News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-11-08
From Washington Territory

From NJ washington ASLG@GS4y-
A FORMER yERAIONTER'S DESCRIPTION |
OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY-ITS
ITEALTTFUL acknowledgements
AND OTHER INTERESTING STATEMENTS
CONCERNING THAT COUNTRY.
HoUGuToN, Washington Ter,
Sept. II, 1888. J
Editors NelVS and Citizen -
Those of my old friends IN Vermont
who may not know where l am locat-
ed will be able to find Seattle on Puget
Sound, our county seat, now having |
a population of 10000. Our little
burgh is separated from the city by |
Lake Washington, and we are about
eight miles from Front Street, or five
by water. [ came here a year ago.
l spent few months in Oregon before .
coming here to live. | like the coun-
try for several reasons, the first OF J
which is the climate. We have neither
a cold winter nor a hot summer. The
chief difference in seasons consists IN |
amount of rainfall. The total preclp-
itation for the year is the same as at
Philadelphia, but nine-tenths Of it oc-
ours from October to April. During
the summer months the rainfall IS
very light, justifying the name Of the
''dry season" This year, for Won
der, we had wet June. At present
we are having the usual weather of
coast, bright, clear days, cool nights
and a sea- breeze in the afternoon. In
January last we had winter Of ten
days-a little snow and mercury down
to the frightfully low mark of four
degrees above zero-frightful for this
country. This we had three nights in
succession. The rest Of the winter,
or "wet season." was mild, there
being little difference in the temper
ature from the first Of November to
the first of April. Again [ like the
country because it is healthy. There
are no diseases indigenous to Puget
Sound or peIyading here more than
elsewhere. There is very little sick
ness of any kind. [ have known of
but four deaths here during the year,
and one of these was accidental. A
great many invalids are all the time
coming here from the East, some Of
them, of course, too far gone for re-
covery. My next best reason for lk-
ing the place is a financial one. Bus
mess is lively and there is a boom in
real estate. Many people are coming
and those who have land to sell are
making money. In the spring l pur-
chased small tract of six and half
acres. It fronts on the lake. | got
it for 500 per acre and it is now
easily worth $500. Many have made
fortunes, especially in Seattle. The
old settlers here are now well fixed
all around. Nobody is suffering. l
am building a house of my own and
soon shall not have to pay rent.
In general way I would say to
those who have some thought of COM
ing here that it is good country for
those who work at the building trades.
Hundreds of new buildings will be
erected on our side of the lake during
the next year. Wages are nigh. Men
in the logging camps get $3.50 per
day and upwards, boarding them
selves; carpenters $3.50 and 81, and
masons 81 to Sc per day. General
farming is not carried on here and
never will be, except in few limited
sections. A few acres Of bottom land
in vegetables or small fruits will afford
q generous income. LAUNDERING is
the leading industry and will be for
many years to come. Standing tim
Der, fir and cedar, is worth from 80 to
IS cents per thousand. A fir tree
that will cut 10000 feet of good lum-
Der is not considered giant, as some
of them measure $4,000 feet. The
big mills are prepared to saw logs of
all sizes, from II feet in diameter to
100 feet in length. Logs are worth
a minimum of Sc per thousand feet. |
They are floated out in booms of all |
sizes to the mills at a small expense |
by means of steam tug. and one
company in this vicinity has railroad |
track built and loads up a long train
OF logging cars every day by means
OF donkey engine.
OF course with many peoDle who
are turning their attention to the Pa
cifc coast the great question is in re-
latiOn to the climate. So | say that
you will find here what YOU seek,
mild and equable climate, not subject
to billiards. or tornadoes. If YOU are
poor and want 10 start anew in life,
with more favorable conditions than
the East affords, again | say you will
find what you seek. 1t is useless for
a man with less than $500 to try his
fortunes in Dakota, but here you NAV
commence with very few dollars, but
if you are in middle life, surrounded
by friends, and have good home and
income, then it is a ones
ton Of health and climate mainly.
You might never be contented TO
break up and come so far, and find
things so much different than you are
accustomed to. 1t depends upon YOUR
self whether you like change or not.
AS to scenery it is like that of Yer
mont on large scale; more timber
and larger, higher mountains. Mt.
Rainier rises to I4,40O feet, with a
mighty snow capped dome. A Yer
nonter usually likes our scenery. Of
ny own work l will say that [ am .
pleasantly situated and pastor over a y
church Of so members we are har- {
nonious and contented. Salary is
mall, 500, but it comes regularly.
expense OF living here is about the
anne as i'll Vermont. | will write
more in detail to those who REQUIRE
pecial information.
D. H. BICKNELL.