Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-01-29
THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS.
Three Main Ranges-Large Amount
of Agricultural Land.


The entire range appears to be, at the
first glance, at confused mass OF noun
tains, apparently piled one on top OF the
other; but on closer examination we find
that it consists OF three main ranges. con-
Meeting with low divides. These ranges
are the Gibbons range, extending from
Cape Flattery in a southwesterly direction
to Mount Constance, its principal noun
tains being Mount Olympus, 1900 feet
high, Mount Mcmillan and Mount An
derson. This is the highest and most
rugged Of the three ranges and contains
many huge glaciers, one on Mount Olym-
pus being five miles long and three broad
depth unknown. The second range is
the Miles range, extending from New
Dungeness on the north to Mount Eleanor,
overlooking Lake Cushman on the south.
The most important feature of this range,
which, by the way, is the one visible
from Puget sound and Hoods canal, are
tie Jupiter hills and Mount Constance,
the Three Brothers, Mount Lee and
Mount Eleanor. | find that numbers Of
the people living in this vicinity errone-
ously suppose that the huge mountain
opposite Union City is Mount Olympus.
Far from it. 1t is Mount Eleanor, or, as
it should be called, because it can boast
the profile of the father of our country,
Mount Washington. Mount Olympus
lies far to the northwest, and is not visi-
BILE from the canal or the upper sound.
The third range extends from Mount
Constance, altitude $3.50 feet, in south
erly direction, finally losing itself in the
low foothills of Damon's Point. The
highest mountain in this range is Mount
Church, with an altitude of $3.50 feet.
Contrary to all the legends and stories
concerning this peninsula OF ours, we
found no interior inhabitants, no sign OF
the giant race, no huge central table land
and lake. Nothing but mountain peak
after mountain peak, interspersed with
snow fields, smiling valleys and raging
torrents.
All of the best timber lies on the slopes
of Giays harbor and Hoods canal, the
largest body being tributary to the latter
water, while the best agricultural land is
on the Pacific slope on the Quiniault,
Queets, Hoe, Quillayute and Raft rivers.
Here we found thousands Of acres Of the
finest soil only covered with small spruce
and hemlock. On the Grays harbor side
we also found much fine land.
The course of the expedition, i. e., the
course taken by the pack train was up
the North Fork of the Skokomish to it's
source, thence across the divide and down
into the Duckabush, up that river to it's
rising, then over the grand divide and
down the Quiniault to the lake, thence
by trail to Humptulips then by barge to
Grays harbor, and from there by steamer
home.
Smaller attachments were sent down
the following rivers: The South Fork of
the Skokomish, all of the Grays harbor
rivers, viz. the Satsop, Wynoochie, Ho-
vtAoAtA0h anu dlEO
the Quiniault, Raft, Queets, Duckabush
and the Docewallops. The sources of
the Hoe, both forks of the solduck, the
Lyle, and three forks Of the Elwha were
thoroughly explored.
In the mountains we found iron in
quantities and plenty OF fine building
stone; at the foot OF Lake Cushman a
superb potter's clay, and everywhere
enormous bodies OF timber. In all the
valleys at high attitudes we found the
beautiful ALASKA cedar, that one day we
may hope to see in the booms or canal.
As resume, would say that the tim
Der discoveries were expected, The amount
OF agricultural land on the Pacific slope
was surprise, while the neurological
finds were disappointing J. Church,
in Union City Tribune.
Cranberrieg. 55c per gallon af the