyterian Church
ot that place. This is one of the neatest
church edfices in the Territory; its in
terror finish is all that could be desired,
except the coloring Of the walls is not OF
tho most appropriate shade. The recent
completion of Tins beautiful church and
the substantial school house adjoining
reflects great credit on that community.
The railroad up the valley runs on the
south side of the river, and thus far NO
good warehouse accommodations have
been provided. The charges for freight
are relatively high SO that the railroad
benefits only in limited degree the
ssttlers north of the river. Thus freight
from PortlandstO New Tacoma is $3.50
per ton, distance 150 miles; while from
New Tncoma to Puyallup, nine miles, 1t
is $3.50 per ton. Then the settlers have
to pay 81 per ton for warehousing at
Puyallup; and to haul their freight home
across the river is worth another dollar,
so that to those living on the north side
nf the river, it costs one dollar more per
ton to get their freight to their homes
from New Tacoma than 1t docs to bring
it from Portland 10 that place, being
almost as much rs it would cost to get
it from Tacoma in wagons. Thia has
lied them to very earnestly desire the
opening Of their river Tor steamboat
navigation. The Puyallup river is from
15O to 200 feet Wide, with sssIls cur
rent, and at no time less than feet Of
water from the tide flats up some ten
miles.
The siags ami jams are the only OBJ
stacles to complete navigation. They
are so trivial as compared with obstruc--
tions OF the samo character that have
recently been removed from the Moot
sack, Skagit and Stilaguamish that they
ought rot to remain much longer an
obstacle in the way of improving the
valley. The obstacles to navigation are
no greater than the drift in the north
fork of the Skagit, caused by work in
the jam above. A man experienced in
water logging could easily remove the
obstacles 70 the river wovld be navigablc
up to Bowman s. Graingers store and
probably to McMillan's landing on Stuck
river, or near thereto for not to
exceed 5000. That amount would be
given to any one who would do the job.
AT no place is The river jamnied clear
across, as the largest canoes 60 up and
down by the jams. No jam IS over 100
feet across and il ought not to cost over
500 to remove the largest so steamers
could easily pas. 500 more ought to.
clear out the other jams, and 500 more
spent in clearing out separate snags
would be enough to put the river in very
good condition. To any one who would
undertake the job parties there would
give the $500, besides securing to them
in all probability some 200 saw logs, cut
and on bars and along the banks Of the
river. What experienced logger will
secure this jobl shonld the jam be
removed before August, the settlers there
would pledge 500 tons of freight within
six months thereafter to any steamer
who would carry it at reasonable rates.
In hops, hay, potatoes and other produce
there would be over 400 tons, besides
imports of groceries, dry goods etc.