Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-24
EDITOR Posi- -INTELLIeFscKR:

EDITOR PO6r-lNTELLIGENCkR:
The undersigned last week visited the
coal mines of Cedar Mountain, Black
Diamond and Franklin; also the hop
growing region along the White and
Green rivers. OF the mines | will speak
az another time.
Crossing Green river at Franklin,
which is 33 miles from Seattle and the
present terminus of the narrow gage
railroad over which so much coal comes
into Seattle, / followed a trail along the
southern border of King county to the
Osoeola postoffice. Not many years ago
that whole region was an almost undis-
turbed wilderness, there being but little
prairie land anywhere about. But now
there are roads running in every direc-
tion, and farm houses are not infre-
quent. As yet the settlers are raising
| comparatively little except grass, but
they are fast getting the soil into such a
state that il will predeos almost any
thing. 1t would not pay one to buy
such land for speculation, since CON
siderable time and labor must be applied
to it before 1t 10 desirable for agricultural
purposes. Bat the persistent. strong
armed ranchman can by degrees make
a home that will fer lifetime furnish
q sufficisncy for himself and family.
All the people seen there we're qaiet,
civil, industrious and progressive, and
IN years to come the Osceola settlement
will abound With good farms and happy
citizens. No doubt some of the present
inhabitants will become wearied and 60
of to search IN vain for better homes.
AZ present most Of their trade goes to
racoma. because of the distance and
the bad roads leading 10 Seattle. They
are figuring for an outlet TO Black Dia-
mond, which Is to be the principal mar
ket for their produce.
Passing over q thickly wooded and
spsrsely settled district. and through the
Muckleshute Indian reservation, found
myself in the rich bottom lands of
Green river. As usual, the red men
have the very cream of the country, and
a. usual, il is not half developed, though
they have lived upon it for years and
years. Nearly all the farmers ON both
sids Of the river have more or les hops,
and they are all now being picked, some
by white men, women and children and
some by Chinamsn, but Indians are do
ing the bulk of the work. They seem
just suited TO it, and are all gay and
nAppy. even II they don't get bat six
bits box and beard themselves. A hop
box holds about fifteen bushels, and
about TIVE boxes 10 an average days
work. Those who raise many hogs have
drying kilns of their own, while smaller
growers make use OF neichboriug hop
houses. The crop this year 10 net extra
good. neither is the price; and a. las,
year vas not q profitable one for hop
| men. most Of them feel rather blss and
will bs satisfied 70 come out even At the
end Of the season They will soon learn
that mixed cropping is surest and msst
satisfactory In the long run.
| I followed Green river down 10 its
juuctiou with white, passing many fns
farm hoasss and over extra good soil
Perhaps all the desirable land 10 taken-
bat mush Of IL is still uncleared.
And now am In the far famed white
river valley. OF truth u 10 . Roodiy
land, and the inhabitants thereof an
beginning to appreciate H. Much Of Il
| in in q high state Of cultivation, and
many of the ranches are entirely beyond
4 the financial reach Of poor man. Thai
valley has psrhsps q greater psreentast
/ of IarRs and extra good dwellings thar
any other along the Sound But ever
there quite O quantity Of good land h
still in the woods. There, too. hogs arr
the most prominent pfodoct, bot sons
Of the folks wish they had never seen Z
hcp vine. for their fortunes and pros
pecss have been huctuatine - the winds
That soil viii prodnce equal 20 any II
the world, and those valleys viii sup
port Ave times their present popu
latioe.
The steamer Liiy rams from Seattle
son,e forty miles up white river. % -
people can readily get their prodoction
10 market. The Tacoma and Seatti'
railroad runs right through the heart o
this country, and ea il 10 the handso1'
village Of Tifusviile, which ouaht y
grow into prosperous town
VA. VASE