The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-13

WATSON c. SQUIRE. western NasnihS-
ton, with dryer atmosphere. The region
is generally treeless and covered with
bunch grass, the chief products being
cereals and stock, which feed upon the
extensive grazing lands of the great
Columbia plain. The famous Palouse re-
gion leads the world in its enormous yield
of wheat. In the Whitman county ex-
hibit of the late Spokane exposition there
was pyramid composed of 101K bushels
of wheat threshed from one acre. In the
northern portion of the state the Cascade
mountain range widens, extending east
ward over that portion of Eastern WASH
ington lying north of the Columbia river.
This northern mountainous region is
known as the Okanogan country. and
is rich in nearly every mineral
known to commerce. The entire
Cascade range in Washington is rich in
coal and iron, while its western slope and
foothills are covered with a dense growth
of marketable timber. The presence of
precious metals is well known, but except
in the Okanogan country only fugitive
attempts have been made to penetrate the
dense forests in order to reach them.
Most of the streams running down to the
Sound show traces of gold, and in alluvial
soil where creeks formerly ran it is no IN
common thing to find color.
The government surveys show 10000
acres of coal land in King county alone,
though two-thirds of the county is yet I'M
surveyed. and that portion is toward the
region where coal might be most probably
found. Of 946, 243 tons mined in the state
last year, Al, 140 tons were taken from
mines in that county. This coal is both
bituminous and Ignite. Indications
of anthracite are reported, but this
has not been as yet CONNER
cialiy demonstrated. At no point where
penetration has been made through
the forests to the mountains has there
been failure to find deposits of magnetic
iron ore with the advantage of vast
supply of limestone. Further back and
more northerly are the silver and copper
veins.
The early settlers prospecting through
the Puget sound country saw signs of coal
at vari Gus points, but the immense supply
of lumber gave ample employment for
those whose capital was limited and who
made good profits without the expense
and risk of more remote enterprises.
The coal beds of Puget sound extend
through King, Pierce and Snohomish
square miles. The thickness of the coal
beds is estimated for the census bureau by
Mr.. Bailey Willis, one of the best authori-
ties in America, at IA 900 feet. The demon
strated assurances that coal of very fine
grade abounds in vast quantities and can
be proftably worked admit of no dispute.
Coal and iron are not found elsewhere
on the Pacific coast in COM
mercial quantities. Pennsylvania, on
the Atlantic, and Missouri, on the SOUTH
are the other two great fields. The whole
Pacific slope Will buy these products, and
the inland states Will be compelled to take
them as tar eastward as they meet the
transportation rates from the other ex-
treme points. All manufactured iron had
to be brought to the Western states from
the East, and great quantities were
shipped around Cape Horn at cost and
with delay which need no figures to show
that Washington can compete success
fully with the Old sources of supply.
The trade with China and japan is grow
ing fast, as is also that with England. But
when, in four or five years, the Nicaragua
canal is opened and the distance to Eu-
rope is so materially shortened, the traffic
cannot be fairly estimated.
railroad and steamboat line, mines its own
coal a few miles from Seattle and exports
all 1t does not. use to San Francisco. The
Southern Pacific railroad, of California, gets
all its coal from its own mines. about forty
miles from Seattle. The Northern Pacific
railroad took out from its mine in Pierce
county, bordering on Puget sound, 49,, 200
tons OF coal last year, and in December,
of 1890, its experts opened up new mine
whose seam has been found, after nearly
year of prospecting, TO extend almost
thirty miles. The total output of the
mines of the state are n good indication of
the advance that has been made. For 1890
this was 1919. 773 tons, while that of 1889
was Gil, 527.
The records of the Office of the surveyor
general show that but u. s94 679 acres of
the public domain Of the state of Wash
ington had been surveyed up to June so,
1880 leaving unsurveyed 22,90l, 8S1 acres.
over half the area OF the state During
the wear 1889 the entries throughout the
state aggregated :, AS. PA acres, represent
ing s4,0l9,S5S in purchase price of lands,
fees and commissions. plus SIS. 7S2 acres
sold by the Northern Pacific railroad at
an estimated value of $40 43l, $40. OF
this reclaimed area Eastern Wash
inCton foots Up sos acres,
while the western portion of the state rolls
up a total OF Lass, 49, acres. The year
1880. ending December 81, shows that
1875. sqS acres were disposed of by the
government and 560,00G by the Northern
Pacific railroad, mskinga total of , ,533 $50
acres. The price paid for the government
land. together with fees and commissions,
amounts TO 81, S26, 7sS, which, added to the
s. 900. the price received for railroad
grant lands. makes 3 total of 81, $50, 1S3 ex-
pended for new lands.
The Palouse country has passed the
pioneer stage and fertile farms for the tax
ing are no longer 10 be had. Emigrants
should come prepared to buy at from S. TO
SIS per acre. No other country presents
better opportunities for invest
rnents than do the acres of
the great Paouse yearly en-
HANGING in value. OF the o, os0, $50 acres in