Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-31
TK sKacur csrxrsY.

Governor Newell having made brief
visit to the Skagit River country, to aid
IN establishing Mount Vernon Lodge,
No. q, at the town of Mount Vernon.
our reporter called to see him on his re-
turn TO this city, 10 obtain his views
concerning that region.
The Governor said that the lodge was
SUCCESSFULLY organized and promises to
b useful institution. The ceremonies
we're performed very ably by the Grand
omce1 OF this jurisdiction, an account
OF which We present in this issue. An
elaborate entertainment was given at
midnight, during . recess, at which
speeches were made BY Grand Treasurer
Brown, Grand Representative Ford,
and Pas Grand Representative Newell.
Much good feeling vas ELECTED, and
friendships, CHARACTERISTIC of the order,
were formed and cemented.
Concerning the country, We quote the
Governors words: The mouth of the
Skagit was almost invisible upon our
approach. in consequence of the great
number OF Trees. logs, stumps and mags
which covered the fats for many miles
in every direction; but, winding our way
very skillfully through these dangerous
obstTuotions, We were finally launched
into the river proper, which ia quite deep
and marrow, swift and tortuous, with
numerous distractions similar 20 those
stationary. pointing snaGs, dangerous
to the ascending vessels, others floating
and oareeninQ to the whiriing waters
with many q splendid stick rushing
downward to the sheer BOOM by means
Of which they were diverted and direct
ed TO their destination in the still side
vaters, thence TO be doomed for the saw
mills. The banks Of the river, which
will average q hight of ten feet above
the present somewhat high water. are
b0rdered with forest of huge trees,
consisting of fir. cedar and pine, and
the tallest, largest growth Of cottonwood
which have seen in the Territory. The
average aizs of all the timber is very
great, and in quality it is unsurpassed.
l passed one cedar, standing in the town
Of Mount Vernon, of twelve fest in diam
eter, and was informed BY Mr.. Pollock
of.another, few miles above, measuring
sixty -four feet in circumference, which
u vigorous and apparently still grow
ing. Tho b0Oms of fir we're by far the
largest logs which float in the waters of
the Sound, as far as my observation has
been carried. The river has been as
oeuded by steamers to the distance of
l02 miles, but il comparatively useless
for purposes of ordinary navigation by
reason Of the RATS Of floating timber
which have become SO entangled as to
be almost inextricable. The same great
evils exist in the Nootsack, the Stila-
guamish, the SnOhOmish and 6noqual-
mic, all requiring the fostering hand of
the General Government for their re-
moval, BY which means q vast amount
of tho best publicslands would be avail
able for sale and cultivation, which are
nov inaccessible and valueless, and af-
ford greatly needed facilities for boom
ing timber. Upon each side of the
Skagit, fOr an average width of six miles
up to the mountains, for . distance Of
LIS miles, there lies fiat country, all
alluvial, much of it beaver dam land of
exceeding great fertility, and certain to
be Of great ultimate value. Many clear
inRs are visible, with fine improvements
of buildings, fences and orchards; well
stocked with cattle and some swine.
The soil, a. seen along the river bank,
10 eight or ten feet deep, black sandy
lOam, easy of cultivation, and tenacious
Of timothy, CLOVER and alfalfa. Tobac-
90, hops, broOm-oOrn, onions, sugar
beets and other exhaustive crops could
be grown there most luxuriantly and
proftably. Barley, oats and vegetables
are produced in great abundance, and
grazing and dairyin9 are exceedingly
profitable. Many of the farms are
dyked and leveed in handsome and
secure manner. In a few years all will
be reclaimed and so become one of the
most valuable regions of Western WASH
inRt0n, and be in no respect inferior to
the beautiful and productive flats of the
Stilaguamish, which are marvel of
richness and producing capacity. Not
One-half of all the domain referred to
has BEEN subjected to Government sur
yey, derelicti0n much to be regretted.
! earnestly call the attention Of people
seeking new homes 70 these remarkable
alluvial bottoms, especially at some dis
tance up tho river, where dyking:: is not
90 m0ch needed. The climate is de-
hghtful in summer, and the winters very
mild for the latitude. There is very
little snow, and that ia soon dissipated
BY the warm Chinook winds. Cattle
can gra1e upon the natural and cult
waited grasses for ten months of the year,
whilst ready cash and profitable, sales
can always be secured for all pr0duc-
tiona."