The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-29

The Governments Preparing 10 kxpl0fe
the Olympic Range
Port Townsend Leader


The Gevernm~ns Preparing - Ksplore
the Olympic Range
Fort Townsend Leader
| Judge James g. swaa few days ago re-
ceiyed from John Gibbon. brigadier-generai
United States army. stationed at Vancouver,
letter on the subject Of exploring the
Olympic range and the western part of the
stale
General f;ibbon Is desfrous 81 getting
some definite information regarding the
trails leading into the Oiympics. and the
best place for making the base of supplies.
This Is matter of more imp ortance than
might be supposed by those who have
been accustomed 10 hearing Of exploring
expeditions" undertaken from time TO
time by private individuals. to traverse the
great unknown region 10 the west Of US.
IL viii be remembered that Lieutenant
O'Neill began tour of this region about
two years ago. He started from Port An
geies, making tedious journey over the
mountains to the south of that place, and
went almost as far as Lake Cushman,
which is in the valley OF vast. unexplored
region in Western Washington. The expe-
dition OF Lieutenant o'NeIil is one OF the
most important that has been made in the
state in recent years. 1t was under the
supervision Of the army officials and to
certain extent backed by the United States
government, as all such expeditions are.
After his return from this trip the iieuten-
ant made full report of the trip, sub
hitting charts and maps of the country
traversed by him, as well as descriptions of
the same. and these documents are now in
the hands of General Gibbon.
There Is just one point In connection
with this report OF Lieutenant O'Neili
which is deserving of consideration by
those who are interested in the expiora-
ton, and that is the fact that he took the
route that has always been thought to be
the only feasible one in this section. The
action OF General Gibbon in writing his
recent letter is almost virtual acknowi-
edgsment that this route Is not the proper
one. At least 1t signifies that he is willing
TO try another one II it seems practicable.
IL seems strange that persons who know
anything about the unsurveyed portions of
Western Washington would advise any one
To begin the trip at Port Angeles. The
only point in favor of making that place
the base of supplies is the fact that it is
so far west that by going directly south
one would find his way directly to the
region sought to be explored.
The fact is. however. that there
Is an almost impossible mountain
range just south of Port Angeles, which is
a great barrier to the successful prosecu-
ton of an exploration of this kind By that
route. General Gibbon seems 10 be of the
opinion that better route might be found.
At least he does not appear to be wholly
satisfied with the report of Lieuten-
ant 0Neili. for if he was he would
prosecute the same lines begun by
that officer. The Seattle Ereaing Press
sent out an exploring party last winter to
traverse this region, announcing that the
trip would be accomplished in about three
months. After starting out from Port
Angeles. however, tine members of the
party found that it would be impossible to
cross the mountains spoken of at this sea-
son of the year. and they have contented
themselves with camping all winter about
ten miles from Port Angeles, and writing
occasional letters to the Press describing
the terrible trials and hardships they have
passed through.
Captain X. w. de Lion, OF QuiIcene, is
arranging an expedition that will prob
ably accomplish more than any other that
has heretofore been made He has secured
about $1,000 in subscriptions toward
defraying the expenses of the trip. He
proposes TO avoid the difficult mountain
range entirely by going around it. This
he will do by starting at Quilcene instead
of at Port Angeles, going east instead of
south, dropping in below the foothills.
The base of supplies will be made at the
last settlement OF the Quilcene valley, and
the party will be made up of settlers who
will clear out n good trail as they go along,
thus leaving something TO be used by those
who wish TO make future explorations.
This Is q practical way to go about the
business. and Captain de Lion will doubt
less be of much assistance 10 future ex.