Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-29
cHEHALls COUNTY.
4 Short Sketch Of q Rapidly Advancing
Country.

Country.
ChehalIs and ias Immedisse
Prospects.
For tee osT-IsTELIIsEscER.l
This country is attracting widespread
attention owing 70 its famous luz Der
and agricultural resources, exclusive OF
its vast and inexhaustible deposits of
coal, iron, copper, lead, gold and silver.
The construction of a railroad uniting
the waters of Puget Soand with those
of the Pacific ocean via Gray's Harbor.
TO bring TO the marts of the world the
products Of Chehalis, as we'll as to short
en- the distance of ocean travel some six
hundred or more miles between San
Francisco and Puget Sound ports. lie a
feature of no inconsideFable moment in
this sketch. The distance bstxesn the
navigabie waters of Puget Sound and
those of Gray's Harbor via Chehalis ID
less than seventy miles, and could be
travelled by q locomotive in as many
minutes, thereby saving at least fifty
hours' time between Seattle and San
Francisco. A complete survey of line
of road has been made and completed
of this route. Rights of way and othel
preliminaries essential to its completion
have been taken and agreed TO by the
contracting parties; terminal points
have been selected. and we are credibly
informed that negotiations are now
pending for the construction of the
road. he purpose in giving publicity
to this sketch ID not TO detract from the
superior advantages of King county, to
the favor of any other, for we believe
that here are better opportunities for
investing capital than elsewhere; but
we also believe that it is the duty of
every first class newspaper to keep pace
with the progress of The age by STOW
ing TO its readers, at home and abroad,
what enterprise and industry are doing
in laying bare at the feet of commerce
our Territory's fabulous resources.
Chehalis county lies on the coast
range. Ii has an area of 300 square
miles, or nearly third larger than King
county. Its population at the present
time is between three and four thou
sand. and is rapidly increasing. The
assessed property is in excess of half a
million dollars.
The Chehalis valley, which is the
largest in Western Washington. varies
in breadth from ten to fifty miles. The
soil is the richest in the Territory, pro-
dacing very large crops of wheat, oats
and barley. Vegetables and fruits grow
to enormous size and in profuse abun-
dance. The pasture lands throughout
the county are exec lent, and make it
one of the best for dairying and stock
raising. The rivers flowing into Gray's
HarbOr, of which there are four, name
ly: the Chehalis, Wishka. Hoquiam and
Humptulips. are navigabie at all seasons
Of the year for light draft steamers.
These streams also abound in salmon of
a delicious sweetness, and excel the best
of the Atlantic seaboard.
The timber, which fiourishes in end
less abundance, covering the vast area
Of land along and in convenient acces-
sibility to these grand and romantic
rivers, is Of a superior quality. Cedar,
fir. spruce, maple, hemlock and alder
cover the earth for miles, to the great
bewilderment of the traveller. Logging
is carried on extensively on the rivers.
Some camps float their timber dis
tance of thirty aud moro miles to the
mills on the Harbor, of which there are
several in operation and under CON-
struction. Simpson Bros. mill has in
creased its capacity to $1,000 per day;
having put in new and costly machin-
cry. The Laidlaw Mill Co. of California
are erecting capacious mill, which will
soon be In operation. The Gray's Har-
Dor Lumber Co. are erecting tine mill
at Montezano, which will soon be in
working order. Beatty & Co. of Penn
sylvania are preparing to put IN place a
large mill ON the wishka river. The
Eima Milling Co. are preparing to erect
a mill on the site of the termip0s Of the
railroad. A wharf and several build
ings are also in contemplation. Mr..
Lsnox Of Elma is about TO erect n 70 u
dence on the terminus at the Hsrbor.
A town ia being laid of and several
lots have already been sold to Portland
and San Francisco parties. The name
Of the Pacifc's new town is to be the
City Of Gray's Harbor. in honor Of its
disl slinguished discoverer.
The Aberdeen Canning Co., Of which
w. r. Coleman of San Francisco is the
head. are busy canning salmon. The
run is considered very large this season;
the catch averages 800 per day. Il is the
intention of the Aberdeen Co. to erect q
sawmill at the close Of the hsh season.
The Hume, Benn 4 Co. canning estab-
lishment. recently built, il in full blast
and doing large business.
Simpson Bros. have built large
steam schooner to operate between San
Francisco aud the HarboT. She will
carry passengers aud lumber. There
are several large brigs and schooners in
the trade already, carrying lumber to
the San Francisco market, where it Is
in great demand owing to its superior
gu hty.
The nes steamer Governor Newell
has gone into service ON the Chehalis
river. the business requiring the service
Of two steamers.
The place selected for the terminus of
the Gray's Harbor and Puget Sound
Railroad is admirably adapted for that
purpose.
The land at the Harbor rises come
twenty feet over high water, with pcr
fectiy level surface running back several
miles. It il located on ths south side
Of the Harbos, overlooking the entire
bay and afforiing grand and delight.
ful view OF the ocean, where vessels un-
der full sail. bound for distant parts of
the world, may be seen daily. The
beach is conceded TO be the finest on the
American continent. beth for bathing
and driving. Il exccls the famous re-
sorts of the Eastern States. The beach
between ShoalwHter Bay and GrAy's
Harbor. some sixteen miles. and upon
which the stages daily travel. 10 40
knowledged by experienced travellers TO
be the finest in the world. Along this
beach otter hunting 10 pracsis-d sue
cessfully; the otter fur being In great
demand owing to its richness and
scarcity.
l had almost forgottsn 10 mention an
important and lively real estate sale by
a Seattle gentleman that rather took
the wiseacres Of Chehalis back dec sde
or txo. owing 10 its suddenness- Mr..
James Mcknight bought, some six
weeks ago. Goo acres Of land near
Gray's Harbor At l.25 An acre. he
sold tho same land two weeks ago for
81. 40, clearing almost 81. 600 In about
a month.