The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-30
ON SHOALWATER BAY.
The Manifold Resources of
Pacific County.
ITS HARBoR NOT roo sHoAL
FERTILE Land Under the Giant Trees
Oyster Farms Under the
Waters OF the Coves.


gu. r;,.,e has been said through the
press concerning the country iying De-
tween Grav's harbor and the Columbia
river known as Shoalwater bay This
country will soon be earning widespread
popularity as an agricultural and manu-
featuring region.
The Shoaiwaser bay country is ahous
thirty miles long, north and south, and e1-
tends east about twenty-four miles nom
the Pacific ocean. and comprises many
thousand acres OF good, arabic land, cap
able Of producing ANYTHING adapted to this
western soil. The bay proper lies twenty
four miles north of the Columbia river and
sixteen miles south OF Gray's harbor.
Approaching il from the ocean. the main
inlet or deep water extends eastward about
ten miles TO the mouth of the Wiiiara
river. Another portion of the bay extends
southwark towards the Columbia uyer,
about eighteen miles.
The bar has two channels one north and
one south, and according TO the governments
chart, there are eighteen feet at extreme
low tide with an average of twenty-eignt
feet at high tide over the north bar. Inc
water being of sufficient depth 70 admit
The average ocean sailing vessel at low
tide. according 10 statistics given by Z. }.
Il. Sale. who has served as engineer OF tug
boats in Oregon and Washington territory
waters for number of years. Shoaiwater
bay has the best inland locked haroor and
the deepest water between San Francisco
and the Puget sound.
The bay has several streams entering
into it from all sides, the principal one
being the Willapa river, whose source is In
the dividing range OF Lewis and Pacific
counties, or near the source OF the Che
halls river.
The mouth of the Willapa river is wide
and deep. The largest ocean vessels can
haul Up alongside OF its banks and anchor
with safety. At this point, called South
Bend, which comprises sawmill, cutting
7o,0o0 fee, -. day. a postotiice. store and
hotel. a compsny has recently purchased
land 10 the extent of $4,000. on which
townsite is being plated. The ardent lover
of nature could not have pictured more
beautiful scene for townsite purposes.
The river is navigahle still nine miles
further up TO Wiliapa City, thriving little
village situated in the midst of one of the
richest farming communities in the West.
The valley ranges from one to two miles
wide and is well settled distance OF twenty
miles up the river. when it becomes less
populated and more heavily timbered.
The soil is rich. equal in quality and similar
to that of the Chehalis valley. The princi
pal products of the country are grain, hay
and vegetables. A number of the farmers
are preparing for the culture of hops.
Fruits of all kinds are raised in large guam
titles. The intervening country lying be-
tween the valleys are abrupt, but possesses
one peculiar merit in its favor. the hills are
almost absolutely free from stone or gravel,
being mostly clay subsoil.
Bay Center, beautiful little village, To-
Gated in the interior of the bay, is noted for
its oystering and salmon canning. Several
hundred people congregate here every sea-
son in that industry.
Oysterviile, the county seat of Pacific
county, is located on narrow neck of land
lying between the southern portion of
Shoaiwater bay and the ocean. 1t is noted
for its large shipments of oysters every
season.
What may be said of Western Washing
ton relative to its natural resources, may
also be said of Shoalwater bay.
Timber, coal, iron and other minerals
abound in large quantities. 1t has been es-
timated by expert loggers that Willapa
valley alone has tributary TO it over 2 500
0o0,o00 feet OF fine lumber, mostly fir and
cedar