The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-30
NO LONGER ISOLATED.
Railroads Now Unite the Ocean
and Sound Counties.
THE OLD STYLE or TRAVELLING.

THE OLD STYLE or TRAVELLING.
Progress which Two Years Have Seen
% 0ray's and wiaspa Harbsrs-
4 hide On the Beach.
The progress ia the development Of the
transportation facilities Of the Northwest
is rapidly bringing into direct communi-
cation with the interior the heretofore iso-
lated and neglected region Of Southwest
ern Washington bordering on the Pacific
ocean, including the Gray's harbor and VIII
lspa or Shoalwater bay countries. Until
recently this was the most difficult Of &C.
cess Of any inhabited region on the Coast.
By the recent completion Of the Northern
Pacific railroad to Montesano the journey
into this country is very materially simpli-
fed. Eikhteen months ago the trip into
this settlement from Seattle was nearly as
expensive as journey from Chicago to
New York, and required more changes
than to 60 from Seattle to New Orleans.
Passengers can now take the cars at the
depot in this city and ride to Montesano
without rising from their seats. Then the
journey was made by steamer to Olympia,
. change of steamers there for Kamllchie,
fron Kamilchie to Summit on the uncom-
pleted Puget Sound e. Gray's Harbor rail-
road, and from Summit to Montesano by
stage.
Montesano, in the center Of the
fertile and extensive Chehalis valley,
is situated at the head Of deep-draught
navigation on the Chehalis river, fifteen
miles above the head of Gray's Harbor.
Grades for rail extension from this point
down both sides of Gray's harbor as far as
Gray's Harbor City ON the north side, and
Ocosta on the south are practically conf
pleted. A bridge with 1S0foot draw 10
being built over the Chehalis one-half mile
above Aberdeen. When these lines are
brought into operation all points Of the
harbor win enjoy the best Of railway facili-
ties.
In anticipation of this Improvement in
its advantages of communication q re-
markable progress in population and mate
rial development has been made
within the past few years along
the Wild and solitary shores Of
the harbor. It Is but few years since the
only means of communication. between
any points was by boat. No roads or trails
penetrated the dense forests that lined its
shores. The pioneer settlers whose cabins
dotted the edge Of the harbor and the
banks Of its tributary streams formed q
peculiar community adapted to its sur
roundings. Each settler owned his boat,
which served him as the wagon does the
prairie farmer. Produce was transported
to market and supplies brought in to each
pioneer cabin by boat on tide. Everything
was timed with the rising or falling Of the
tides. The missionaries who held services
st irregular intervals along the harbor,
did not hold their meetings at early
candle light" as was the custom
in Puritan times, but announced their
services in advance to be held
at the schoolhouse on the appointed Sum
day TAT three-quarters tide" The settlers
were borne to and from the scenes Of their
business and their pleasures, to dances
and to funerals, on the systole and diastole
Of the pulse of the sea.
Two years ago the only horse in the city
Of Aberdeen was the one employed in cart
ing sawdust at the Weatherwax mill. Less
than two years ago the landlord of the
best hotel on the harbor asserted in his
advertisements and on his stationery "The
only lathed and plastered house on Gray's
harbor."
The journey from Gray's harbor to
Willapa harbor and down the coast to
Ilwaco and Astoria, notwithstanding the
primitive conveyances and numerous
changes, Is one Of the most romantic and
charming of Western tours. From Monte
sano the traveller is conveyed down the
Chehalis river to Aberdeen or Hoquiam
by boat. Stopping over night, the journey
is resumed in the morning down and
across the harbor to Peterson's point. If
the weather is clear q tine view Of the
snowy peaks Of the Olympics, above
and beyond the rising verdure of
the forests to the northward, is
obtained during this ride, while
to the northeast rises mighty snowy
mountain with three peaks, which the OBJ
server, who has only viewed the round
dome of Rainier from the Sound, would
never suspect of being that giant Of the
Cascades. To the westward, between
Damon's point on the north and Peter
sons point on the south, over the surf and
spray of the harbor bar, the vision passes
into the infinite blue of the Pacific ocean.
At the landing at Peterson's point the
tourist finds awaiting his arrival stage
drawn by six shaggy cayuses. This con-
veyance is long, FIVE seated, covered
wagon, mounted on wheels as broad as
lawn rollers. Passengers are crowded into
this vehicle three in a seat, for it is always
crowded by the steady stream of tourists,
boomers, ranchers, drummers, loggers,
prospectors. gamblers, etc., journeying
to the Willapa and Nasei or on
down the coast to uwaco and Astoria.
No aristocracy is recognized in this stage
coach. The cockney tourist, in his fore
and-aft cap and macintosh, the dignitied
Eastern capitalist seeking investments,
the dapper commercial man, the cultured
maid from Boston, the logger in his mack
NAV and caulk boots, the prospector with
his pack, the bark-brown dago, the half
breed and the Chinanan are all crowded
in together, securing seats as best they
can, forgetting for the time race prejudice,
obliterating the barriers of gentility and
all recognizing the universal brother
hood. Peterson's point, SO named
after the pioneer who nearly forty
years ago took up the land, and afterward
acquired several thousand acres bordering
on the ocean. is q charming natural sea-
side park of grassy lawn and scrub pines.
After q ride of mile and a half across
this neck Of land, the little democracy
within the stage coach energies from the
stunted timber on the crest of the outer
sand dune and seholds spread ont be-
fore ii, the boundless azure of the Pacific
orear with IT'S fieecy &c IF hrea kcrs HI, 4