The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-22
THE PROMISED LAND.
A Settler Tells Of the Rich
Olympic Country.
GOLD. COAL. GAME AND TiAsER.
n chain 81 Mounfain Lakes Diseoverea-
salpAur springs en shs Shores
Rapidly sestiing u


turned few days ago from trip into rs
olympic mountain country. and returned
yesterday 10 claim which he has taken
up there. To . representative OF the Posr-
IsrELLIsEscER be gave graphic descrip-
ton OF the coantry, which confirms ell
surmises as to It's richness in minerals,
timber and scenic grandeur. He said:
About eighteen miles west Of Port
Angeles the town OF Crescent has been
located. and already has . population Of
about SOD. From there . trail has been cut
into the mountains through . beautiful
wooded country 70 . plateau about 60o feet
above the SEQ aud about six miles hack
from it. In the center Of this plateau Is
lake which has been named Crescent, Aftsr
the town. and which is about the size of
Lake Washington IL is surrounded By
splendid heavy timber. and when this is
cleared of the land viii &c found 70 De as
fine agricultural land as there is in
the country. The timber is not
simply 6r and cedar. IS it il
in this section. but there is abundance Of
maple, trees eight feet in diameter being
the common thing. The lake Winds in and
out among the mountains and has the ap-
pearance rather OF . broad river than q
lake. The banks are precipitous and
thickly wooded, the rocks peeping out
here and there. The level country reaches
. short distance to the south from the lake
and then the mountains. ali covered with
snow, rise precipitousiy FROM IT, This.
however. is only where the wash OF the
rivers has made q delta; in other places
the lofty mountains rise sheer from the
shore Of the lake.
This would have been the best place
for the Christy party of explorers to have
entered the mouniains. There il an almost
level divide right back OF the lake which
cuts right through the mountains and.
which could have been easily traversed.
The Elwha river was the very worst
route they could have chosen, for
ii runs in tso forks through deep canyons
from the very base OF Mount Olympus,
while the intervening country is . rich.
level plateau. They could have reached
the interior Of the country much sooner
than they did and with much less labor.
il they had gone by the Crescent divide
The last heard OF them they were 1T the
foot OF the mountains about fhree weeks
and were just about 10 cross. so suppose
they have reached the southern alope Of
How about the mineral wealth up
theref''
There il no question about the country
being rich in gold. ! have found free gold
In the mountains as far - haye pene-
trassd and have picked up Jumps 81 ceal
q big Is my head, which locked like an
thrscite, right on the shores OF the lake. l
believe there is also oil up there, for the
country has every Characteristic OF the oil
countries have seen III the East and oil
can be seen floating on the surface Of the
creeks and oozing out Of the ground. There
are also warm sulphur springs short dis
lance south of Lake Crescent. with tenn
perature of about 60 degrees. though snow
can be found in the prash surrounding
them"
lis the country settling up7"
Yes. very rapidly. A settler named
Sutherland has claim to tho south OF the
lake and he is putting up hotel near the
springs There is another settler on the
same side. ami have taken up claim on
the north side. Sutherland went up there
about i've years ago and madsa couple of
dugouts. which he lett there. l have pad
died ten nnies along the lake In one OF
them. There are numerous settlers on the
north side and Mcssrs. Blackmors and
Going have started . regular PACK train
along the trail from Port Angeles to the
lake. mile or two south Of Lake Cres-
cent Is another lake about the size OF Lake
Union, which has been named Lake Suth-
erland after Mr.. Sutherland. Both these
lakes are in deep basins among the noun
tains-"
lis there plenty of gamer"
II have shot any number Of grouse.
There IL also an abundance OF elk and black
bear, for you can see their tracks in all
direction. but at this season they are very
poor. so that nobody Is hunting them. I
have also seen many mountain wolves
around Lake Crescent The lakes are full
Of salmon trout, which are easily caught
with . trolling line. Il is . paradise for
sportsn,en and is bound TO be . great sum-
mer resort The engineers OF the Victoria,
Port Crescent & ChehaIis railroad have sur
veyed road through the Crescent divide.
and are now at work clearing the route of
the road. II you want to have some sport,
bring your gun and come up and see me.
III give you all You want OF it."