, 1886-04-01
l6l miles.
Total


Discoveries and developments made
since the examination and report of
Admiral Wilkes were made have
added immensely to the value of
these waters and the surrounding
country for the purposes indicated.
The excellence of the timber found in
this region for ship-buIlding pur-
poses-in addition to its great abun-
dance-was not then known, but it
has since been thoroughly tested and
found to be of very superior quality.
Coal was not then discovered, but it
has since been found in vast deposits,
of fine quality, SO that Washington
Territory is sometimes designed as
the "Pennsylvania OF the Pacific
coast" A great part of Western
Washington is underlaid with exten-
sive deposits of this valuable mineral
in veins from two to sixteen feet
thick, many Of which are easy of nc
cess aud operation. This coal is
semi-bituminous and bituminous, and
can be used successfully, not. only for
steam and domestic purposes, but
also for gas. for forge and for coke.
Iron OF superior quality has been
found in many places, and is now
successfully manufactured at Iron
dale, near Port Townsend, in Jeffer
son County. Bog iron ore is found
in large quantities and of excellent
quality throughout the Puget Sound
basin. Brown and red hematite and
magnetic ore are also found in many
places. Gold, silver, copper, CHINA
bar, lead, gy ypsum, marble, granite,
sandstone and limestone have all
been developed i'll the Puget Sound
region. In fact. the natural wealth
of this section Of the country is only
of recent discovery and is not yet
fully developed, but enough is known
to establish the fact that this is re-
gion of extraordinary natural re.
sources. The climate of this part of
the northwest coast is remarkably
equable aud salubrious. 1t very
much resembles the climate of Eng
land, and for the same reasons. The
kuro Slwa, OF Japenese current, pro
duces the same effect upon the north
west coast of North America that the
Gulf Stream does on the British Is
lands. The result IN both cases is a
climate OF great mildness, accom-
panied with much moisture. There
are IN reality but two seasons in the
year, wet and dry one. The rainy
season begins about the 1st of Nov
embor and ends about the lst of
April. The dry season occupies the
remainder of the year. But the
rainy season Is not always wet, nor
the dry season always dry. The for
mer is frequently varied by Gays and
sometimes weeks OF dry weather. and
the latter by showers. The average
temperature during the summer or
dry season is about G5 .. and in win
ter IS : Fahrenheit, beng about 70
warm er IN the winter and II cooler |
III the summer than the climate of
New York city, although that city is
- Of latitude farther south than the |
central portion Of Puget Sound. IN
deed, as matter Of fact thare is
scarcely spot Oh the globe where |
the climate Is more delightful during |
the summer months that it is IN |
Washington Territory, west OF the |
Cascade Mountains. The average
rainfall on Puget Sound Is about |
fifty inches peF annum. The rainfall |
ut NV York city Is about Furty-one !
lnches per aunun. The equabi!ity |
OF the climGte, with he moisture il |
contains, makes i 4,uIiarly well |
adapted fur notwithstanding purposes. |
Z or residence purposes L cauI.Jt be
excelled.
Continued on Second Page.)