The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-28
FARMS IN OLYMPICS.
Prospectors Told False Stories
About Rugged Country.
IT IS FULL or FINE VALLEYS.
Matter-og-Facs Statement by Man who
Has Been All Over the Alleged
Impenesrable Rsgion.



Ny son, s. c. Gilman, gho is now max
ing his headquarters 1t Gray's HArbor
City, has been eApsoring Western WASH
ingion for more than year past. AID
was with him in the work during the last
three months Of lss9 in the Olympic coan-
try north OF Gray's harbor. south OF the
straits and between the waters of Puget
sound and the ocean. Three months very
hard work with suitable help, in which
time we crossed that country both north
and south and east and west. gave US an
accurate know edge OF much Of that region
and u good general knowledge Of the whole.
The north, east and south sides Of that
peninsula are occupied and quite well
known, but the great interior and the
coast lands westerly there.rcm were but
little known and were supposed TO be all
mountains and uninhabitabie. This is q
great misapprehens,on, though the mount
aims are there in great form. They do not
reach the ocean. however. except by low
spur which extends along the south side Of
the strait to Cape Flattery. South of that
spur or extension and between the main
body of the Olympic mountains and the
ocean is belt of fifteen miles or more in
width Of the finest country to be found
anywhere Ii is in all shapes. from mod
eratesy level to sharp hills. all in view of
both the ocean and mountains.
Four large rivers, the Quinault, Queets.
Hob. and Quillyhure run from the east
eriy par OF the mountains westerly TO the
OCEAN across the good belt, the first named
river draining the mountains nineteen
points within about twelve miles OF Hood 8
canal. Upon various sections OF these
rivers, both in the mountains and west Of
them, are very tine bottom lands from one
TO four miles in width, timbered bat lightly
with very small cottonwood or brush, and
very cheaply cleared for farms. These val
ieys are not excelled By any in the state for
hop raising or for any kind OF agriculture.
Numerous smaller streams are also there,
all boun!ifuiiy supplied with salmon and
trout. Being near the ocean and nearly
surrounded by salt water the climate is
the mildest on the coast north of San
Francisco. the thermometer during the
coolest of the winter registering "a degrees
above zero. The good belt lies we'll for. q
railroad north and south, and the river val
legs leading into the mountains will no
doubt be used for branch roads. With the
exception of the lightly timbered bottom
lands above mentioned. the wole country il
heavily timbered with hemlock, FIR, cedar
and spruce. the most valuable being the ce-
dar which exceis in that region. There being
no hasbor on that part of the Pacific coast,
the best of the country explored by my
son ard myself is quite difficult Of access.
but the tide Of Immigration h setting in
that direction. and viii soon open the way
Ny son has made two trips into the in
terror this spring, and will soon make the
third. II is my purpose to visit Tacoma in
few weeks and from thence to proceed to
explore the headwaters of the Queets. the
Hob and the Quiilyhute--the Quinault
having been fully explored by us last year.
I should have mentioned that all kinds of
clay abounds. and at one point We found
fine sandstone for building. A good
country for elk. deer and bear A small
village of friendly Indians are located at
the mouth of each of the four rivers named.
It may be proper to add that there is no
foundation whatever for the interesting
romance published last year regarding the
lake and prairie and the wild Indians
located in the Olympic mountains. Quin-
nault lake is a handsome body of water
four and one half miles long. two miles
wide. on Quinault river. where II energies
from the mountains, twenty-five miles
from the ocean. II abounds in fine fish.