Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-01-11
The Wonders of Puget Sound.
SOME OF THE NATURAL BEAUTIES OF
THIS FAVORED REGION.

SOME OF THE NATURAL BEAUTIES OF
THIS FAVORED REGION.
American Agriculturalist.
All the important towns in Western
Washington are situated on Puget
Sound, one of the most beautiful in
land seas in the world, and the only
one which commands such magnificent
views OF water, forest and snow-capped
mountains in immediate proximity.
1t has been called the Mediterranean
Of America, but the metaphor is mis-
leading, for while the European sea re-
veals only scenes identified with civil
zation, here all is primeval expansive
ness and rugged grsndeur. Hemmed
in by dark green forests that extend in
an unbroken mass from the Pacific
ocean on the west to the snow
capped Cascades in the east, and
locked in the embrace of two mountain
chains which range from 5000 to A.
600 feet in altitude, it presents pam
Drama of wild and luxuriant beauty.
This tranquil sea, which is almost as
placid as Il park lake in summer, has
II length OF 12O miles, a coast line of
1000, and covers an area of 1000
square miles. 1t has as many wind
ings among the forest as the Cretan
Labyrinth had, but the main channel
is direct enough, its DETECTION from a
straight course being very slight. 1t
contains several basin-like harbors, on
whose shores the principal towns and
lumber mills are situated. These have
sufficient depth Of water to enable
the largest sea-going vessels to tie up
to the wharves without any apprehen-
sions about low tides. Puget Sound is
probably the only sea which is blamed
for having too great Il depth of water.
The shores are so bold that ships can
haul alongside them and make fast to
a tree and be as safe as if they were in
dry docks, as storms cannot reach
them, owing to the protecting forests.
The most important towns along the
Sound are Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia,
Steilacoom, LaConner, Port Town.
send, Blakely and few others. All
are supplied with excellent newspapers,
schools and churches. The schools
are supported with liberality worthy
OF the highest praise. All children be-
tween the ages of eight and sixteen
years are compelled by law to attend
school three mouths in the year, and
if their parents and guardians cannot
pay for them they are admitted free.
All the time lost, through whatever
cause, must be made up during the
ensuing term or year, and the protec-
tors OF those children who do not COM
ply with this provision arc liable to a
fine of 500. No books OF sectarian
character are allowed in the schools,
nor can any denominational doctrine
be taught, and any school officer who
knowingly admits the introduction of
these is liable to fine of 500. The
schools are supported by tax on all
assessable property; by the interest
on money obtained from the sale of
school lands, and by fines imposed on
violators of certain laws. Private acad-
emies may be found in every large
town.
The lover of botany will find the
wales and Prairies of this region ex-
ceedingly attractive, for out of the four
hundred species of flowers gathered in
the Territory one hundred and fifty
are indigenous to the prairies. The
flora are distinguished by loudness"
of color, compared to their eastern or
European kindred, the most prominent
hues being pink. crimson, white, yell
low, red, lilac and purple. This bril-
liancy is probably due to an abun-
dance of heat, moisture and light, and
in some instance to q fertile soil.
Modest blue is rarely seen; SO it is evil
dent that warm and abundant rains
have marked influence on color.
Among the commonest flowers are
the magnificent rhododendron, which
assumes tree-like proportions, the
lavender-hued edible camass, the
omnipresent red-fowering currant,
the mock orange, leontice, blue gem
tian, blue iris, larkspur, claytonia,
leucanthemum, Carolina geranium,
wild lily OF the valley, montropia, or
Indian pipe. yellow violet. h elianthus,
Iupin, aster, Solomon seal, delphinum,
anethera, SALIVA, giloia, castileja,
@thusa, trelima, epiloblum, or rose
bay. and many others which are new
to eastern eyes and differ radically
from their Atlantic cousins. The
trees are principally gigantic conifers,
the broad-leaved trees being compar-
atively scarce and unimportant. The
largest lumber mills in the world are
on Puget Sound, and more ship spars
are exported from its shores than
from all the remainder of the world.
AN editor was asked if he ever saw a
bald-heuded woman. He ranl;ad % No