The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-11-04
WHTTE RIyER.
Its Resources and FUture-rneidents
OF Pleasant Trip TO the Country.

Its Resources and PLture-fnefdents
OF n Pleasant Trip TO the Country.
Not being able to convince Captain
Cushman that the river was suffi-
GENTLY high for the satetJ Of his
Comet" on whose tail we had been
anticipating o pleasant trip up the Du-
vanish and White rivers. Saturday
morning, of Sept 18th, found rs on the
road leading to White river. Two
hours after starting we were oat OF
sight OF Seattle. and by noon ws had
reached Black river bridge, which
spans the river of that name l2 miles
distant from Seattle. Pushing rapidly
it did not take long to cross the bluf
which separates White from Duwamish
valleys, when we found ourselves in
the beautiful valley whose name heads
this letter. We were. comparatively
speaking. strangers, tut it did not
take us long 10 realize that we were
traversing valley rich in agricultural
resources. Nature evidently hsd.doue
her part. and it but remains for man t.
do his.
We met many we had seen on pre-
vious visit. and we met some OF whose
exlstencs we were In blissful ignorance.
When va reached rather pretty place
bearing the name OF Msddocksviile one
of the latter. o stont, good natured-
looking farmer. whose tailor had not
stinted him when he made his pants,
saluted US with. How are you Where
be you going?' We replied. Any
where in general and nowhere in par
ticular." This answer had the desired
effect. and he asked no more questions,
but added, IF you be going up the
road drive them cattle ahead of you.
We agreed TO do so, and departed. leav-
ing our interlocutor scratching his
head and wondering. no doubt, Who
In thunder are them fellows"
BY O'Clock we were st our journeys
end and were kindly welcomed BY DIR
Jefis. whose hospitality is too well
known to require any special mention
10 this letter. He was not surprised.
but glad to see US, and made our stay
very pleasant aud agreeable.
We were in time TO sec hop picking
and the system Of curing, which differs
somewhat from that Of California We
were surprised at the enormous yield,
which in some instances was claimed TO
DO two tons per acre. Mr. Crow in
formed US that his hop field contained
four acres and he would be disappointed
il he failed to get less than eight tons.
This assertion led us to make further
inquiries ss to the yield of other pro-
ducts, aud our informant claimed that
the following was fair estimate Of the
various products. which he insisted
could be considered sure crop in the
valley: Wheat, 33 to 40 bushels; oats.
40 to so: Barley. 21 TO 80; Hay. 2 to 3
tons; potatoes. 200 to 800 bushels. and
turnips. beets aud carrots from $50 to
1000 bushels per acre.
1t was admitted by ell whom we
questioned on the subject that they ex.
perierced no trouble in finding ready
market for their produce. either from
the farm or dairy. We were informed
that one farmer on the RIVER had con
tracted TO deliver oil the butter he could
make for . year. at an average price OIL
~ cents per pound.
From what We have been informed
together with what We have seen. we
became convinced that the whole valley
from the mouth Of the Duwamish Il
that Of the Puyallup, (Which is one
continual valley. only designated BY
sectional names] has great future be
fore 1t. There are two requirement,
which are greatly needed. The first 1,
practical farmers. and the second 10 q
local railroad. running from Tacoma NJ
Puyallup. through Stuck and down
White river, terminating ct Seattle. A
road such as referred TO will be profit
able investment. and would largely
benefit that portion OF the farming
community opening up the country fol
miles on either side. IL would DO nc
speculation, but certainty. That por
tion Of the county is greatly developed
and the freight and passenger traffic I
already there. Muscle has done iii
share OF the work. Trrc. il is done In
crude manner. but sufficiently done q
assure capital and enterprise that
paying Geld awaits them.
We would be remiss in our duty
were we not TO mention the abort sight
ed course persusd by many Of ths
farmers we came in contact with. We
will only refer to . few as an illustra-
ton Of the most suicidal and slovenl,
system Of farming that has ever com,
undsr our observation. One farmel
who had gene to the trouble and ex.
pense Of seeding something over fifty
scres OF barley evidently had forgot 4
fence 1t, for we counted not less thar
thirty head OF hogs enjoying the fruitl
OF hrs labor. Another. who 10 thu
owner of quito . largo farm, fifty acre,
OF which 10 cleared and well adapted &C
hay. is compelled through his utter in.
difference, to buy his hay 70 winter hi.
stock, which 10 less than twenty head
We visited. not one, bat dozen farm
ers. where they informed us they ownes
from ak to twelve cows. but butter wa,
something unknown 10 them. Auoshe,
cuts over 200 tons Of hay, aud is com
pslled 90 buy every other article o,
produce that he requires for family use
Several sell their hogs on foot for ~,
and 8 cents per pound. and buy bacos
for l2L cents. We counted twent,
milch cows running wild in the woods
whose owners had not MIXED than
since they cams'in. weicnuld mentio,
several other instances of n sim,lal
character. going TO prove the nnprofisa
able aud. consequently. unsatisfac,ory