The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-05-29
THE SOUND COUNTRY.


Ed. INTELLIGENCER:-Se is the
Queen City of Washington Territory.
with more arrivals of steamers and sail
vessels than any other port of its size
on the coast. A wagon road thirty miles
to Snohomish City would give all the
people eff that town and valley near
connection for business purposes. and
would add greatly to the benefit Of both
places. A wagon road over the Cascade
mountains would greatly benefit Seattle
as we'll as the eastern side of the noun.
tsins.
There are about fifteen thousand PEG.
pie around the Sound, from Victoria to
Gray's Harbor, and there are some
twelve sawmills on the Sound. Port
Blakely has about ESQ people in it, and
a splendid mill which is doing good
business. Port Madison also has good
mill, which is now running on full time.
Port Gamble is owned by the most
wealthy and independent Company on
the coast, who do a large business.
There are about 500 people at Gamble.
DIR. Lane, Christian gentleman of that
place, is the pastor and Sabbath School
superintendent, as we'll as medical adj
wiser. He attends the sick, and has
kind word for everybody. Port Town
send is a very nice little place, and the
port Of entry for the Sound. 1t has
many saloons aud is quite q seapor,
town, with about 700 people in it.
There are about twenty farms on
WILDLY Island. aud many old settlers
with fine orchards. Coupeville, the
county seat, has two dry goods stores,
one hotel, one church, and one saloon.
Snohomish City is small place of about
200 people, and the river has about 20
miles of good settlement on it, but no
wagon roads Of any consequence. They
do their business mostly in skiffs.
There are about ten Indian reserva-
tions around the Sound and this side of
the mountains. Tho Indians are Quite
industrious ADD live we'll and dress
clean. slss
Seattle has about four thousand peo-
pie, and eight churches, seven hotels.
three restaurants, six dry goods stores
and about the same number of grocery
stores. and three drug stores. It has
many nice cottages and houses. and two
daily and two weekly papers. If roads
werc opened over the mountains and to
the Snohomish river. Seattle would be.
come q commercial city of much i'm.
portance.
The Yakima Plains have the best
agricultural land in the world. They
are about three hundred miles square.
Wild flowers bloom here about nine
months in the year. and cultivated
plants and shrubs do splendidly. White
river is settled about IS miles with
good farms. There is land enough on
White river, If put into cultivation, to
support town of fifty thousand people.
Puyallup river has farms on it for about
Is miles. Many farmers are in the hop
business, and bid fair to do we'll. Ia
coma is town of about four hundred
people at present. There are many
vacant houses aud but little business
there outside Of the travelling and chip
ping business. A bridge or two is
needed on White river. and also on the
Chehalis river. The mail all winter
aud spring has been carried on horse
back and the rivers forded at the cross
ings. There are many fine farms on
the Chehalis river. They are trying at
present to have Q small boat built to
help them up and down the river with
their produce. From back of Tacoma
and Steilacoom to the upper end Of
the Chehalis, to the mouth of its wa
tiers there must be over twenty thousand
sheep. Tumwater has natural sdvsn.
tages for . woollen factory and other
industries. The society of the Territory
and morals of the people compare
favorably with those Of any other Sec
ton. Lamber and coal are the principa,
productions of the Sound. OnSwinimish
fats. White river. Puyallup and sronnd
on Chehalis river there are many good
farms with good improvements. as well
As many new FERNS The Nooksack
country is settling up. On Skagit river
there are several good farms. also on
Snohomish river. Many people com.
plain of hard times here, and money is
scarce 1t is likewise 30 almost every
whore else on this coast. Hay, butfsr
and potatoes the farmers produce. : "
Olympia has about one thousand in
habitants, but. not very much business.
sm one Of your citizens. and have
settled in Seattle likely fer life. I shall
travel around the coast from victoris
10 Portland. and try to persuade the
people to commemorate the dead With
something worthy Of their recollection.
r. MAPLE.