, 1880-04-15

westerly direction 10 the acitic ocean, n
distance of about 40 miles, and
cmpties about 80 miles below. or
south OF. Cane Flattery. This river,
like all offers that contend
with ocean waves. has bar at its. mouth
preventing vessels drawing more than to
feet ot water from entering it with safe
ty. even at high tide. 1t Is navlgable, tor
all vessels that can enter, for a distance OF
or miles, only, and. Tor smaller
craft, 4 distance of II to IL miles. With
canoes 1t may be Travelled distance of 20
miles or more The valley through which
this river flows has never been fully OK
pIored, yet its extent and fertility is such
that it must prove the location OF large
ans flourishing farming settlement. A
number OF large prairies have already
Deen taken by plucky adventurers. and
hundreds of acres Of fine prairie land still
remain vacant, besides large bodies OF rich
aluvial bottom land. covered with q light
growth OF timber. The prairie land dis
severed thus far IN the valley Is estimated
at about 5000 acres In the aggregate. or
this amount about halt only has been taken
by settlers. Within the scope OF country
thus lar explored, there is good bottom
land, IN various quantities and locations,
10 an amount perhaps cqlialing that Of the
prairie. A portion of this land is heavily
timbered with hc,nlock and spruce, while
the remainder supports the usua growth
OF alder, maple. etc. AT the mouth Of the
river is little marsh land. farther up Is
alder bottom. The prairie first settled
upon WAS taken about nine years ago. 1t
Is situated about three miles north of the
river. and about the same distance from
she ocean. 1t contains about 1900 acres
Of ricl land The original large fern
which grew upon this prairie attained a
height of q to feet In some places. The
soil is a black loan varying from inches
to Is inches IN depth. 1t rests upon
substantial clay subsoil almost imperyious
to wafer. Near this prairie OH the north
side, Is a smaller one, containing about
$50 acres, Farther up tile river are other
small prairics scattered along until you
arrive at the largest OF all, situated upon
the delta formed by the forks Of the river
about 13 miles from It's month. Fartherup
still are two more prairics--Oue cOntain-
ing about 700 acres, situated Oh the left
bank Of the river ascending, and the other
short distance above, containing $50 or
400 acres, These prairies are about "a
miles and 25 miles distant. respectively,
from the mouth of the river. The lower
one OF the two is situated adjoining
clear mountain lake, about the size OF the
prairie, In this lake are pretty mountain
trout; upon its surface are wild ducks,
occasionally geese, and in sammcr there
Is an air OF rural beauty about the sur
roundings unsurpassed in tile world. The
lhdlalis, ofwhom there are about $50 liv-
ing on and near the river principally
&C its mOuth) say that there are more
prairies south OF those already mentioned.
As the country has not yet been explored
by white men, we can OF course give no
description of 1t save to say that the writ
or hereof looking from the summit: of the
mountains dividing the valley from Puget
Sound, could sec n vast rolling country
away to the southward, bearing the same
general appearance rs that Of the val ey
near the river. where the prairies mem
toned are situated From this we may
infer that the Indians arc correct, and we
need not be surprised TO find as much more
good land for farmers as has been described.
One thing we DO know is that vast scope
Of country. sufficient for about 90 town.
ships or, 3.240 square miles, is located IN
the western ends of Clalam and Jefferson
counties, south OF the mountains, and that
this tract OF land oil has general appear
ance identical with that OF the portion In
which the prairies are found The trail
spoken OF as lending southwark from
Py.cht river.sIrikes Qui ente at the upper
prairie mentioned, from whence it follows
westerly along the north side Of the river
to the mouth Of the latter. This trail was
OF e.led by a few hardy pioneers about the
year 1867. Over 1t were driven the stock
cattle used as start by the few settlers
who first went In. new and shorter
route has been projected from the lower
settlement across to Clalam Bay, dis
tance OF 30 miles or less. The opening of
this route will be FASTENED by donation
! from the Territory. made at the last ses-
sion Of the Legislature. When this road