The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-19

tbe same great reservoirs, giving be-
sides navigation an extent Of water
power by occasional falls, Of probably
not less than FIVE hundred RAINING
miles.
Grsy's Harbor, an inland sea on the
Pacific, into which empty the Cheha.is
and other rivers, affords even better
inlet and harbor than the Columbia,
and the same is true of Shoal water
Bay. Fresh water lakes abound all
over the Territory one OF he largest Of
which is Lake Washington, near Seat
tie, within three miles Of Puget Sound,
which covers sn area of Al square
miles, with almost unfathomabIe limpid
waters. Lake Chelan, IN Eastern
Washington. is still larger, a weird
lake in the midst of the plains. in
huge cleft of rock, which seems to
have opened expressly to receive the
waters. The rocky walls stand hun
dreds of feet high in an almost perpen-
dicular direction; the length of the lake
is 60 miles. The waters are clear,
beautiful and calm, and the stiffness as
Of the grave, is disturbed only by the
birds and beasts which seek this mar
velous, enchanted spot. Mineral lakes,
alkaline and sulphurous, said to pos
sess remarkable curative properties,
are also found. Medical Lake, a large
body, distinguished for its strong aka.
line qualities. is q favorite resort for
invalids. and promises to be a great
medical Mecca. TO which many may
come and be healed of their physical
infirmitiss- Boiling springs and other
strange conditions exist in great num-
bers, which / have neither the time
nor the space to describe. The ocean,
Sound. rivers and lakes are frequented
by myriads of fowl in season, and also
abound with great bodies of fish. Sal
mon-of sixteen vsrieties--trout, cod,
halibut, founders, sturgeon, smelt, rock
cod, sardines, perch an ! dogfish, the oil
OF which last one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars worth is produced an
nually. Fifteen hundred boats are en-
gagged during the fishing season in
catching salmon 10 the Columbia river
alone. which are chiefly canned at the
large and numerous establishments for
that purpose on the river. They grow
to moastrous size. A paper of today
refers 10 one salmon which weighed
eighty and one half pounds; ninety-one
pounds and one ounce was the weight
OF the largest ever taken. Oysters,
very small in size but fine in flavor.
abound 10 the inlets. Three hundred
thousand dollars worth were caught and
sold during the present year at or near
Olympia. Crabs are large, and found
chiefly in Gray's Harbor, in immense
quantities. OF clans there are several
varieties, both large and small, some
weighing ten or twelve pounds apiece.
There are also other shell fish. Elk,
deer, bear, grouse, pheasant. and other
game can be found in all the forests
and prairies.
In Western Washington there are
seven to ten million res of land which
can be utilized foragricultural and graz.
ing purposes. Alluvial bottoms along
the rivers, prairies and timber lands,
Will produce timothy, orchard grass
and clover, and much of it raises, when
properly cultivated. such crops of hay,
grain. vegetables. hops. flax and fruit
as have never before seen. There is
no better country for grazing and dairy
purposes. An abundance of fresh, pure
water, shade and q cool summer tenn.
perature, all contribute to make this
one OF the most prosperous of sheep.
cattle and horse producing countries.
Yet this will require great labor. for
much OF 1t is a natural wilderness. Let
no man mistake me, for it will require
labor. courage and intelligence to sub
due natural growth and to fit the coun-
try for comfortable residences. Corn
will not flourish here, the nights being
too cool, and the seasons too short for
ripening.
Washington East presents condition
OF soil, climate and production and adj
vantags greatly in contrast with that
which have described. 1t contains
about th,ee-fifths of the Territory,
being vast prairie country, of level,
undulAting. billy and mountainous
surface. chiefly adapted to grazing and
the growing of wheat, rye. oats. barley,
hops. tobacco. flax, vegetables and
fruits. Wheat is the main production,
and the average yield is thirty-tive or
forty bushels TO the acre. eighty q We
being the largest of which l have any
knowledge. l rode in an open carriage
forty miles in straight line northeast
from Walla Walla, along side of one
continuous body of beautiful verdure of
wheat and grass without q break or
wash or gully. Five years back all of
this country was considered to be
totally valueless. growing only sage
brush and bunch grass. Now no field
In Holmdel, Upper Freehold or Spring
held can surpass them In beauty or fer
tiiity, and rs the soil is deeply imprep-
mated with alkaline substance. it is
probable that wheat can successfully
grown there for fifty years to come,
without artificial fertilization. This
plateau of the Columbia is supplied
with navigable rivers, for four or five
hundred miles from the sea, and is
drained by the Snake, Spokan and other
rivefs. The season for seeding wheat
extends equally well from September
to May. and the harvesting period runs
from July to November, that season
being free from rain-the straw stand
ing and holding the grain, which straw
viii not do anywhere but ON the Paci-
nc coast. The grain is hard and dry
In consequence. and can be carried
around the world again and again
without becoming musty, or deteriora-
ting otherwise in quality. The
amount raised will astonish any one