Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-03-24
a TRIP DOWN THE NOOKSACK.
For the ENTERPRISE.

trip through tue NOokSack country,
that Mecca of land seekers. and Travelled
through that portion contiguous to the
river from Whatcom to Nooksack and
thence to the mouth of the river
Che first stopping place was Whatcom,
which is beginning to show signs OF
awaking from its lethargy. The Colony's
single planin. and saw mills were busy,
and lumber was being shipped from ether
loints on the Sound to supply the demand
Tor buildings IN course OF erection. A
hotel will be built by Mr.. McMicken, and
the Colony has let the contract for the
construction of 25 dwellings. Il. J. Smith
IL Co. have established hardware store,
and anticipate heavy business the COM
ing summer. TIL: Colony has purchased
the Seattle Touring mill aud will soon
have it ready. They are obliged to do
this in order to fulfil the terms of their
contract, but do not expect that it will
pay Tor some time to come. One of the
Colony's various enterprises will be the
building of wharf out TO where sea-
going vessel, can land at low tide, which
will make it fully three-iourths of mile
in length.
The Platt & Bartlett. claim, between
Sehome and Fairhaven, is being surveyed
Eldridge the r, sident agent. The hotel
building on the grounds will be completed
aud made ready for occupancy. A steam
SAW mill will be erected on one of the
points, and the builder and machnist are
expected to arrive next week from San
Francisco. The company will sell every
alternate lot upon the condition that the
purchaser improves it, and as they are
men of business experience and possessed
of abundant capital, the prospects are
that the improvements of this latest Bell
ingham Bay city will be steady and SUBJ
stantial
left Whatcom Monday morning for
Nooksack, called by some people the up
per crossing The road between What
com and Nooksack is on ridge and con
the character of the soil without going
some distance on either side. There are
several valleys bet ween Whatcom and the
river, running east and west, and one that
appeared to extend to the foothills was
about six miles back of Whatcom. II
the later ever becomes a city farm of
A. acres of this bottom land will be worth
aquarter section along the river, and yet
everyone seems to have passed il by. An
other strip OF bottom extends along very
small stream called Ten Mile Creek, about
tour miles further on. Between this creek
and the river the earth has considerable
sand and gravel-at least as seen from the
road-and consequently the vegetation 10
less dense until within about mile from
the river, when the soil changes to rich
black loan, Which is Characteristic of all
the land along the Nooksa river.
From Nooksack to the mouth of the
river the land is invariably rich, but the
most OF it will require great expenditure
OF labor to make it available for agrcul>
rural purposes. Even the oldest settlers
have a comparatively small area under
cultivation. The nearer the river, rs a
rule, the more difficult to clear, and that
which is considered the most fertile will
have to be drained and ross-dltched, in
addition to clearing and underb. ushing,
before its resources can be fully utilized.
Very little attention so far has been paid
to raising grain, most farmers preferring
dairying and fruit culture, and Mr.. O.
Orange, Of Nooksack, informed me that
he cut two crops CT hay every year. If
this can be done protitably, it will make
Whatcom County the dairy country par
excellence of America, as the nights are
always cool, though the days are hotter in
the interior than on the islands or any
Pace near tide water. From NoOksack
to Lynden took roundabout course,
and couple OF miles from the river the
evergreen timber-chiefy fir, pine and
cedar-is rather sparse, but is interspers d
with luxurious deciduous underground,
principally vine maple, alder, cottonwood,
etc. The abundant vegetation is an evil
denco of the esceeding productiveness of
this region.
AT Lynden there are several fine farms
owned by Indians, having more space
Cleared than on any of the farms that
noticed. Mr.. Hawley has water power
on Fish Trap Creek, at which he is de-
slrous that IA saw mill be erected A
saw mill is very much needed in the
Nooksack country, and Lynden is an in
'erme'liate point and perhaps the most
convenient for the entire region between
the river and British Columbus.
Ferndale at present is the most impor-
tant point on the river, and is growing.
Mr. Cowden is building a hotel, as his
present hos.!ere is inadequate for the
accommodation Of the constant and stead>
ny increasing influx of settlers. MIR.
hogers has purchased an interest in the
steamer Gazelle, and she will make regu.