, 1878-02-27

cadc range and u range Of low hills, n
spur from the true range. This hill or
spur range Is covered with heavy
gLowth ot lunch grass, with an Occas
ional growth ot small tamarac trees.
The valley is two or three miles wide,
with very little timber excepting noun.
tain cottonwood near the banks OF the
river. The soil seems good and the
valley well adapted to agricultural pur-
poses, only tor Its high aIutudc. The
valley grows gradually narrower until
near the junction of the two forks, where
the river has two perpendicular falls, one
about 80 feet and the other about 50
teet high, the latter Immediately at the
junction.
Passing down thu river, about two
miles below the forks is another wonder
,ul work OF nature, the river passing
through tunnel about one mile in
length. At the upper end at 1t Is ii
grand arch about two hundred feet h,gh
by one hundred wide, fully two thousand
feet beneath the surface ot thr mountain.
and on u clear morning it presents more
the appearance OF n furnace thnn II sub
trunean water course. 1t emlts vol
umcs oi smoke or steam, So dense that
on can scarcely see to travel, but clear.
ing away each day between ten and
eleven o'clock, that is tor the three even
ings l saw it. In the vicinity OF the
forks and tunnel game aboun DIS in great
quantities. Deer. elk, and the black and
cinnamon and grizzly bear all are very
plentiful. There is also an abundance
OF grouse, the largest and finest ever
saw; but the most numerous of them all
is the bald eagle, and tr"m the great
number If them it may we'll he called
the home Of the American eugle.
We will now pass down to the head ol
canoe navigation, as there is nothing
worthy of note excepting u deep, dark
canyon through which the river passes
Tor the distance OF abont 30 miles, being
one almost continuous cascade the entire
distance. The lowest pass TO a tributary
of the Columbia is about seventy five
feet higher than the bed ot the Skagit at
that point-the altitude being about
fifteen hundred or two thousand feet
above the tide.
About two fllles below the mouth Of
the canon IS the first tributary OF Imppr.
tant size below the fork. Here the val
ley opens out about two miles wide, ana
has some good agricultural lands and n
small body ot good FIR timber. This
point is one hundred and twenty miles
from the mouth of the river. The valley
again narrows do ~ II. however, carrying.
an average width OF one mile with here
and there IA few acres of land adapted to
agriculture, and a few small bodies of
good timber for the distance ot thirty
miles to the confluence OF the Cascade
river This beautiful little stream fur
nishes about One-tenth 0f the Skagits
crystal waters. 1t rises in glacier field
on the summit OF the Cascade range,
runs nearly due west, and is fifty miles
long. The valley here is about three
miles wide, and holds about the same
width Tor distance of thirty miles, or
down to the mouth of the Sauk river.
Here, sixty miles from tide water, the
valley is much wider, and is by tar the
most extensive, the most easy tn clear
and the best portion of the Skngit val
ley. There i, good land enough IN this
immediate vicinity for three hundred
farms, easy to clear and never overilows,
even Mt the highest stage at water
There nave been three or four claims
taken up within the past year. Mr.. j.
Sutter, the pioneer settler, has about ten
acres under cultivation; he has the best
house above the jam. and has been on
his place about 1S months. That shows
;hat when man means business he can
make "a farm even in II Skaglt jungle.
The Sauk river is the longest tributary
of the Skugit, has the most anei best
agricultural land, and is navigable for
the canoe Tor about fifty miles.
Passing down the river again the val.
ley grows more narrow for II distance Of
ten or twelve miles, when we come to
Baker river. This river is about four
rods wide and very raT id. 1t rises
north enst of Mt. Baker, and flows an
almost due course south to the Skagit,
and is about 90 miles long. There is no
good timber or farming land except
near the mouth, where are five or SIX
settlers. Here A. Everett, the pioneer,
has about twelve acres under cultivation
and nice little ranch, presenting neat
and inviting appearance.
After leaving Baker river, there is
nothing worthy of note more than nice
wi,Ie valley or timbered and farming
lnnds until we come to the coal mine,
which is the bonanza OF Washington
Territory, tie coal being superior in
quality to any on the Pacific coast In
quantity there is an an abundance and it
is easy Of access, easily mined and when
the Skaglt river is open to navigation
will he the best paying business ON the
Sound, and will require but small out
lay of capital to throw it into operation.