The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07

dar, pine, spruce, cottonwood and ma
pie grow to incredible size. | have
seen fir tree fourteen feet in dame
ter, and a cedar tree siXty-four feet in
circumference. The average size of
the fir, full grown, is about six feet in
diameter, and many of them stand
three hundred feet high. The saw
mills cut 10000, 600 feet of lumber an
nually. Lately nine pieces of timber,
each 154 feet long and two feet square,
and several planks, each III feet long,
were cut. The logs from which the
planks were taken sold for $500 apiece
at tidewater, and one tree alone has
produced 10000 feet. This lumber
finds market at San Francisco, and in
Asia, Australia and Europe, being
known as Oregon lumber. 1t is esti-
mated that there are 100000 acres of
prairie, river, swampand other bottom
lands on the Sound which can easily
be utilized for farming purposes. In
truth, all the forest land can be con-
verted to good agricultural and graz
ing property, for there is no country
where grass grows in greater luXuri-
ance, or where grain, vegetables and
fruits are produced more abundantly
than on the prairies and clearings.
silver, copper, lead, cinnabar, and it
is said, tin, are found here. Lime
stone, granite, marble and freestone
also abound.
The waters are of wonderful extent
and beauty, comprising fifty rivers
cascades making natural water power,
lakes, bays, straits aud the Sound
The Columbia river affords. with its
tributaries, thousands of miles of nav
igable waters, and drains 300, 900 square
miles of territory. Puget Sound COW
ers 1000 square miles, has | 800 miles
of coast line, deep soundings, and bold
shores covered with perpetual verdure,
contains numerous beautiful islands,
is free from bars, rocks, shoals and
storms. 1t has an average width of
six miles and an average depth of ten
fathoms. All these waters are alive
with the choicest fish salmon, trout,
halibut, cod, oysters, CLANS and crabs.
In season thew swarm with innnmera,
on the Columbia Is one OF the well
known and chief industries of the Pa
cific coast. Deer, elk, bears and
smaller animals of the hunt inhabit
the entire basin in large numbers.
The climate is bland and healthful.
The accounts of rainy winters are
grossly exaggerated; but little snow
falls, no ice is gathered, and the ther-
mometer has averaged during the past
winter 40 Fahrenheit. summers are
always cool and invigorating, the mer-
curry indicating about 50.
TRAVELLING FACILITIES.
Washington Territory will never re-
Quire an extensive system of railroads,
being so well supplied with navigable
waterways. Nearly 300 miles, how
ever, are in operation, connecting the
Columbia river with the Sound, tap
ping three leading coal mines, and
running to some of the eastern towns.
4 great necessity is the Cascade di-
vision of the Northern Pacific, which
| am assured will be put in operation
as speedily as is possible. The Terri
torial University has 100 pupils; a
good common school system prevails;
every religious denomination is rep
resented in churches; taxation Is light
and the people are Intelligent, ener-
getic and prosperous. The population
is, am assured, about 100000. 1t is,
however, so sparse that the census
enumerators did not reach many re-
mote places. Emigration has been
prevented from reaching us in large
proportions as yet on account OF lSno-
rance of the character of our climate
and resources, the necessity for filling
up intermediate states and territories,
| the Frustrated condition of the entire
country, and the want of cheap and
public conveyance to our borders
| These causes are now removed, ana Il
great multitude of people is pouring
upon us from every direction. KNOW
| of no other place where they can live
more comfortably or with less labor
than they can here. II requires health,
weight, courage and persistence to
succeed here as elsewhere, and emf
grants must expect to endure the pri-
vations of life in a new country, hold
| ing before them the certainty of future
comfort and prosperity. Capitalists
could not make II mistake by invest
ing their money here in the purchase
of timber, mineral or agricultural
lands, and by establishing manufacto-
ries for production of all goods made
| of wood, iron or wool. Such opportu-
mites for making great wealth do not
exist elsewhere.
A FUTURE COMMERCIAL CENTER.
"All persons here with whom have
conversed declare that in respect to
climate, lands, healthfulness and sue
cessful business, they would not
change their residence; and these peo-
pie represent every other portion of
the world. Our situation Is central,
although we are considered to lie upon
the border Draw a line upon this
| Cloha ~ said the (soveruOr, calling nv