Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-12

Our party left Seattle, per steamer
Idaho, on the evening of July 18th at c
O'Clock Among the passengers were
men OF every creed and profession.
some accompanied by their families and
others as the advance guard of more 70
come Many of the yeomen had their
picks, shovels, axes, blankets and fire
arms A majority had left their homes
IN the eastern States and Europe and
were attracted TO this FL Dorado of the
Northwest with view of attacking the
grand old monarchs of the forest. max
ing clesrings and building homes and
villages; and BY their sweat and toll
turn the silence of the wilderness into
live and activity. and pave the way for
civilization.
Breakfast il served next morning
while enjoying the novelty OF being
aground almost within stone throw of
Laconner. In due time, however. the
boat IL at the wharf dissharging a large
quantity of freight. Meanwhile the
passengers stroll through its thorough
fares. 1t ID located near the mouth of
Swinomish slough; il has population
OF about 300 hundred, and supports
several stores carrying large stocks of
merchandise, two or three hotels, har-
ness shop, several saloons, a miIliner
shop, Photograph gallery, good school,
church, and weekly paper, tina Nal,
edited by Mr.. Power, and draws trade
from large agricultural district known
as the Swinomish fats, or diked tide
lands, adjacent to the town, which
yield abundantly, also from a number
OF logging camps in the vicinity. 1t has
had Its boom; its town plot is almost
filled. The lots are hiah-sone of then
are nearly hundred feet above tide
water. II rests content while Whatcom
vr!thes In expectancy further north.
Moving up through Swinomish slough
toward Padllis bay, the stea ;ner is again
stuck IN the mud, and the other steamer,
the Washington. overtakss us. The
passengers cheer one another. Sac
crowds past N, and takes the lead
soon the Idaho is OF and gives chase
Meanwhile We have splendid view of
the fats spoken Of. TIE neat white
farm houses, the green fields and the
dark background formed by the pinery
on the main land, a few miles distant.
contrast beautifully, and loosen the
tongues OF our real estate men on board.
We reach Anaoortes and Guemes
about noon. The former is located On
Fidalgo, and the la.tor on Guemes ISL
and with the roadstead of Ship Harbsr.
a mile wide, between them. They rival
one another in point of population and
business. Anacortes has one advantage
over Guemes, and that is the Northwest
Entsrprise is published there under the
management Of Mr.. John Swerddper,
and it loudly proclsims its advantages
as terminal point for the trausconti-
mental railroads. And. apparently to
the displeasure of the Whatcom Reueille,
boasts that Anacortes is the place
alluded to by Gov. Newell, when he
stated In speech recently made at
Whatcom, that the great city of the
Sound would be opposite the Straits of
Fuca.
Sehome is reached about p. m. The
new Whatcom wharf not being COM
pleted, We visit the town by means of
row boats. A great Inconvenience,
which will soon be done away with.
Whatcom has grown fast in the past
year. 1t is receiving large accessions
to its population. The settlement of
the Nooksack co1ntry and the prospect
i've British Columbia railroad have
stimulated its progress. The town now
contains population of five or six hun
dred. 1t has an able exponent In its
weekly paper, the RspeilIs. It supports
several large hotels, stores, saloons, etc.,
and has church, a good school, also
spleRdid water facilities. Whatcom
creek, tho outlet of Lake Whateom,
situated three miles east, fourteen
miles long by three in width, and hav-
ing an altitude of $50 feet, sends its sur
plus waters down in a torront, this is
utilized by q partly completed saw-mill.
Whatcom is irreGulariy laid out. Its
streets are narrow and uneven, and real
estate is held at figures that prevent the
town from reapinR the full benefit of
the boom. Whatcem does not share
alone its honors. Il is disturbed by the
pretentious hamlets Of Sehome, Belling-
ham and Fairhavsn. Each haye hotel,
and extend down Bellingham bay, south
of Whatoom, q mile or so apart, in the
order named. The question for the fu-
ture to decide, when these hamlets ex-
tend toward one another, is what name
shall designate them.
Bidding Whatcom adieu We again
board the Idaho and reach Anacortes
next morning about 8 O'Clock.
We were somewhat unnerved on OBJ
serving the playful smile that struggled
over Capt. Brennan's face as he peered
at us from the pilot house, as We made
our way over the unfinished wharf to
terra firma. We assured him that We
did not invest in any corner lots or
rashly attempt to get ap Q boom, but
Welt q fishing. and lodged without the
city gates. B. F. n,