Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-23
FROM A VISITOR AMONG TnE
ISLANDS

FRrpAY HARBoa, SAN JuAS Island. w.
T., Aug. Is. lss2.
EprroB Posr-ISTELLI6SCER:-
IL there is a part of our Territory
which has been neglected. as far as
newspaper reports Is concerned, think
il is the island portion. The islands of
San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, Fidaico, Shaw.
Lummi. Blakely, Cypress and a host Of
others, really need the attention of a
good newspaper correspondent, and II
he does his duty he can find employ
ment for every spare moment. The MAIN
land has many attractions, but i have
never seen any part of the Territory to
equal e. csc islands. There Is health.
prosperity and happiness III the atnios-
phere.
l have made trip around Lopez
Island, and everywhere noticed that the
ranches were thrifty and prosperous.
Their places are surrounded with all the
conveniences and helps of civilized
life. and they live along III the easy en-
joyment of life. They, generally. are
lately from the East, and they are bring
ing with them to their Western home
! all the advancement and progress OF
Eastern life. They first look after a
good location for a home. and next they
look for a location for a schOoihOuse.
which means everythlng-reason, re-
form and prOgress-and IN coming IN
contact with them We lind most hos
pitable, genial people. San uan. Orcas
and each and everyone of these islands
| is settled by the same kind, friendly
| people, and many acres OF flne land are
yet vacant in this great island district.
have made trip through and around
all these islands, except Fi0algO. and
have never met with more sOclable
people, nor more desirable locations for
homes, than ON the Islands. Orcas has
many very fine PLACES, where fruit. gram
and vegetables, beside sheep and cattle,
can be raised in abundance, and any
man of common energy can make hun
self most desirable home, surrounded
with ali the comforts as we'll rs the ne
cessaries of life, by giving himself only
a reasonable effort for short time.
And such is the chance On each of these
many islands. Many Of the smaller ones
ore uninhabited. aud one or more fam
lies could find iirst-cla homes on each.
Fresh water is abundant. Springs CUR
gle ont of the rocky shores the year
around, and Ill winter quite large
streams course down the hillsides to the
sea. The grain crop looks spiendidly Oh
each of the islands have seen. 1t looks
like Iowa or some of the other prairie
States to see from 40 acres to 1OJ acres
il the finest kind of grain, and really 1t
makes one almost hOmeSick.
At Friday HarbOr, on San Juan Island,
had quite a stay. Mr.. j. Sweeney has
a store and restaurant At this place. This
is the county seat. 1t is very pictur-
esqus little place, with IL magnificent
bay for shipping, and good roads lead
ing all over the island of San Juan. The
County Commissioners have just I'm
ished their session. The ever pleasant
Customs Inspector, Mr.. lett, makes
this his home. and he is one of the very
few government officers who proves the
true gentleman and trusty officer. Be-
ing Ell old resident of our Territory, be
il able and ever willing to lend any as
sistanoe in his power to those wishing
to find homes, and his many years life
in this Territory are a good guide to all
wishing to locate themselves in comfort
able quarters.
MIR. j. Sweeney, at Friday HarbOr, is
building a new wharf, and preparing for
an influx of settlers. He has ON hand a
good stock of goods, general merchan-
| disc, anu MS agreeable ana pleasant
wife attends to the hotel department.
May success attend them is the wish of
all visitors to this island. Mr.. Warbass,
u pioneer of 1o5O, is resident of this
place, and is one of those settlers who
are always striving for the welfare of
their friends, or anyone who may choose
to ask for information. know of none
better to refer to, where parties are
lacking information, than Mr.. lett or
Mr.. Albert Warbass, of San Juan.
On Orcas Island JAS. TOlloch volun-
teered to do all in his power to help any
one in finding home, or in any other
way, reasonably, in his power. His
postoflice address is East Sound. Orcas
Island, w. L. He has fine orchard and
4 most beautiful place under Mt. Con
stitution, which is 2,44O feet above the
sea level. There are many fine places
OH Orcas, but have not time to men,
ton each, SO would, in the name of
all the people of these many islands, ask
your correspondent to come and see for
himself, and thereby satisfy the people
that the islands are not to be sighted,
nor yet to be entirely forgotten by the
POsT- INTELLIoENCER. VOx.