The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02


and has a coast line of 1894 miles. 1t
can be navigated with safety at all
seasons Of the year by the largest ocean
steamers or the smallest sail-boat.
Severe storms on it's waters are un-
known, and there is not bar, shoal,
rock, or other obstruction to navig ga
ton from the Pacific Ocean to Olym-
pia, distance Of more than 200 miles.
1t is made up Of continuous success
sion Of bays, inlets, and harbors, and
is so dotted with islands that it is i'm
possible to get more than two or three
miles from land at any point on its
waters. 1t is, in short, one vast, no
BILE harbor, destined to be the western
terminus of the Northern Pacific Rail
road, and on its completion, being on
the line of the shortest route between
the Atlantic States and Japan and
China, it will be the emtrspot Of large
portion of the commerce Of the Occi-
dent and Orient
CLIMATE.
Strictly speaking, there are only two
seasons in Western Washington, win
ter and summer. The winter or wet
season commences about the first of
October and ends about the first Of
April. During this period there will
be many weeks of pleasant weather.
The average annual rainfall in the Pu-
get Sound Basin is about fifty inches.
1t will appear almost incredible that
in this northern latitude, between 46 .
and 40 ., ice and snow are seldom
seen. The average temperature dur
ing the winter months is 80 -, and
during the summer 63 Q, a mean diff
ference of only "a o. The maximum
temperature for a few days in summer
will be about 80 ., but the nights are
always cool and refreshing. The sum-
mer months are exceedingly pleasant,
and the climate during this period
compares favonbly with that of South,
ern Italy. One singular and as yet
unexplained climatic feature is, that
thunder and lightning are of very rare
occurrence.
EASTERN WASHINGTON.
The vast rolling prairies of Eastern
Washington make it one of the best
grazing and wheat growing regions on
the continent. There is little timber,
except on the margins of the rivers and
smaller streams. 1t has an area of
wheat-land capable of producing. with
ordinary culture, more than one hun
dred million bushels annually. A
failure Of crops nerer occurs.
The present season the yield is re-
garded as not an average, and it will
be twenty-five bushels per acre. Forty
to sixty bushels are not unusual. The
wheat product of this region the past
season will be about one million five
hundred thousand bushels. One mil
lion bushels will be transported down
the Columbia River to Portland, and
from thence to Europe, and, as hereto
fore, will probably be claimed as pro
duct of the State of Oregon. All the
fruits, except tropical, and all vegeta-
bles, Of superior quality, are grown in
great abundance.
Tho climate and soil are particularly
adapted to the production of peaches
and grapes, large quantities of which
are raised Of unsurpassed excellence
and flavor. A very nutritious indigo
nousgrass, commonly known as ''bunch-
grass" Fessuca pratensss, grows spon-
taneously over many thousand square
miles, afforling excellent range for
stock. It is self-curative and retains
its nutritious qualities when allowed
to remain ON the ground uncut The
raising Of stock is extensively prose-
cuted. A market is found ON Puget
Sound and in British Columbia, and
large numbers are annually driven TO
the Union Pacific Railroad and thence
transported to Chicago.
1t can safely be asserted that East
ern Washington will, in few years,
rival California in tho production Of al
the cersalA both - regards a&grssate
quantity raised and quality, and will
far surpass that Or any othsr 6tate in
ths average yisld pr acv~ Thsre i,
howeveg, q pgsssaA one serious draw
back. Ths oaly outlet los ~. .prodncss
a this veGisa = down the Columbia
nivsr q Eoueknd TheFs an two OBJ
.-6>..,<,n2u.uu>> - r>,S2uns>knn - ~ river