The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07
Hoods Canal Country.


and the other passing along the
western shore Of Hoods canal to
Port Townsend. For several years
the company contemplated build
ing upon this line. In May, 1869,
Judge Swan was detailed by the
company to make a reconnaissance
of the canal with reference to the
resources of the tributary country.
Upon the failure Of Jay Cooke,
when it was decided to run the
line to tide water at the nearest
possible point and the botto mless
bay became the terminus, all OF
these charts that could be found
were destroyed, and very few OF
them are now extant.
AS result of this change in the
location of the line of this road, q
vast region Of incalcula6le mater
ial wealth, penetrated 10y one OF
the Sounds most important
branches, remains to this dav
virgin field tor investment and en-
terprise.
Hoods canal has been heretofore
almost overlooked by the settler
and investor, Notwithstanding the
mighty flood Of immigration and
capital for the past few years pour
ing into the Puget Sound basin.
drawn by the fame of its resources
and matchles3 commercial advan-
tages. We have here the most re-
markable ship channels in the
world, a commercial Highway di-
rect to the Straits Of Fuca, pene-
trating for Il distance Of sixty.iiv
miles vast region rich in many OF
the staples of commerce, without
city and its amazing wealth al
most totally uu>loveiop ed.
About twenty miles south of
Port Townsend Foulweather bluff.
the northern point Of tie great
peninsula dividing the TWO main
branches OF tie upper Sound, scp,.-
rate the waters Of Hoods canal at
its mouth from Admiralty inlet.
From this poiut the channel cx
tends southwest about fifty miles.
varying in width from three to
twelve Mics. to the mouth Of the
Skokom!sh river. at which point it
becomes narrower aud makes GIG
acute angle, extending about tour.
teen miles in a northeas erly Iii
rection to its extreme head at Cliff
ton. AS it is only two miles
from this point to Cases inlet, an
eastern branch of the Sound, many
have asked the question if Hood
dug his canal according to con-
tract in not cutting through to this
passage leading into Admiralty in
let. About midway between Foul
weather bluff and the Skokomish
there is an enlargement Of the ca
nal from which projects Tarraboo
bay, about twelve miles due north.
This bay divides near its head, the
western branch forming Quilccne
bay, upon which is located the
promising town OF Ga lccne, an
agricultural hamlet nesting among
the foothills OF the Olympics, the
port Of a rich agricultural district.
The canal is remarkable for it's
depth and the entire absence of ali
instructions. 1t is nayigaDle to lis
extreme head for the deepest
draught vessel ever launched, being
from twenty-five to seventy faith
oms in depth, without a rock or a
shoal.
The great peninsula on the east
ward contains large area of roll
ing timbered land, cut by the fer
tile valleys of Beef Harbor creek,
Duwalto creek, Anderson creek,
Stevens river and Tahayet creek.
In these valleys of the peninsula
are to be found the greater por
ton OF the population along the ca
nal at present, and in time. as their
ranches become opened up, they
will contribute larg ely to the
wealth of the canal.
To the westward lies the vast,
uninhabited. unsurveyed region
stretching away to the Pacific
that will, when its resources are
developed, cover Hoods canal with
the fleets of commerce.
At the mouth of Tarraboo bav
the Foothills Of the Olympic
mountains jut out abruptly nearly
to the beach. From this point
the range, extending southwesterly.
DIVORCES from the shore line, leay,
ing widening plateau from
200 to 500 feet in elevation and
stretching along the canal to the
mouth of the Skokomish river.
where it is about ten miles in
width. The soil on the plateau is
dry and gravelly, but will be good
grazing land when cleared. This
plateau is penetrated BY many
fertile valleys, extending far back
INTO the unknown wilds of the
Olympic mountains. The Ducui-
bus, Doscewallop, Lollawaup and
HANNA HANNA are the principal
streams flowing into this side of
the canal. and into these valleys
many settlers have taken mn clain,s