The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-01

seAf Is wsls-hails town al 500 snhab-
is1rfs, the port * entry Tor the pares
Soana cnstesns s.istrset. jefferson
coazsty has 1fa0 inhabitants. and its
assessment viii amount 20 81 .z5 .ssa
c1aIIAN ccrxrr.
Ctzllazn has za area Of lao square
rniies. II lies wholly on the seahoxrd.
having - miles frontage On the Strait
OF Jean de fssca and 70 miles on the
Paeifsc oceaa. It's harhors are Neah
bay, Port Angeles and New Dunweness.
siih 8 number OF other lesser inletS.
The southern part Of the county Is
cee1pled BY the Cc2st mountains.
frona which numerous streams pour
their waters into the strait and ocean.
Valleys are 10 be found along al these
streams. with fertile soil. timber, coal
and ether resources. Claliam has
great interest in The fisheries, her
people being extensively engaged in
the cap;are Of the far seal. TIE halibni
and other deep water fish. An occa-
sional whale IS taken BY them also.
Some iine farms are in Clallans county,
and = considerable surplus OF zgEical-
furas produce Is grown. The chief
town Is Port Angeles. with so inhabi-
tants. Population Of the county, 100;
assessed value OF property, ssal.sss-
sAS suAS coVxrx.
! This Is the smallest county, having
only about zoo miles. and it is one Of
the two counties consisting wholly Of
islanSls. San Ia&n. oreas. Lopex.
Blakeley. Decatur. shaw. waidron,
Stuart, and a number of smaller ISL
ands, constitute the county. Roche
Harbor is the principal point. Friday
Harbor. and East Sound following
These islands differ somewhat from
other parts OF the Sound country, con-
/ sssting largely Of rock. with fine soil
over its surface. The climate is also
drier and brighter. The timber j.
small and inferior. The mineral chief
/ " found is lime, and il is Of excellent
/ quality, and is used almost TO the ex-
ciusion OF other lime throughout
Western Oregon. Washington. British
| Columbia and Alaska. Fruit grows
finely. and no better country can he
found for sheep. These islands pos
sess many attractions, and win one
day be popular places OF abode. Popu-
iation. 1870; assessment. S2s2 .eaS.
ISLAND COUNTY.
This is tho other county having no
held upon the mainland, and this is,
next 10 San Juan. the smallest OF
counties The islands of WILDLY and
Camano comprise the whole county.
WILDLY island is 35 miles long and
from one 70 10 miles wide, having a
total area of Ii5,0c0 acres. Camano
contains 3o.ooo acres. Upon the latter
is the Utsaiady sawmill, having n cut
ting capacity of 10000 feet of lumber
daily. WILDLY island is very fair 10
look upon. Its soil is generally good,
and il was settled by an industrious,
thrifty class OF people. They have
made it bloom like the rose. Mixed
farming is carried on, the products
comprising grain, fruit, vegetables,
poultry, butter, pork. horses. etc.
Coapeville is the county seat and
principal town. Population, 400;
assessment, si6o,4l9.
wHATcoM COUNTY.
In Whatcom are ls00 square miles.
The county fronts "a miles on the Gulf
of Georgia or northern part of Puget
Sound, and extends east to the summit
OF the Cascade mountains, about SO
miles. Ii has numerous fine bays,
Semiahmhoo and Bellinsbam being
the chief, upon which are located q
number OF ambitious. go-ahead towns.
There is no better soil than that Of the
Nooksack valley and other parts Of
Whatcom county, nor any finer tim
Der. Coal is found in many places,
and the first mine opened in the terri
tory was at Sehome, on Beilingham
bay. 4 number OF railroads are now
making business Improvements in
Whatcom county. The Bellingham
Bay & British Columbia built and
equipped short section IN isss, and
will make a further extension in 1889.
The Westminster, Beiiingham & seat
tie has nov y miles Of road grading,
reaching from the town OF Westiuin-
ster south, and the projectors say
they sill have the road to Bellinghzm
bay in 1859 and to Seattle in 1890. The
Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern has
now 81 miles OF its road built from
Seattle north. Ii is intended to cross
whatcorn county. taking in promi-
nent points on the way. Other roads
are projected. bat have not yet begun
construction. The principal center is
a collection Of towns, including What (
com, Sehome, Fairhayen and Belling
ham, all on Bellingham bay, and all
really constituting one town, with 1900
inhabitants. Population OF WhaIcom
county, GOO; assessed valuc Of prop
erty. 81 .12l.72s.
sxAGIr COUNTY.
Another promising section IS that
embraced within the limits OF skagit
county. This also fronts q miles on
the sound. and, including Fidalgo.
0uemes and Cypress Islands, has an
east and west length of 60 miles. The
riyer which gives the county It's name,
is the longest in Western Washington,
rising n British Columbia and flowing
/ $50 miles southwest through Wha'com
and Skagit counties to il outlet in
! Puget Sound. Steamboats, navigate ii
fer 90 niles. Its valley IS one Of the
finest description. the soil being of
great fertility, the timber heavy, and
/ coal and iron abundant. Oats and hay
are the chief crops, though hops. fruits
and vegetables are grown N pfofasion
and 20 perfection. A great fatEre =
before skagit county. and seems now
about 20 open. Capitalists are taking
hold Of its resources, and are making
movements that must result in very
speedy growth The Seattle & North
ern Railway Company. having im-
l mense landed Interests at ship H&rbor,
on Fidalgo island. have begun con
struction OF lirst-csass railroad irom
I the harbor, huiidinseas. up the vai-
/ lev OF the skagit. the intention being
I TO connect there with a road from the
CITY OF Seattle, and 90 continue on
/ from the common point % Spokane
Falls. The Seattle, Lake shore & East
ern has its route located through the
( county for the line 20 Vancouver,
BIC and the New Westminster &
Beliingham Bay Railway COMPANY
are nov locating t5eir line
through the country from Wesimin-