Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1888-10-25

The city OF Puget sound and or tho Pacific
i Norfhwest--A Vast Tributary Country
and the World for Market Western
Terminus Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road
ESPECIAL coRREspoNDENcEJ
i TACOMA. Wash. Ter. Oct. Is. 1883.
This city Is situated at the head waters
of Puget Sound, and Is the terminus Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. the only trans
continental line which enters this Territory.
The advantages growing out Of this fact
4 will be apparent. The harbor cannot be-
excelled both for security and facilities for
| accommodating the largest vessels afioat
The Sound Is open the year round, offers
line fishing advantages, and vessels sail
without danger from reef or rock to the
Pacific Ocean. and thus to- the markets Of
the world. More vessels load here with
i wheat. coal and lumber than at All other
points on the Sound and Portland combined.
The country surrounding Tacoma is Of
varied character. consisting OF timber, agri-
cultural and mineral lands. The forests
/ yield from 5000 to 100000 feet of timber to
the acre. Tho agricultural lands yield from
70 to 60 bushels of wheat per acre. Hops
i average 1000 pounds per acre, vegetables
/ grow tons to the acre. while fruit OF all
kinds can be produced In great abundance
The mineral lands consist OF coal. iron and
l.
ferIal Is abundant and cheap.
Inc climate OF the Puget Sound country
is wholly unlike anything experienced on
the Atlantic Slope or in the Mississippi VAL
/ continent except in the Pacific Northwest.
The summers are cool and the winters sin
gularly mild. There is very little snow, but
/ considerable rain. between October and
April. A temperature Of so In midsummer
/ Is very rare. and not often in the winter
does the mercury go much below the freez-
Ing point. There are no especially preya-
/ lent diseases, Persons suffering from some
forms OF lung diseases do not find the cli-'
mate suitable for them. and the damp win,
ter weather Is blamed for an occasional
case OF rheumatism, but taken altogether
| the climate of Western Washington is one
| Of the finest in the world. There is no ma
laria, and outdoor exercise can be taken at
| any time during the year.
There is no vacant government land In the
| vicinity Of Tacoma. Some miles back, how
| ever. there is plenty OF land to be had for
the taking. most of which is heavily tim
Dered and whose Improvement requires
| time and hard work. But an industrious
man can succeed in making a living and
comfortable home on government land and
secure title to 160 acres which in few wears
will make him independent In Eastern
Washington the land is open and more easily
supoued, and quicker farm returns are pos
sible. There Is considerable vacant land OF
excellent quality in the Big Bend of the
Columbia River which is now rendered ac-
cessible by the building of the branches of
the Northern Pacific through that region,
The growth of Tacoma has been remark
able. Ten years ago it had population of
about 700 people; the population now is over
1900. mostly English speaking people
from the Eastern States, and the best kind
too. Figures show that its ratio of increase
is greater than that of any city this side of
the Rocky Mountains. It closely resembles
Chicago in its early stages of development,
and like that great metropolis is at the head
OF navigation OF great island sea, is fast
becoming the most important railroad CEN
ter In the Northwest, and has country
tributary to it that is pouring vast wealth
into its door.
Seventeen years ago pioneer located his
cabin on the town site Of Tacoma. In place
Of the wilderness which surrounded that
lonely home are now splendid streets. on
which are thousands Of houses. The build
ing OF couple of log cabins in that year
and the erection of $50 substantial brick and
frame buildings in the first eight months of
this year will indicate how the forest on the
shores OF Commencement Bay has disap-
peared. and how great city has sprung up
as If by magic in its place, showing change
from towering trees to majestic buildings.
from trails and bride paths to broad.
smoothly graded streets and magnificent
avenues. paved and threaded with iron
tracks, from dim lanterns to flashing cleo
trio lights, from the canoe Of the Indian to
a fleet of ships from all parts of the world,
from the stiffness of the forest to the busy
hum of commercial activity The year 1888
will close with an addition of 1000 new
buildings.
The growth of Tacoma must continue.
There is a vast tributary country fast filling
up with people, for whom this city is to be
the trade center and manufacturing and
shipping point. Some of the largest indus
tries in the Territory are already here; one
sawmill alone will this year cut 75.000,O00
feet of lumber. The car-shops of the N. p.
Hallway are here, and new factories are con-
stantly being added.
For many of these facts we are indebted
to Mr.. Geo. w. Trayer. who has lived for
years on this coast. and who selected Ia
coma as his home after mature investiga-
ton. He owns an addition to the city of
his own. besides carrying large sale lists of
other property. He considers investments
here as safe as in any city in the land. and
parties wishing to put money where it will
bring handsome returns will do we'll to
consult with him personally or by mail.
His long experience enables him to make
profitable investments. He furnishes am
pie reference as to his reliability. He also
owns an addition to the new town of Orting,
which has been started at the head of
Puyallup Valley, one of the richest stretches
of soil in the West.
Orting is on the main line of the N. P.
Road, from which branches are being ex-
tended to neighboring mines and forests.
Inc Puyallup valley is noted for Its Won
derful crops of hops, an acre of which often
Yields the owner an income as great as
that obtained from whole farm back East
Fruit. too, is proftably cultivated; single
acre OF prunes has netted the grower $1,000
Apples grow abundantly, SO. too. pears and
cherries, and all kinds of berries. Vege-
tables are produced in quality. size, and
quantity beyond anything known in the
East. Grass is green the winter through.
and flowers bloom out of doors at Christmas
time.
In no part of the United States is there a
greater combination of resources, climate.
soil. water, timber, minerals, etc., in such
variety. and all possible Of utilization By
man. The size and height of the forest
trees and the number growing on an are
seem incredible to Eastern men. This tim
Der has carried its own fame to all parts of
the world. In the East Indies, in Egypt, in
the maritime States of Europe, in South
America. the Pacific islands. China and
Japan, the fir timber OF Washington Terri |
tory is an article of commerce. Next to fir |
cedar stands second in quantity. and then |
pine. oak, maple and other varieties. The
scenery about Tacoma is superb, with vary
ing views of mountains. waters and forests. /
Mount Tacoma is the highest peak in the |
United States. and rises nearly three miles |
above the city which bears its name.