Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-09-10
A MOST WONDERFUL LAND
The State of Washington as
Seen Through Other
Eyes
Fairhaven Comes in for a Good
ly Share of the
Praise
The Resources of This Coun.
try, Agricultural, Mineral
and Others

] - 'f$'he ioou' VI tnt w iultINtl AlOMul
Madisonian contains the following from
the pen of Major Eli Wilkins, prominen,
lawyer OF that city, who has just com
pleted a tour of the northwestern states
and territories:
"fou have asked me TO give you my i'm
pressions OF Washington as seen by me on
my recent trip to that state.
washington is already a great state.
The recent census so far as made public
gives 1t an approximate population of
$1,000. In 1880 IL had but about 5000,
In Eastern Washington large fields of
splendid wheat are seen. II grows with
out the aid of irrigation. Large herds of
cattle and sheep are also seen in passing.
Spokane is the chief city OF this section.
having population of 1900 and having
contributory to il this large wheat inter-
est and live stock interest, besides having
very large mining interests that contrib
ute greatly TO its wealth.
On the west side of the Cascade range
OF mountains wheat does not do well.
Hops are grown here, however. In great
quantities and in such profusion as to
make one think nature was more than
lavish In doing her part. The Puget
Sound country was looked up by me with
more care than any other section.
The valleys In this Sound country are
very rich. The parts In cultivation.
which, as stated. produce exuberant crops
oil hops, also produce heavy crops of oats
and splendid crops of tame grass. includ.
ing timber and clover, aud, ! was told, a
large crop OF potatoes OF fine quality.
The fruit grown In those valleys was a
surprise TO me: never saw apples grow
In such profusion anywhere as fsaw them
growing about WhatcOm. Pears and
plums grow there in many varieties, rich
IN fiayor and lavish In Yield. Currants.
blackberries and raspbcrries saw In sur
prising quantities on the bushes. Grapes
have not been considered sure crop
there. but was told that by experiment
some three varieties had been found
which are well adapted 10 the climate
and are pronounced a success by the few
who have tried them.
The lumber interests in the Puget
sound country are simply wonderful 20
me. Hundreds OF sawmills are In opera
tion, some Of them Of Wonderful capacity. |
ana many small ones. giving employment |
10 very large number Of men and Yield
ing prOdigious quantities Of the finest
iir aud white cedar-and
much OF this Is loaded on vessels adjacent
to the mills and shipped to China and
Australia. The country being so heavily
iimbered II takes lots Of sand on the part
Df a prairie bred boy To tackle u tract Of
ana there 10 clear u up for farm. IL
much OF the land for farming purposes.
,m told. however. that In many cases in
he past the first crop from the land has
paid for the clearing. This was prob
IDLY was when hay was worth from $40
% 80 per ton aud the yield Of hay Is fire.
luently from three to five IONS per
lcre. la clearing up the land there.
where IL costs 50 much. II includes the re-
nOval OF all or nearly all the stumps.
agriculture Is still in its infancy. but in
ny judgment there l. bright future for
hose who have the saud to operate aud
'pen up farm in that country. inasmuch
) the agricultural land l. 10 some extent ,
United, and the other interests will EN- .
'loy u large population that will be- con-
umers al good prices of the whole agri- /
iltural product.
visited mountain some forty miles I
rom Fairhayen and went into a coal i
line that seemingly had enough coal TO \
upply the country for MANY years. In 6
D going INTO drift ] saw one ledge Of a
oal ten feet In width. one seven feet. one i
We feet and two Of less width. Instead
Z finding the coal in veins. one some dis
incc under the other as here there r
nems 10 have been an upheaval setting
he formation up so that the coal runs In
,dges from the top Of the mountain
own. with u certain dip. aud II is yet !,
Unknown, ! was told. 10 what depth IL u
Sends. This coal was coking coal and v
YER 10 per cent pure carbon, as ! was in- n
'rmed. Within thirty minutes walk Of u
his Goa mine and In another mountain ! V.
'und them opening up an iron mine. In ri
MS mountain ledge Of iron ore extends ss
ON the top OF the mountain down in NJ
so far as yet known, with the ol
me di ip that the coal formation has Ia d'
" adjacent mountain, and Is eighteen "a
ct wide. The ore u represented to be- b'
ON iifty-thrce to sixty per cent pure
on. IL was represented to me that this
q is Of the character from which Besse- n,
or steel IL produced.
The sound and the various rivers lead
q 10 II and the numerous lakes back
Ort distance from II are fertile In food on
oducing fish. saw a report Of the ~
ED OF salmon during the present seas N n
Ong the Columbia river put up for food. ~
ii II gave the amount at 3s5,OO cases. %
he commerce along the sound has ~
own W large proportions aud when the ne
untry becomes well developed will ne "a
mense ap
Tacoma Is y beautiful city of 1900 ne
pulatiOn. with all the modern improve 10
'nts for convenience. comfort and pleas ot
y. with fine educ stiOnal advantages. ne
urch privileges and large manufactiIr- hll
I enterprises.
seattle has Al .ODO inhabitants and more
lgniicent business buildings than saw
any city after leaving the Mississippi
er but was not IN San Francisco. II Pc
$ the most wonderful push and enter n
se OF any place | saw. Its wealth aud Er
ergy seem sufficient u accsmptSh any 10