The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-02-25
From the West.
MT. VERNON, WASH, Feb l6, 1891

FROM tho West'
Mt. VERNON, WASH, Feb 16, 1891.
lam not capable Of giving a de-
scription of this country; but at the
solicitation OF my friends Ia Blount
County, l tell few things about
the Puget Sound country, especial
" Fidalgo Island, In Skagit Coun-
ty. For three weeks l have spent
II considerable part of my time ON
Fidalgo Island in the town of De-
ception or Fidalgo City, as it is call
ed, which is on the south eide of the
island.
Fidalgo Island is situated In the
northern part of Puget Sound. The
island contains about thirty.six Sec
tions, is somewhat mountainous
but, is for the most part very fertile;
but is so heavily timbered that =
great deal of work il necessary to
get the land At for cultivation.
The principal kinds are fir and CO.
dar. Many Of the people are en-
gagged in numbering. The wages
paid in the camps range from this
ty.dve to sixty dollars per month
The soil is well adapted to potatoes
oats, hay and all kinds of vegeta-
bles and fruit Of all kinds except
grapes and peaches. Apples keep
perfectly sound all winter. Inn
mense quantities Of this fruit are
raised. The price Of land on the Is,
land is exceedingly high, ranging
from 800 to 5000 and over, per aero
and nearly everything else is high
in proportion. Wages On the ranch
are twenty-five to thirty dollars per
month. Harvest hands get from
one dollar aud q half to two dollars
per day. Carpenters get from three
to four dollars and half per day.
Masons from Ave to six dollars.
Wheat one dollar per bushel. Flour
four and q half to Ave dollars per
barrel. Eggs thirty.five cents per
dozen, and other produce In proper
ton. Times are dull now, but In .
month laborers Of all kinds will b
In demand.
On Fidalgo Island there Is a city
called Anacortes, which is but ono
year old and contains 1000 inhabi-
tants and bids fair to become the
largest city on Puget Sound, Taco
ma and Seattle not excepted. Many
business men from both these cities
are investing large sums Of money
in real estate In Anacortes. Fine
buildings are being erected, rail-
roads are being built. Anacortes
will be the terminus Of the North
ern Pacific r. r. It Is almost due
north Of Deception, on the opposite
side Of the island and the two points
will soon be connected by motor
line. There ia every reason to be.
, lieve that In the near future the
! whole island will be covered with
magnificent buildings and this vast
! collection Of houses will be known
rs Anacortes, the largest city west
i, Of the Rocky Mountains! The Is
! land IL separated from the main
land by narrow slough and when
the space IL oil occupied on the Is
land; It will be quite an easy mat
, ter to extend the city limits to thu
mainland. Enough about Fidalgo
:, IhAve travelled some on the main
) land, and I and the land In thil
county where I have been, level
and exceedingly fertile, producing
; from seventy.nve 10 one hundred
: and fifty bushels Of oats per acre
and three 10 ave tons Of hay pei
J, acre. Oats sell for thirty.Ave dol
, lars per ton, and hay sixteen dollars
. Land 10 also very high ON the main
. land; but can b rented by the veal
!. At ten dollars per acre, cash down
, I'll say nothing else at present; 4
4 anyone In Blount County wishes Il
try this country and has plenty Of
! pluck, my advice is to come ahead
but II You come with the delusion
that silver, gold and greenbacks are
found without work, you'll be bitter
ly disappointed. If any friend Of
c mine wishes to ask any questions
and will write to me at. La Conner
or Deception, Skagit County, Wash
ington, I shall endeavor to answer
y to the best of my ability.
GEO. l.. HANNAH.