Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-10

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MoSrxsAxo, May -, 1854.
Leaving Montesano on the morning
OF May 10Th. on board the nne stern
wheel steamer Gov. Newell. Capt. J. B.
Whitcomb, l passed swiftly down the
Chehalis river to Grsy's Harbor. On
either SIDE Of the river could be seen
hne bottom land covered With spruce
and heulock. and only awaiting the
coming of the farmer TO make il the
finest agricultural section of the world.
At intervals ] passed the mouths Of
small streams emptying into the Che
halls, along the banks of which lie rich
bottom lands extending far back into
the mountains. Still farther back. on
the hills, lofty frs rear their heads to
the sky, and, as the soft ocean breezes
rustic their branches, seem ID say the
time is not far of when they will fall
prey TO ths loeger's Ak. Thousands of
acres of this land are bsing taken mp
monthly, and il will not be long before
the principal part of it is in the hands
of mill companies and spectators.
After a run of twelve miles / reached
the bustling little town of Cosmopolis,
and, as the steamer was to lay here
some time, | took occasion to run over
IL. On every hand could be seen Signs
of growth; buildings going MP right
and left. lots being cleared and fenced.
a new 5000 hotel being finished, DC.
Minis Bros. Il Anderson are the proprIe-
tors of the TOWNSHIP, and these gentle
men have exper ded 100000 in tuild-
ing mill and hotel and plating the
town during the last year. 1t is claimed
by them that as much more will be ex-
pended by them in the same manner
during the coming year, aud it 10 plain
to be seen that they are leaving nothing
undone to make town. As it Is an
admirable site, they will probably sue
coed.
Three miles down the river, near the
head Of Gray's Harbor. is the town of
Aberdeen, "the embryo Chicago of the
which is reached shortly
after leaving Cosm"polis. This little
:" city" lies on both sides Of the WIshka
river, at its confluence with The Chehalis, |
and, if il were rot for the lowness of
the ground, would be splendid site for |
a town: but am told the land Is subject |
TO overflow during the winter, and this |
is most serious drawback. However, |
lots are sold at An enormous figure, every |
day or two, though at present there Is n |
/. ndency TO drop In price. A large hO-
tel, a store, two dwelling houses, a mill |
and salmon cannery IN course of con-
struction, make up the town. The
steamer laid here but a few minutes,
and then, entering Gray's barber, pro-
seeded ON her way to Hoquiam, mill
town situated on the north side of the /
darbor at the mouth of the Hoquiam
river, which she reached in short time.
Here found quite lively little village,
and was greatly surprised at the neat
ness of the place. The buildings are all
painted white, the streets are vide and
a look of comfort prevails.
The mill company's store Is the largest
building, with the exception of the mill.
they do an enormous business, as all
The logpers and cattle men in the. valley
some here for supplies, and, as all their
goods come In their own vessels, they
iefy competition. l did not have a
,hance to look over the nail, but gained
concerning il on the steam
sr. which l will speak Of further on.
| he proprietors of the TOWNSHIP have
stelv placed lots on the market, and
quite number has been sold at prices
ranging from $50 to $500. HoQui.m
has probably reached the hight of its
glory, as it has no harbor, and conse
luently can hope for no future. As the
steamer passed out noticed three bark
sntines loading lumber for southern
ports. The Harbor at this time was
looking its best, as it was food tide, and
4 more beautiful sheet of water never
saw. 1t seemed that ships from all parts
If the world and of all sizes could here
lind safe anchorage from storms and |
winds, and that somewhere on the Har-
Dor great city would spring up to CON-
pete for the Northwest metropolis; but |
how ruthlessly we're my castles dispelled
\ few hours later, when the tide fell aud /
left nothing but mudtiats, with here and |
there a channel. In conversation with |
3 gentleman en- the steamer | WAS in-
formed that the entrance to the Harbor
was blocked by bar some 5000 feet |
wide, but any vessel drawing under "A
feet of Tater could enter with perfect
safety; that bstween this bar and the |
mouth of the Chehalis river are three |
channels known respectively as the
north, youth and middle channels, in |
which the water ranged in depth from
to 80 feet at extreme low tide; that the |
middle channel is generally accepted as
the best, as in its shoalest part it has 10 |
feet. The Newell took the south chan.
uel, as she is Of light draught and need
not steer clear of shoals. Near ly oppo-
site Hoquiam, on the south side of the
Harbor. | had the plea.ure of seeing