The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-21
PUGET SOUND AND WASHINGTON
TERRITORY.

From the report published i'm the
National Republican of Jan. 24th, we
take the extract following:
Mr.. John p. Brown, of the Agricul-
tural Department., delivered an inter
eSting address. Referring to the bear-
ties of Washington, the speaker said
there is IA peculiar satisfaction in eX-
plOring new fields of nature; in gath
ering from new and, if possible, uneX-
piored sources; in seeking more light
upon subjects little known; in looking
forward with hope for something un-
expected, and anticipating some rare
beauty, yet little dreaming what the
reality may be. 1t was this feeling
that prompted Capt. Gray to sail up
the coast of North America and take
peep into the beautiful river which
he named Columbia.
When the speaker visited Washing
ton Territory, last April he found II
mild and equable climate, with roses
in profusion in every city yard. The
winter winds, being from southerly
directions, come laden with warm va
pors from the Japan current, making
IL pleasant and temperate climate in II
country that otherwise would he to-
tally uninhabitable. Thus kind
Providence gives this northern land,
about 10 degrees northnf Washington
city, I'm average winter temperature
of 33 degrees. The heavy work of log
| giug j. mostly done in summer, while
| the gardens on Christmas day bloom
with roses and large assortment of
| flowers.
The lecturer then described the great
inland sea called Puget Sound 1t is
the largest, deepest, safest and best of
the Pacific harbor-. 1t is divided into
iunumerable channels, passes, cove-,
bays and harhors hy grand archirela-
goes leninsulas and various indcnta-
tions of the shore. 1t is in places 100
fath0m> deep. 1t has $500 miles of
shore, yet 80 narrow that both shores
may be seen ut all times. 1t is grand
ia forest and mountain scenery; the
suow-clad PEAKS Of the Olympic mass
of mountains upon the west seeming
but Il dozen miles away, yet in reality
sixty or more. Far above the low
hanging clouds of mist are the irregu-
lar peaks of the far-distant Cascade
range, with Mount Baker aud Mount
/ Rainier ever in view, one i 900 feet
and the other l4,4ii fcet-laudmarks
that guide the mariner at sea and iu-
tere>t the traveller 10y land; while the
thousand beautiful islands, all differ
| ing IN appcaraucc-rouvh, rugged,
rocky, bold prrcipiccS, or some high
towering hills approaching mountains
| in others; while some are low lying,
| fiat, sandy or alluvial tracts. covered
with grass, l'astured 10y ilockS of sheep
and herds of cattle. Some are dense
with forest growths, and Il few are
| prairir~. No such body of water eN-
| i>ts elsewhere on the globe, and none
| of greater Importance Ia future COM
merce. Ii l. destined to connect the
| great railway systems ot America
with ocean navigation on the Pacific.
| 1t must become the rendezvous of the
whalingaud fishing fleets of the north
west. Its lumber Interests are pre-
emiueutlN in advance of all numbering
ports in the United States. The min
eral wealth uf The surrounding coun-
! Try il incXhau>tllle.
The vicinity of Mount Rainier is
characterized 10y mountain spur, aud
canyons lpnu the hluif near the coal
mines of CarbOnndo, iOO feet above
the river, aud on the top Of an almost
! pcrpeudrular wall, Il mighty cedar
! lliu ldttt.I, Mlllfll tiiHbit'l lilt lttNllfl
to get Il superb view of the country.
\ little waterfall leaps, 10y a success
sion of cascades from twenty to sixty
feet each, to the river below, while at
the foot j. seen the beautiful stream
rapidly whirliug along over the rocks,
its waters clear ~ crystal, except when
white with foam from pouring over
the masses of rock that have fallen
from the rocky sides of the canyon.
The gorge, the winding river, and the
tall evergreen> form It picture worthy
of Bicr>tadl Aud this j. but one of
countless beautiful views ia the Terri
ftory.
The lecturer described tie tail trees
graphically. Ccdar> reach from 200
10 80 feet nigh and from : la T. feet
/ in diameter; lir> are magnificent with
l2O feet vt height to the first limhfiud
! from - Ia II feet ia "ilcumfrrence.
! Not Il poisonous reptile or pl'hit l.
said to exist west of the Cascade
mountains The e>Sayist Described
the wealth of flowers in the Territory.
/ There are no vines, properly speaking
/ no wild grape, IVY. ampelopsi~, or
other plant with tendencies for at
/ tachiug itself To trees. Roses are in
prufu>iun. The magnificent rhodo-
deudron fnnri~hcs in wanton luNuri-
ancc, and there are ia eNhau>tlc-~
tlcuty ferns and mos~es exceeding in
1 beauty any that are found Ia the trop-