, 1879-04-26

to the falls, which are some 20 or 30 icet
IN perpendicular hight, with several
smaller cascades.
The surveys extend up this branch
only some two miles. q. B. Iverson
has the contract to survey township 81
north, oil range six east. The south
Fork cuts diagonally across this town
ship from south east to northwest. All
| this land Is vacant and most all of the
.imber is burnt off the bottom lands,
making it very easy to clear.
The north fork is really the main river;
the bottoms are wider, the timber heav
icr, great amount Of vine maple to
clear. This fork is navigable for canoes
sJme 40 miles to the Sock purtage. A
portage of three miles takes one from
the head of the north fork of the Still
laguamish over to the Sock river, one
of the main tributaries of the Skagii.
Mountains extend almost uninterrupt-
edly from this portage nearly to salt
water, separating by an almost impass
able mountain wall the two river valleys,
unless passage exists from river TO
river via. the Stillaguamish Pill Chuck
creek. Indians on the Skagit report
such channel by which, in time OF
fresnets they can make the trip in canoes
from river to river, leaving the Skagit
d short distance below tho coal mines,
and coming out on the Stillaguamish
not far from big island.
Ten miles up the south fork noun
tains begin. When the falls are reached,
il is found that between the two forks
there is very high mountain peak,
covered with perpetual snow. One
mile below these falls there is trail
which leads over the divide 81 miles
onto the Snohoinish Pill Cnuck, so that
the waters navigable Tor canoes ON the
South FORK approach i.boat as near the
Snohomsh Pill Chuck, as the North
Fork does the Sock.
COAL AND GOLD.
Opposite this trail that leads from
the South Fork 10 Pill Chuck, is a
small stream that comes into the
South Fork from the north side. By
following up this stream days journey
through canons, velley Is reached eight
miles long by about two miles wide
This is Hne vine maple bottom hedged
in by high mountains.
In june 1878, Messrs. Price, Eide,
Olson and Iverson went up there to
prospect for gold. Washed gold on
many bars, and found guild in every pan.
Washed a shovel full of earth on the
shovel aud obtained twelve colors. The
gold found was all of it very light fake
gold too light to save successfully with
out quicksilver. 1t would also be nee
cessary to fume the stream to get TO the
bed rock, which would cost too much.
The party also discovered, claimed
and located vein of coal some 4 feet
thick, which is situated about 20 miles
in straight line from the salt waters,
about 40 miles by the river meanders.
From the descriptions given, it is sup
posed to be bituminous coal similar in
quality TO the SkagIt or Puyallup coal.
The party cut the name of Elma Falls
in the rock, being the name they gave to
the Falls on tho South Fork, in memory
Of Mr.. Pierce's little daughter, Elma,
who had died only a few days before the
| party started on Ibis trip.
The country between the Stillaguam-
ish and Pill Chuck as seen from high
mountain back Of the Ema Falls, is q
high level plateau, burned nearly bare of
timber. Much of it only needs tame
grasses to make it an excellent stock
country. The Stillaguamish river above
the Big Island is almost entirely free
from snags or drift. 1t has very swift
smooth current and would be navigable
for steamers large portion of the year.
Saturday Apr. 26. '65 Johnson surren'd