Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-16
sauk and skaeit Valleys


Sank City Star: Many localities as well
as people grow wealthy under favorable
circumstances, but there is no locality or
class Of people more favored than those
living in the Sank and upper Skagit val
leys. First because they possess the
finest farming country that LAYS beneath
the sky; second, because on this ground
or on most Of IL lands the best timber In
the world; and last, but not least, on
either side are mountains rich In precious
and useful metals, all OF which add to he
wealth OF the valleys.
The precious metals in those noun tains
have already done more to bring the val
legs Into prominence than any other one
thing. They have caused roads to be
built, by which the home-seeker can en-
ter, and the rancher bring his produce to
market, or cause a market at his very
door for all he can produce on his cleared
ground.
For distance of thirty five miles up
the Sank, the valley varies in width from
one to three miles, and the settlers cabin
aud clearing go TO show that the land Is
about all taken.
During the past three months a road
has been built from Sank City, the entire
length OF the valley. This road Is being
bull I by the Monte Cristo Mining company
TO the Monte CTistu mines at the head of
the Sank river, but it taps nearly all the
ranches on this side Of the river.
Not until this year did the settlers pre-
tend TO farm on an extensive scale, for
they had no markets for their raisings.
The soil, all this time, was being tested.
and u has been found capable Of raising
IN abundance anything that was planted
IL has been estimated that there has been
more clearing done in the valley this year
than In the past three.
The timber that stands on these places
Is all OF great value. Not lust at the pres o.
ent time does the price OF logs demand
the logging business to be carried on ex
tenslvely, but in the near future II will be
a paying industry for the prices are on
the raise and the prospects are good for
them to continue.
Fruit OF all varieties can b. raj scd sue
cessfully, which with the tenn erate eli
mate and many other resources makes ii
a very pleasant place to establish a home.
From twenty to thirty acres make a
good farm, large enough 10 raise all the
stuff that can be cared for by one or two
men, according to the kind planted AT
intervals there are beaver marshes that
can easily be drained aud hen done
they make fine hay meadows or will raise
oats In abundance.
About twenty miles above this point on
the opposite side OF the Sank river Is a
prairie that consists OF about 900 acres
which Of course Is very valuable, for as
produce brings such a good price, cleared
farms are valued highly The soil Is the
same as that on which the forests stand
but Tor some unknown reason the tim Der
n there ever was any. has disappeared
Such thing as n crop failure is unknown
here. which makes seeding or planting a
pleasure.
The Monte CrlstO mines at the head OF
this river insure the ranchcr a good mar
ket for his produce for many years
come, which Is, Of course. gratifying.
The Skagit valley above here is not as
extensive as the Sank. but II has all the
advantages that could be asked for in any
locality. At the head of this valley Is the
famous Ca cade mining district, which
shows promise OF great future and one
that will attract world wide attention.
These valleys begin at Sank City at the
head of navigation which makes this the
point for both. As soon as