Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-09-20

Facts about Puget Sound.

IHgct Sound III rs greatest length, Is
perhaps. 80 miles, while the ndcnta,
tons, bends, turns aud bays of its shore
are so irregular and numerous that its
shore line exceeds 1900 miles. Dense
forests Of fir cover nearly all Of the
bordering valley from the Olympjan to
the Cascade mountains, covering in
places to the very margin Of deep water,
and at Others. sweeping back around
large bodies Of marsh and tide lands.
The latter when reclaimed are exceed.
iugly productive and have lately recciy-
ed the attention Of immigrants. North
ward OF the Sound proper, 10 Island and
Whateom counties there are districts Of
such lands and some prairie which are
rapidly BEING taken up by settlers. A
glance at the maps Of this country shows
land and water in NIL sorts OF comming-
ling forms. The waters are deep and
navigahle, and the lands exceedingly
fertile. Summer scenery among these
islands, coves, bays and inlets, is most
lovely. Coal and iron is found in large
quantities all around Puget Sound, and
gold in nearly all the streams coming
from the Cascade mountains. Some of
these streams are large and the wild
country of their source is the best places
in America for hunting and fishing.
The artist toe, can find work for his
pencil. One Of the highest peaks of
the northwest, Mount Rainer, looks
down upon the Sound, and we have
thought as we have gazed upon this
scene, that it is tho grandest Of all the
grand scenery in the great northwest.
Taking one Of the several steamers
that ply between the Sound ports, a
delightful voyage Of 80 miles brings
the traveller to the capital OF King coun-
ty. 1t is worthy of mention that the
waters Of Puget Sound are so pleasant
to travel on-pleasanter than % river
and far more agreeable than the open
sea. The shores though covered with
trees, are, however, lonely, but the fur.
nish interesting resting places for the
eyes. With good passenger boats and
reasonable fares, the Sound ought to be
the greatest pleasure ground in the
world for tourists. Fares are very un-
equal ia amount--boiug cheap in some
directions aud high in others. From
Tacoma 10 Seattle tho fare is bat enc
dollar; but from Seattle down the
Sound the fare is much higher.
SEATTLE
is a town on the eastern shore. Of be.
tween ionr or five thousand Inhabitants,
built on the side Of Hill 500 feet high.
The bay oa which it is located -- Eih-
otts--is Ave and half miles long and
two and half miles wide. The har
Dor is an exeallent Que, with water in it
from 90 to 80 iathoms deep. A few
blocks Of land have been reclaimed
along the city front by filling in With
the saw dust from the mill there located.
This portion Of the town is covered with
mills IF various kinds, ironworks, facto-
ries, wharves and warehouses; and pre-.
sents a peculiar business aspect. There
are few really handsome buildings in
Seattle, either for business places or
residences but il has, nevertheless, an
air Of thrift, which comes from every
possible corner occupied. The Terrific
rial University, on the brow Of the Hill,
rs the m0st pretentious public
building, which is almost eolinsed by
some of the more modern private dwell
lings. No court house has yet been
built; though a county jail has, with
offices in the upper story for county
purposes.
At these Offices some figures were OBJ
taiped which show the condition of af-
fairs Tor King county. The total cash
value Of lands and improvements, aud
town lots aud improvements, is estima.
ted at 81, 540,2ST. Total cash value Of
personal property, s7l2 .5l7-making a
grand total of s2,243,s04. The total
population of the county is reckoned at
less than 5000. The county revenue
is $4,000. Business of all kinds has
been usually prosperous in Seattle, but
this year it shares the almost universal
stagnation. The two great products Of
the Sound, coal and lumber, have not
found as ready market, as formerly, in
California, and, consequently, the pro-
duetion OF these articles has in a great
measure been suspended, causing loss4s
and fixtures, not in Seattle alone, bu;
quite generally.
Seattle has six churches. The mum
Der of school children is 1921. Grad,
ed Common schools, aud preparatory
and collegiate school, in the university
building, under a corps of energetic and
and conscientious teachers, afford COED
opportunities for education. The pu
pils are eatefprising and Intelligent
and the future of this city is destined tt
be brilliant Que, if it oalr succeeds IL
getting the much desired Traasmontan,
Railroad. Money is being raised Il
continue the Seattle and Walla Wall.
Railroad across the Cascades, to oper
up the Yakima country, and proceed
eastward to Walla Walla. This enter.