The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-08
FROM THE BIG BEND.
,r ar a VISIT TO BEAUTIFUL LAKE
CHELAs.
x.v Town Of gatervfi1e. Doug
:. csunty-A Paradise for Fisher
In and Hunters = Agricultural.
~,mser ard Fruit Interests.
rrrrrsrnna. VT. Aur. 4

vruaydi1g the country are iav@raDie-
Vincent that region Is sofncwhat
Inaccessible and difficult to reach. the
,;se some rs to % miles being accom-
nar.iel with considerable fatigue The
Xg Bend proper Is a plateau some
Mo feet above the Columbia river
Here lies long stretch Of rolling
nrairie covered with rank growth 81
bunch.grass East of this plateau Is a
daep gorge known as Grand Couies
xputheasfeFly is Moses Goulee and
south OF the more thickiy settled por-
tiou OF the plateau, lies Badger noun
tain. upon which there was about a
township In area OF fine timber. This
timber i fast being consumed for
wood, lumber and fencing material.
West and north Of this plateau j. tae
great Columbia river.
wATERYILbE AND SURROUNDINGS.
About three miles 70 the north .;
Badger mountain, and ont upon the
rich black prairie, il located the neS,
prosperous growing little town OF
Watcrvilie, the county seat II Douglas
county. WaferviIle IS distant from the
Columbia some eight miles, IL boasts
Of two hoteIs, i've or TX general stores.
batery. several blacksmith shops,
ii,e,ies an enterpii-ing newspaYer,
m Ria Bend Empire. edited b. i.u-
sieu kellogg, and n number OF the
nmf4itreeent saloons. The village 4.
surroiInde hy u beautiful farming
eauntry, and | was greatly surprised
chen / saw the advanced state Of cul
tiyatiDn much OF IL was under. Fairly
eeod houses. well fenced fields and
broad acres 81 wheat. barley and oats
that wosl ] do credit to the Willamette
~ Walla Walla valleys. Gardens I'M
irrigated that would suTprise the
dveller Of the region OF the aampness
west ef the Ca cadc5, we're not the ex-
eantion. There WIS mn air oi pros
nerity and contentment among the
pe0pie and without exception all were
f,Ieasel with the country. ! am conf
dent that the Zig Bend country viii
make one Of The most productive re-
gions Of the territory. and when con
nected with seattle by rail viii be the
great garden and granary from
whence the sound win draw IT, sup
Mics The railroad il approaching
from the cast and from the west, and
in The near future that whole region
will he easy OF access. The writer pre-
dict for tho Zig Rend rapid growth
and pro- perous future.
LAKE. cHELAR.
And now for the benefit OF the peo-
nle OF Seattle in general, wish 10 call
your attention TO that most beautiful
Of lakes lying just north and west Of
the big bend. known as Lake Chelan.
which | had the pleasure OF visiting.
Lake Chelan lies about 800 feet above
the Columbia and go feet above sea
level. The foot OF the lake about
three miles from the Columbia. and
the lake itself IL from one 10 three
miles wide and about G5 miles long
For 10 or II miles above the outlet
bong stretches 81 terraced, bunch grass
covered hills can he seen on either
shore Upon the terraces of these
hills are rich agricultural and grazing
lands, which extend haek from the
lake three to; five miles, above and
: htyond these lands pine timber ex-
sbore : he tops Of the ridges. Capt.
eons freight; pee. Hospitality enter.
III tons; per Mexicon. MIR. Simmons,
Il tons general mckinley rendered US
Die ust~.s boat, gun, ammunition and
fishing tackle. which. with a good
supply OF provisions, we started for q
voyage to the head OF Lake Cheian.
sPoRrsMAS's PARADISE.
0ur trip was attended with much
hard rowing against head wind. and
ittook us four days to reach Pierce
river. the principal inlet 10 the upper
end OF the lake. II We wanted grouse
Tor supper or dinner. all that was
needed was simply for one to go
ashore one-half mile before making
camp and We would be sure to Tag
from two to six birds. For fish we
had simply to throw out our trolling
line and the result was beautiful lake
trout Il 10 ~ inches In length. As we
approached the upper end OF the lake
the scenery became mora rugged, wild
and grind. Greit walls of granite aud
conglomerate rock lenccd In the lake,
and rising and sweeping back, One un-
accust onied 10 such scenes, stood in
awe at the grandeur. Long stretches
Of pine ana CIR clad the mountains,
lowing precipitous gray rocks. over
which came tnmbiug roaring, spark
ling streams OF water from snow cap
pei peaks in the back ground. while
between these mighty walls lay the
beautiful lake rejecting anew, like "A
mirror, the scenery upon IFS shores,
made Thu a picture no artist could
portray or pen fully describe. Our re-
turn tip was accompanied with fair
wind With sail hoi. ted we skinned
along over the bright waters at a rapid
rate 10 our destination Pierce river,
the principal inlet. rises near the heal
Of the Skagit river At IL mouth the
stream about - yards wide, 3 10 10
feet deep. and very rapid. The valley
Of this stream il one halt 10 one and
a.hah miles vile. and apparently / to
70 miles long, and is densely covered
with pine, tr, cedar. cottonwood and
sot maple timber,
Tue CLIMATE.
The climate at and near Lake Che.
Ian i, undoubtedly the finest ia the
territory. The wind is not severe.
The cir / soft and srringlike In sum
rer and the winters are mild. The
lake never IRE zcs and It's depth is So
great that il would float the Great
Eastern, We relied some huge rocks
Oh The shore. where the declivity con-
menee at the waters edge, and we
could heaT them - thew went bump
ing down the iles of the watcry
eaasm, until the oupd had died away
IN the distance beneath. Oar trip was
ono OF great pleasure and fun Of in
lerests.
A saw mill il 20 he erected at the
loot Of the lake this fall. aud it i con-
haentiy IRE ted that a steamboat
WI ply on the lake another wear, and
That hotel will soon be erected.
FLEAsUEE Akp PROFIT.
would hardly do Justice 10 that at
nsetse lake dill not mention the
great abundance Of game. The noun
hias are literally trodden up with
ualls and paths of deer. mountain
SCAT and bear. and along the creeks
anu shore OF the lake are innumcralhe
coveys OF grouse, pheaSants and
pfairte chickens are foand. To the
nrer Of sport Lake Chelan l. uucN-
@ded. Hunting, fishing, Yachting
what more Te the seeker of health,
ae place oitor4 equal benefits natu-
tshy' Pure water, i mild climate,
peasant surroundings and abundance
hsA and game 10 tickle the palate.
10 Tic vineyarii,t or lover OF fruit
IalSlng, here he Can ind every induce
ment To the St0ck-raiscr, abundant
@s@tage To the manufacturer.
abundance Of timber and unlimited
Asr.roWer. The Columbia river
.seamtoats land within three miles Of
We lake. and with the advent 81 the
f2itfNk.t s., 81 E.-E sr..aHsTFrx