Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-24


WILDLY Island is one Of the largest
islands ON Puget Sound, and one OF the
hrst places settled, and ia less known to-
day than most OF the uSW places that
nave sprung into prominence lately on
account Of the great rush of immigrants
to the government lands Of this great
Northwest.
Whidbv Is surrounded by good navi.
gable waters. All steamers from Seattle
TO Port Townsend have 20 pass along
one side Of 1t, while the steamers from
Seattle to Sehome run nearly one half
OF the vh0'e distance on the other side.
And yet settlers, who are anxious to get
as near to a water outlet as possible,
will 90 from ten to twenty miles back
into the woods and take claims that are
az hard to clear az those lying vacant
on this grand old island. People travel
on the boats looking at the country. and
are not aware OF he excellent opportu-
mites held out TO settlers BY this island.
That the many rare privileges for settle
ment have never been publicly set forth
by old WILDLY is too true. Looking
from the decks Of the steamers they sec
nothing but woods until they reach
Coupeville. and 20 they naturally come
te the conclusion that it IL q, desert
place ~ far a being inhAbitable BY man
10 cu.ssrned. From Ceupeville the
prairies Of Penn's Cove can be seen a
portion Of Oak Harbor shows finely
from the boats, the Crescent Harbor
can be viewed nearly in full FROM there
until the boat leaves the island. After
going through that narrow cut in the
rocks known as Deception Pass, the
wilderness is nearly unbroken ; but let
the stranger leave the boat after going
through the pass and travel the few
rods the island has, and he will be sur
prlsed at the pleasant homes and culti-
vated farms that he will see, and this,
most unexpeotedly. At Dougulls there
are several peat marsh farms and it IL
one Of the finest dairy sections in the
world. Oak Harbor is composed most
ly of natural prairies and peat marsh.
Coveland ia natural prairie. One mile
back from Coupeville commences
Ebey's prairie, tho richest of the island,
and the largest body of agricultural
lard therein contained. This prairie
produces abuadantly of hay. oats, bar
ley, wheat and potatoes. South of
Ebey's Is Smiths prairie, the place
where the best wheat for -four ia grown
on Puget Sound. From there south to
Skagit Head many of the old settlers
know but little of, and that little only
by hearsay. A few new settlers have
lately gone into the Useless Bay oOun-
try, and no doubt they will be the
means OF bringing many of their
friends also ; but that is but drop
in the bucket. Scattered along the
whole length of the island are small
marshes, alder bottoms, spruce bottoms.
etc., that would make q great many
comfortable homes for hundreds Of
poor mOrtals who would be willing to
work hard and live cheap If they could
get away from the six months frost that
is 30 terrible that the life of man and
beast alike is not only made a burden to
them, but the brittle thread is often
snapped asunder-froZen short OF, a. 1t
were; and thsn four of the remaining
six months are 80 filled with heated air
and blistering SUMS rays, that that
which did not freeze to death is in im
minent danger of being struck dead If
it dare II be 80 foolhardy as to show
itself ont Of doors.
God is to be thanked for the cool
summers and warm winters of old
WILDLY. The question will be naturally
asked, why, then, il yon have such op-
pOrtunities aud fine climate. is your land
still unsettled?" We answer, because
there is curse resting on as, that was
placed there by Uncle Sam twenty years
ago, In the shape of $l.25 An acre entry
by corporations. La I'd companies, etc.,
Robbled us up, and here We are, and
likely to remain so in great measure,
unless favored by the god Of politics
SO as to get legislatures composed of
mon (Or women) wise enough to pass a
law that makes tax title good enough
to permit the owner to hold the land
after it had been improved and become
valuable.