Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-15
wmsDRY ISLAND.
Enr,oa P,sr IxrxI11aExcrs:

EDfIOA Post lNrELI15ENcEN:
Through yonr paper and with your per- |
mission, would like to say word in
regard to the farming lands and other |
interests of this island
In the central portion, lying between
Admiralty Light House and Oak Harb0r
are some Of the best lands for farming
and grazing purposes to he found Oh
this coast, Oregon or & iiiforniA not tx
cepted. While these lands are no. cx
tensive, vet they do comprise several
| thousands OF acres, and, being situated
| in the midst of heavy timbered regions,
renders them all the more valuable. l
have traversed on foot the fertile prai-
ries of southern Michigan, northern In
diana and through lliinois, through the
shenandoah Valley, the garden of Viz
ginia, the entire length Of California,
and nowhere have seen better oppos-
tupities for farmers, SD far "a land, TIM
Der and water are concerned, than can
be found within half dozen miles ct
Coupeville, WILDLY Island. At present
many of these lands are faYmed in a
slip-ShUd sort OF a way-weeds and alt
manner of foul stuff being allowed to
run riot; no one to modest them, and vel
i
an aver age crop of ~ bushels Of wheat
per acre, 800 to 60 bushsis OF potat1e
and barley, oats and other grains iu pro-
portion.
Much of this portion Of the island is
the richest kind Of prairie land and is
nov occupied BY old sea captains, WHO
} don't know any too much of farming.
Here, too, are some others, each spre "a
ing himself over something less than ],
900 acres of prairie, and VINO saccscd II.
their efforts at farming about az Well ~
a mule would sounding the musical
scale. Here, too, VIC find some real
practical farmers, who can do their bus
mess in good shape and raise bully
crops; but most of these are renters, and
| realiZiug the beauty OF thai cd fable
Root, hog or die" have gone in to win,
and have made success.
These prairies are but sparsely settled
not having One-tenth Of the popui .;ion
they ought to have 10 render their re-
sources available. Many portions are
growing up ~ith young frs. Here is one
OF the best places for planting colony
10 bs found on the Pacific Coast, and al.
the surroundings are favorable for sao;,
an enterprise. ,1iany of the inhabitaut,
are pioneers. originally very good peo-
l DIV, t'ut nave xkOWu bStuy-udV6 EOt Ut
On stills. ana, like the fOrty-niners OF
California, consider that any editions oil
the human race that have appeared
since they were issued areebelow par
, The people ars generally we'll to do, ma
, ny of them forehanded, and are said &c
no very generous; but there seems to bz
a cloud on the religious position of the
, island. l has been said the people OF
the island allowed several ministers OF
the Gospel to starve who camo to them
to preach the glad tidings Of salvation
. but have always doubted the truth u
the report. Their common echoois ar.
6 well supported. At least the people pay
liberal wages to teachers-from $50 Il
!, $50 per month. However, in truth. an
, bound to state that the head of ths
school department., tO-wit: the Count,
Superintendent, is an old sea captain
who doubtless has carried his vesss
3hrouSh many q storm, but who knows
: little more about instruc.ing common
school than laud lubber would abou,
sailing vessel To the North Pole.
Il Let Us hear the conclusion of thu
J whole matter: Wildly Island has Al
, good climate and some of the best
farming lands as are to be found or
Gods green earth. Soue land that NAV
, now be had for $40 psr acre will in tina
next decade sell for three or four time:
that amount. Now don't forget it.
SAXON