Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-01

n Ven - tne weAitnioSt 10 fae Tern
tory.
RE hardwood timber vill average
sboas 1000 fest 10 the acre. and the
othsrs will average about 36,oo feet,
making Q total offbous twenty-five bill
lion feet in the county.
LambeR notwithstanding. next to seal
mining. 10 the most important industry.
rhs product h mostfy absorbed in the
home and Sound markets- All kinds 81
wood work incident 10 the building
trade are carried On in the Civ Of Sc
attic. There are several furniture msns-
factories also in the city.
The number Of sawmills in the county
10 10, With a aggregate daily capacity
Of 10000 fest, and ranging from 1900
to 10000 feet each. The most Of these
mills are in the city Of Seattle.
The aggregate value Of these sswuills
and plants il about g. o00.0 oe, and they
enploy, when running, nearly 200 men.
There are three shiPyards in Seattle
having marine ways, and the building
and repairing of steamboats, 10 8 CON-
siderable industry.
Coal mining is nov the chief inpor-
tsnt industry. The coal fields OF King
county not only contain better coal aud
are more extensive but they are devel-
eped to 4 greater capacity than any 9th
er coal fields on the Pacific Coast. 10
deed. the output FOR the coming year is
likely to be greater thsn from all the
other fields combined. In this indss-
trs, mach progress has been made dur
ing the year past. Three new collierles
have been opened. viz: Cedar River,
Black Diamond and Franklin. The last
two produce ssmi-bitumino1s Goals OF q
superior quality. said to be the best
steam coals now N use on the coast.
OF these mines, the Black Diamond
has been the most developed. being able
{, ship from two slopes from SO 90 100
toas of. coal per day. third slope Is
being susk aud when completed. tue
daily output of the mine Will be from
1899 t. 1890 tons.
There are good veins of true bitumi-
uoas coal IN the county. but there being
no 10 sans OF transportation from them
thew have not been developed.
There are several thin veins Of an
thracite coal. but none that are work
able have vet been found, although
many are confident that they exist.
Lying In the Snoqaalmie Pass near
the summit Of the Cascade Mountains,
p probably the richest and most re-
markable deposit of magnetic iron ore
in the world. The deposit is mex
hsus;sble and its great value is shown
by the analysis of several samples.
Overlsying this ore is an almost in
exha1stible quantity of white marble
of most excellent quality.
Adjoining shs iron ore claim, are rich
veins OF copper and silver. These ores
are without means of transportation to
tide water, but q company has been
organized to build q railroad from
Seattle to the mines, q distance of IS
miles.
Eastern steel manufacturers Who have
examined the ores, and from whom the
foregoing analyses we're obtained, con-
template extensive works for the reduo-
ton Of these ores and the manufacture
OF steel a. soon - transportation 10
afforded.
Very large and rich deposits of both
red and blue hematits iren ore can be
reached BY q short branch Of less than
seven miles from the main line of the
projected road. This ore assays IS per
cent. Of metallic iren.
The distance frsm Seattle to these
hematite deposits in about sixty miles.
The main line Of the road will run
through three extensive coal fields, one
Of which is superior Ignite, and the
other two are bituminous. The bitumi-
nous GOALS are very rich in carbon and
make a strong Coke.
The agricultural lands. especially in
tie river bottoms, are very rich. aud
mr. q n pta Of 20
aud potatoes. Nearly every variety of
garden produce grows in the greatest
profession.
Fruit trees prosper, and abundant
crops OF apples. pears. peaches, cherries
and piums are grown. The small fruits.
such as Strawberries, blackberries, etc. +,
are cultivated With wonderful success.
The total value OF the agricultural
crops this year, exclusive Of hops, is not
far from 100000.
Hops are the most important crop
grown in the county. There are about
800 acres in the hop yards Of this coun-
~. and the crop this year will probably
average at least 1000 poands to the acre.
Owing 70 the low price, the growers will
not realize more than the bare cost OF
making the crop. The total valae of the
crop at presens prices will not exceed
$4,000.
The ranch of the Hop Growers Asso-
citation at Snoqualmis Prairie. in this
coanty, 10 the largest hop ranch In the
United States, and with one exception,
the largest in the world. The yard now
contains $50 acres. which extent 10 being
yearly increased.
Thea are nov about 80 miles OF som-
pleted railroad within the county linn
its. The completion Of the projected
line Of rs miiss, heretofore referred t.
will afford King county very complete
system of internal transportation, and
rapidly develop its marvellous re-
sources.
The shore lire Of King county, 90
Puget Sound, 10 about go miles long. ex-
elusive Of the 30 miles shore front OF
Vashon Island, and q shore line OF
about 80 miles on nsvigable fresh water
lakes, viz Lakes Union, Washington
and Samamish. Lake Washington 10
the second largest lake In the Territory.
A ship canal of less than two miles over
an easy route, would connsct lakes
Union and Washington with the tide
waters of Puget Sound in Seattle har-
bar. The project Of connecting these
lakes by canal With the Sound, for naval
and other purposes, has been under dis
cussioa.by the United States Govern
menf at times since 1870. and il now
seems likely that early action will be
taken IN the premises. as renewed in
tefss IN the matter has recently been
manifested BY public men and engineer
officers Of the 9evefnmeut.
Gsod bciidiug material abouRds in
the eouMy. The best Of bricks are
made at reasonable prices, and when q
railroad through the Snoqusinies Pass
in built, excellent building stone and
the best of mUbie win b within easy
reach OF tide wat@
The City Of Seatt!s-The city OF Sc
attic is not only the cofef city OF the
county, but Of the Territory a. veil.
and contains a population of Gpout u, :
600, being nesdy twice al large @ any
other city in the Territory. In the sag
nitude Of its commerce and industries,
IL outPanks any other In even greater
proportions. 1t Is certainly centrally
located on Puget Sound, and has one Of
the best harbors in the world. to which
the largest ocean veesels can md unob
struc,ed entrance. 1t Is the great trad
ing post Of the Puget Sound basin, on
account Of Its central location, the en-
teyprise Of lie merchants, and the fact
that the steam marine Of the Sound
radiates from its uharves. No less than
10 stsam boats of Ali sizes run from this