The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-12
THE PASSING THRONG.

l. .. W. Shelton, United States surveyor and
civil engineer, who has jus: returned from the
Quiilute country. IL q firm believer IN lis
future. Speaking Of i. to Posr-ISrsLLIG ENcEa
reporter yesterday, he said: The Importance OF
the Quilliute country is very much under
estimated by those seeking locations or homes
on government lands; ii is generally thought OF
as place away out OF the world, without hope
or prospect OF connection with the older por-
tons OF the state. A trip of two or three weeks
through tina. region and further south to Gray's
harbor would quickly dispei any such deluson-
party taking such trip would find an area
OF country nearly ninety miles long, from the
Straits to Gray's harbor, aud thirty miles In
width. from the Pacific ocean to the foot OF the
olympic mountains; he would find number OF
streams as large and some larger than the
Puyellup or White rivers, with valleys as large
md as fertile as that OF the Snoqualmie in this
county The main valleys on the rivers are
pretty well taken up and are being improved,
bu: there are a number of locations yet on
river bottoms, besides thousands of acres OF
rich upland or bench land, capable OF any OF
the crops peculiar 10 Western Washing;on; be-
sides this he would see-what is of more value
and OF more importance in the way OF i'm me-
diate pecuniary returns-its immense and mag
niticent forests of fir, hemlock, cedar ana
spruce; portions OF this country are covered
with as fine cedar as can be found anywhere,
and the spruce cannot be excelled In the state.
in fact nc would see the best undeveloped por-
ton OF this state and one that Is destined to
have a railroad the entire length of it in less
than five years, If not in less than three years.
There will be eight or ten townships opened Tor
Alag IN this country within the next thirty
days, others within ninety days, during which
times locations can be made with safety, but
alter they open for filing, location would
not be safe until after the time expires in which
the State is allowed to secure its granted lands,
which is sixty days after lads are thrown open,
and 1t is sure thing that there will be no
valuable land left vacant when the state gets
through with ii. The settlers already there
would much prefer TO see the land pass into the
hands OF settlers and private parties than for
the state to get 80 much OF it; in private hands
ii would pay taxes, help build roads and school
houses anu develop the country generally
This is the last chance about that settlers VIII
have 20 locate good lands in this part OF the
country"
Mr. and Mrs. ". r. Rison and daughter are
guests OF the Arlington. Mr.. Rison is general
agent for Washington OF the Bankers Alliance,
life and accident insurance company OF Los
Angeles. and he has come to make this city his
home and headquarters although l have
been forty three years on this Coast" said he,
"this is the first time have come here. You
have splendid city here. and while l am q
Californian, will say that it requires great
stretch of the imagination to fancy a greater
city here within a few years than there is now
at the Golden Gate. have often heard OF Seat.
tie and have seen great many people who have
been here. but none have told about your city
as it is. Why. ii We had such a city with such
resources down in California the whole world
would know all about it,