The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-19
COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIAL PRESS
Saturday, October 10. 1878.
HOMES FOR LAB0RIEe MEN.

In wandering about the outskirts OF
town, within an area OF mile or two
of the bay, we have been agreeabiy
surprised at witnessing the great num-
Der of coy little houses, surrounded by
attractive gardens, which have been
hewed out of the forest and dense
underbrush within the past year, while
within the business portion OF our city
there has been such general complaint
of dull times and depression OF trade.
Another fact demonstrative in this con-
nection is the astonishing fscundity OF
the unpromisiug soils of our timbered
lands under cultivation. One OF the
most creditable exhibitions Of vegets-
bles at our late County Fair. Was the
products of timbered land settled upon
by an immigrant from Illinois, cleared
and planted since the first OF last
April. Our observation and expert
ence during many years residence here
have convinced us that there are no
other portions of the globe which offer
more certain rewards to energy. indus
try and reasonable thrift. or where
larger proportion of the inhabitants
have acquired decent competence by
less labor. In q population Of over
1000 in our own city. with more than
an ordinary of proportion prosperous
men and less proportion OF poor men
than any community of like numbers
within our knowledge, there are very
few wls commenced here with any
other capital than muscle and Drawn
backed by industry and habits OF thrift
Pass into the suburbs Of the town
and you will see neat cottages. enbow-
erned in fcwery shrubbery, and grow
Ing orchards and fourishing gardens,
the homes and freehold of lsboring
men who landed upon our wharves
within the past two or three years
with their families in an almost desti-
tute condition, some from the grass
hopper regions of Kansas and Ne
braska. others from the war devastated
sections Of the South. and yet others
from the ice bound and snow-clad
plains of Iowa and Minnesota. Among
our most prosperous farmers. loggers
aud the mill men who count their &C.
cumulstions by hundreds of thousands,
it 10 rare to find one who commenced
life upon the Sound with dollar in
bis pocket, or other resources than those
achieved by his own exertions. The
opportunities are as abundant now 81
they ever were for men of muscle
enterprise and energy. Our heavy
-foreaiA- haxa.a foxhidiana- loat tp ih00da,i
wood, for fuel and burning, there
the heaviest draft upon their
resources, here costs nothing; our
forests are alive with game
and our waters swarming with the
most delicious fish, with abundance
OF clans and oysters. We feel none
OF the rigors Of . Northern winter. or
the scorch;ng heat Of the summer sol.
stice, and are entirely exempt from
devastating storms and tornadoes. Our
crops are as uniform and certain "A
the seasons. never having: been seri-
ousiy effected by extremes Of drou.h
or rain. Our climate is equitable.
healthful and invigorating. Nature
furnishes supplies necessary to sub.
s'stence. subject to none of the condi.
tions pertaining to settlement upon
lands destitute Of wood and water like
the great prairies Of the old northwest
and the arid plains OF California. or
all the settlers who have secured
homes here. however humble, we have
heard none express q desire to return to
the place from whence he came. One
VINO came from Iowa told us that the
last winter he was in Iowa, the snow
was so deep that he could not drive =
team over the prairiss and that he had
to haul his firewood upon hand sled
ten miles upon the crust of the snow
he has farm within Q few miles Of
this city. which he has reclaimed from
. heavy forest and regards himself "A
fortunate man in making the ex.
change. With an axe, bush shook and
hoe tho settler may enter upon :
quarter section Of land with the mate. |
riai at hand for building . cabin. |
slash. barn and plant . few .cres
which without blowing will yield 500
bushels OF potatoes to the acre, and |
after the frat crop find himself in |
prosperous circumstances. We know
OF many who have done that and ara |
now in the enjoyment of a comnetanca |
winch they have acquired within a |
lew years past. There is abundance of
roomin Western Washington for thou. |
sands of that kind; but il is . verv |
poor Held for bummers or spectators. |
0oL' Onarles II. LArrabee. the sage |
OF WILDLY Island. is at present 60 |
lourning in Seattle, with the svoved |