, 1883-02-15
Travels on the Pacific Coast"
BY NEWTON II. CHITTENDEN.
PORTLAND, Ogn., Feb. 6, 1883.

PORTLAND, OSn., FEB. b, 1855.
I have already described the gen
oral features, and most important
resources, settlements and industries
of the twelve hundred miles OF coun-
try extending from the Calapooia
mountains OF Oregon, north 10 the
gold fields of CanOoo, British Colum-
Dla. But 50 rapid is the march of
progress throughout this, the most
active, interesting and promising
field of development, upon the con-
tinent, that the fullest descriptions
concerning it, of Il few months ago,
convey only an imperfect idea of its
present condition. The great tide of
immigration which has been rolling
across the continent, close upon the
heels Of the iron horse, is beginning
to sweep down the northwestern Pa
citic slope, and open up its vast re-
sources with all the accumulated en-
ergy and experience OF two hundred
years ofpioneerlng. During the past
year have travelled upwards of
$4,000 miles in this region, over its
extensive plains and through its vast
forests, and fields of coal, iron and
gold, and among the great fisheries.
In natural resources it is three times
as rich as New England, with its
100000 people, ana single cities
more populous than Oregon, Wash
ington, British Columbia and Alaska
combined, with their million square
miles of territory. Immense areas of
the choicest agricultural lands, vast
scopes of grazing country of unsur
passed excellence, and healthy and
hospitable climate are but the begin
ming OF its possessions. 1t embraces
the greatest timber reserve of the
civilized world, the Puget Sound re-
gion alone containing q sufficient
quantity to last century at the pre-
sent rate Of consumption, more tnan
3OO,OOO,OOO feet annually. Hundreds
OF square miles are unde laid with
good bituminous Goals, enough to
last the Pacific coast a Thousand
years; more than sixty million dol
lars OF gold have been taken out
along the beds and banks of its riv-
ers by placer mining alone-and it is
probabie that the richest deposits
nave not yet beeu reached. LIS wa
tors, both coast and inland swarm
with Incredible numbers of the choic
est tish, the salmon expectation from
the Columbia and fIuser rivers, dur
ing the past season amounting TO
100000 cases, 36,6OO,OO0 pounds, val
ued at S3,5O0,OOU. An army of $4,000
men are building three great trunk
lines from ocean 70 ocean, traversing
its richest portions, atording rapid
communication and convenient access
to the best markets. Remarkable ac-
tlvity In settlement and industrial
development, even for this age of
wonderfully rapid growth, prevails all
along the Pacific frontier, from the
Canadian Pacific railway, southwark.
British Columbia is beginning to feel
the impulse of this great movement,
and preparing to derive full benefits,
naturally flowing from the early com
pletion of its own transcontinental
railway, and thoroughfare of com
merce, to and from the east. Import
ant enterprises are already inaugu-
rated for developing and utilizing her
great resources. The Canadian Pa
clhc railway, terminating at Port
Moody, is constructing an immense
wharf, havinga frontage of 1900 feet
to accommodate an ocean commerce,
and town is springing up there. A
railroad is projected ON the east shore
of Vancouver Island, from Victoria
sevanty-tiye miles to the extensive
coal fields Of Nanaimo; powerful
company has recently been organized
for building and running first class
steamers from Victoria to various
ports upon the Observation-Disclosures,
and northward to Alaska, and another
to operate foundlies, machine shops
and other manufactures upon an cx
tensiye scale. The expectations from
this country in proportion to popula-
ton, already exceed any other por-
tion of the Pacific coast, amounting
in 1882 to the aggregate value of
-, 1851, the mines yielding Il, 49,
O72; the fisheries, S97G,903; the for
ests, S3G2,S75; animals, $500, ,492; and
agriculture and miscellaneous pro
ductions the balance. The CONNER
cial and business relations of the
Province are so closely connected with
those Of the southern coast, that
prominent English residents have
expressed TO me their wish that the
country belonged to the United
States. Of the 4S8 ships and vessels
entering the port of Victoria in 1882
3Eih snilnl nnlnr thn Annrinn,, Ann,