Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-08-15
PUGET SOUND IN 1881.
Extracts from q Boom Article Of
Pioneer Davs.

Perhaps the following extract iron
an issue Of the Boston Advertiser O
June, 1881, may prove interesting
"The beautiful sea bearing the nam,
OF De Fuca and only known to a few
has Il quaint sound to our ears in 1890
with its feverish rush of railroad build
ing. The writer was Hall J. Kelley
general agent of the Oregon Co-opera
tive society. In an article entitled
" Accounts of the Oregon Country AM
OF Colony Proposed to be Established
in It," he says:
The subscriber contemplates the
making of settlement in the northern
OF Oregon, and health permitting, in
tends to embark from Boston with one
or two vessels freighted with machin.
cry, implements of industry and all
other such effects and stores as may
be thought necessary for the use and
comfort of the settlers.
The colony will be commenced
with 100 persons, besides women and
children, and will be composed OF
farmers, mechanics, traders, literary
men, etc.
None will be admitted to embark in
the expedition, as members of the
community, but such as shall furnish
evidence of being fair, moral men and
shall subscribe to the covenant" the
concluding part of which is appended
to these remarks. All persons thus
admitted will be equally eligible to q
participation in the rights and i'm
munities of the commonwealth of the
colony, and to a just share in all the
privileges of the settlement. Settle.
ments have been commenced on the
waters Of the Columbia River. 1t il
now proposed to make another on the
south side OF De Fuca straits, or sea
with view to the occupancy of the
two harbors, New Dungeness and Port
Discovery, and the fertile tracts oi
that delightful region. The beautiful
sea bearing the name is scarcely
known, but to the specializing few
whose commerce has brought from its
shore many splendid fortunes, and
whose avarice has strangely kept the
inquisitive world from q knowledge o.
it and has thereby succeeded in ex
Guiding, till lately, all competition
from the vast and valuable trade the,
have long pursued in it. The sea re
ceives its name from Juan de Fuca, 7
a Greek, who discovered it in the yea
1892.
1t is found on the map of North
America, opening from the great
Western ocean, in latitude about 4s
degrees. 1t is twenty miles wide a,
the entrance, and maintains nearly
the same width for the first fifty miles
The southern shore at this distance il
called New Dungeness. Here is .
good harbor, furnishing excellent
anchorage, and is bordered on the
south by a charming country.
Fifteen miles further easterly il
Port Discovery, which in the opinion
of that experienced navigator, Van.
couver, who early explored it, is one
OF the best harbors in which he haG
ever anchored a vessel. 1t is com
mOdious, and never exposed to the
violence, either of wind or wave. 1,
possesses great natural advantages fol
a seaport, and will, probably, in few
years. become the chief mart o.
Oregon, if not OF all the countries
about the Pacific Ocean. The en-
trance is formed by two low capes
two and half miles apart, the land.
back rising in gentle ascents to higf
woodland SUBMITS.
Directly in front of the opening is .
small island, nearly in tie form of /.
crescent, whose concave side is pre-
sented to the harbor. It is for rea
son very obvious, called Protection
island. The combined navies of thi
world, whatever be the tonnage o
their ships, might safely moor in thi
harbor, and here the tempest tosset
mariners find comfort.
The sea continues fifteen miller fur
ther inland and then turns on boil
sides nearly at right angles. Th,
southern arm runs toward the Co
lumbia river fifty miles, the northern
arm runs $50 miles and communicate
with the ocean. Through this Who'll,
sea there are found from eight t.
eighty fathoms of sounding, and .
muddy button. At all seasons of tn,
year it may be navigated with les
than the usual danger experienced il
other seas of equal expanse. The ter
ritory between this and the Columbi,
river is much favored by the Benefi
cent Creator and is variously enriche,
by the hand OF BOuntious Providence