Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-20
THE GARDEN VALLEY.
Trip mp white River.

White river can be truthfully named
the garden valley of the Territory, not
alone for It's salubrious climate but for
lis high state of cultivation. II has had
the advantage of early settlement by
energetic. practical farmers. and shows
the result. III most cases. Of careful and
intelligent outstanding. I'm mos: cases.
We say, for there are to DO found among
al classes of society and callings drones
and Stevens.
/ Wishing 20 furnish our readers with
desirable and reliable information in
reference to that section OF our Te-rito-
~ on which Seattle depends for many
OF her necessities, IL the way Of ve2sta-
bIes, butter, eggs. poultry, cheese, and
various other products Of the farm. We
despatched one OF our men up the river
on Friday last and below will he found
the result of his trip:
Not desiring to tax the time Of the
reader with perhaps tiresome descrip-
ton of a twenty-five mile ride on a
somewhat refractory horse, or describe
the result that might be anticipated by
one who had not been in saddle for
several years, whose material physique
was no harder than 1t ought to have been
and was not largely benefited by four
and half hours bouncing on a short
stepping racer, therefore we Will plunge
at once into the description OF the valley
and the advance it has made since our
last visit, nov some eighteen months
ago.
White River Valley commences at The
mouth of tho Duvamish river and ex-
tends for distance of twenty fivs miles
up White river, which is tributary TO
the Duwanish at the junction of Black
river; White and Black rivers forming
the Duwamish. Tho average width of
the valley Il about five miies, most of
which Is fins bottom land susceptible to
the highest degree of cultivation. There
are few, If any. large bodies Of land
owned by one person, like In California.
The expression of ''Land-grabbsr" SO
common III the Sacramento. San Joaquin
and Santa Clara valleys of California are
not applicable TO tho farmers of White
river, although there IL one who owns
as much as eleven hundred acres, bat
We believe that is the largest farm on
the river. IL is the property of Mr.. Al
word, who We were informed, cultIyates
4 large portion of 1t and Is practical
farmer, doing all in his power to, not
ouly use his own land, but by ex-
ample encourages others to do likewise.
Tue increase of acreage In hops for tho
last two years will average about 70 per
cent, and the total will reach about 200
acres with an average yield of two and
half tons per acre, and should the
prices for the coming year be good the
farmers will reap a rich harvest.
The cheese factory at Langston's will
commence active operations ON the lst
of May, though they have been making
cheese for Is couple of weeks. but only
III small quantities, for the contrac. time
for tue delivery of milk by tho farmers
will not commence until May. When
the factory was started, which will DO
three years ago mex: November, the
farmers bound themselves to furnish
the milk of u certain number of COWS
for the full period of three years at So
cents per hundred pounds, and some
will not be sorry when the lst day of
next November arrives, as they think
they can do better. A proposition has
been made to the farmers to organize a
joint sto. k company, and purchase the
factory and run it themselves. Whether
they will do this or not, has not yet
been decided ON. 1t is said by many III
the valley that the factory has paid net
since Its commencement SIX Thousand
dollars per year.
One of the greatest necessities at the
present time Is y railroad. The uncer-
tainty and siowness of steamer travel
is sorely feh, and all agree that If rail-
road was built, ~ designed by Mr.. Viii
lard at present, from l.akeview to Seat
tie, it would enable them to supply the
city with many articles of produce that
are now allowed To 60 to waste for tho
want Of proper facilities to move; and
they think if the road was built that
picnic and hunting parties would find
their way up the river, but as travel Is
now is would consume too much time.
The season this spring has been de-
cidedly backward, and consequently
very few of the farmers have finished
seeding. Hops are barely visible above
ground, and their lateness may delay
ripening, and thus subjec: them to the
fall frost.
The same progress is visible in and
around Slaushter-witb which for con-
vei.ience we will include Stuck Valley
which il continuation Of that of
White river. The prospects of every
part of tho valley are good, and its in
dustri0us citizens are, as a rule, well sat-
istied.
1t having been announced that divine
service would be held last Monday oven
ing at the school house across tins river
opposite Dir. Jeii's, We permitted our
self to be padded lover the river" in an
ancient dug -out," and got wet through
and through during the transit, and on
our arrival were introduced to an empty
house by the accommodating individual
vino nearly drowned us.
The school at the head Of navigation
is in u flourishing condition. The daily
attendance has been rs high as ~, and
the average is about % pupils. 1t is
taught by Mr.. Benson, who seems thor
ou,hly qualified 10 do what he has UNI
dertaken.