Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-12

CfRltttk ipA thNtt hphNApt
men. and utilization. The increasing de-
niand for building material and fuel by
the rapidly aagnenting population of
the southern parifc Coast. and other
tihlberiess regions, is now opening far
fheir use the resources of her vast for
ests and fields of coal. The near ap
preaching completion Of the Northern
Pacific railroad. and the construction of
the Pacific Division through the great
Columbia basin, is attracting large
immigration into this INNER se pastoral
and wheat growing country. Both Sec
tons will soon I've united by rail. and by
the exchange of their diverse produce
tons. promote the continued growth
and prosperity OF both.
MOUNTAINS.
TIE Cascade Mountains extend
across Washington in northwesterly
direction, at q distance of about 125
miles from the Pacific. with an eleya-
ton ranging from three thousand to
ifteen thousand feet above the sea:
.hey create two divisions, tho opposit.s
in climate. soil and natural productions.
fine Coast Mountains cover the extreme
weste II and northwestern portiens-the
vi oftt CiELb NA8OAo-
and feet, embracing tie country north
of the fifth ssandaId of parallel. sur
rounded by the ocean. the Straits of
Juai, &c Fuca aud Hood Canal. They
are generally covered with forests of fir,
spruce, cedar aud pine. but comprise
many lightly timbered openings and
rich valley bottoms.
RIVERS.
The Columbia river. rising in the
Rocky Mountains, flows through the
northwestern portion of the Territory,
and forms its southern boundary from
near the mouth of Snake river to the
ocean. The elevated plains through
which il courses east of the mountains
are known as '.The Great Plains" of the
Columbia ard of the Spokane rivers.
West OF the Cascade Range it gives its
name To the great basin extending from
the Calapoois Mountains of Oregon. on
the south. moro than 800 miles north, to
PUGET Sound. Its principal Washington
tributaries are the Spokane, Okanagon.
Gethou, Cbeian, Enteatwa, Wenatchee,
Snake, Wa.la Walla, Yakima. klickitat,
Washoagal, Cath-ia-pootle, Lewis and
Cowlitz rivers. The Lummi, SwinO-
mish, Skagit, Stilaguamish. Snohomlsh.
Duwamish. Black. Puyallup, Nisqually,
DeS Chutes and Skokomish rivers emp
ty into the waters of Puget Sound: and
the Salmon. Dnngeness, Elwha, Tyre,
Ps, che, and Hoko, rising in the Oiym-
pic Mountains, flow into the Straits of
Fuca. The ocean slope of the Coast
Range is drained by the Hosett, guile
hute, Charlat, Queets, Shaklett, Qui-
nault. Chehalis, Willopah. Silver, Bear,
and other rivers.
Washington, Whatcom. Quinault, ke-
chelus, Kanchess. Lieaalum aud Colyille,
are the largest and principal lakes i'll the
Territory.
Washington has coast line of 245
miles; Shoaiwater Bay and Gray's Har-
Dor are accessible Except i'll stormy
weather) for vessels drawing twelve
feet of water. They abound with shell
fish, Goldfish, sturgeon, and innumerable
water fowl.
VALLEYS.
The Walla Walla. Snake, Palouse and
Yakima, of Eastern Washington; and
the COwlitz, Chehalis, Skagit, Puyallup
and Chimicurn, of Western, are the
principal valleys.
TIE GEOLOGICAL FORMATION
Which characterizes Oregon prevails in
Washington. A fine. light, volcanic
ash, intermixed with sand, gravel and
decomposed basalt rock-the latter pro-
truding above the surface in many pla-
ces. especially along the water courses;
dry, elevated, rolling. timberless plains,
covered with bunch grass and sage
brush, are its prominent features east of
the mountains. The surface deposits
and formations of western Washington
are less uniform. A light. moist, gravel
ly (and often rocky soil, mixed with
decompossd vegetable matter, prevails
on the uplands. Along the river bottoms
a deep, wet, dark. rich alluvial and peat
soil il most common. with forests al
moet everywhere. Extensive coal and
iron fields surround Puget Sound; gold
is also found in paying quantities.
THE ZOOLOGY AND oRNrrHoLoaY
OF Washington corresponds with that of
Oregon. 1t is one of the best fields for
sports,nen in the world. Its growth of
trees, shrubs, plants and grasses also
closely resembles that of Oregon.
CLIMATE.
No two sections of country lying SO
near together, present greater contrasts
of climate than eastern and western
Washington. The former is dry, clear
and windy; free from all malaria, hot at
mid day, cool at night, with frequent
summer frosts; the winters short. but
severe; SHOWS generally light,
but occasionally covering the grasses
until stock suffers. The rainfall ranges
from eight to twenty inches; the summer
from 30 degrees to 100 do
rrees above; the winter from GO degrees
above to 10 degrees below zero.
The climate of western Washington is
mois. and cloudy; uniformly cool, sell
dom hot; some malaria in the bottoms,
though generally very healthy; cool at
night, sometimes frosty; winters usually
mild with but little snow. which soon
melss. The rainfall varies from 80 to
$50 inches; the summer Temperature
from 10 degrees to 50 degrees above; the
winter from 80 degrees above to 10 be-
lew.
PRODUCTS AND INDUSTRIES.
Stock and wheat raising are the great
natural pursuits of eastern Washington.
Millions of acres afford the choicest
bunch grass grazing in the world; an
immense area produces most beautiful
crops of vhea. Of unsurpassed excel
iencc. Tho butter made in the upper
Coiuu bia country is of superior quality.
A variety Of fruits flourish in the Walla
Walla and Touchet valleys; corn does
well in few localities. There are mag
nihcent water powers, especially at SpO-
kane Falls, which is destined to become
the great manufacturing center Of this
region. West of ths mountains, lumber,
coal. iron. ish and lime. are the great
natural productions. There are also ex-
tensivc bodies of land adapted to aQri-
culture and grazing; farming. dairying,
and sheep raisin. are already import
AIT pursuits All kinds Of hardy fruits
aud vegetables grow in abundance. The
nights are too cool for corn, peaches, to-
matoes and melons, exceps in few ex-
ceptionally warm and sheltered situa-
tons. Large crops of wheat, oats, bar
ley and hay are raised, and hops Of So
psrior quality IN the bottom lands.
The London DIRECTORY of Dire0torx