The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-01
LAND OF BIG TREES.
Wonderful Wealth of the Quill
layute Country.
WHAT SURVEYOR SHELTON SAW
Cedars Twenty Feet Through, Coal and
Magnetic Iron-SettIers Pouring
in-Raiiroad Needed.

Deputy United States Surveyor L D. W. Shell
ton came home yesterday from the Ouillayute
country, where he has been making surveys of
government lands. He has been surveying in
that section for the last two years and has
thereby become intimately acquainted with Its
resources and topography. Last year he sur
yeyed four townships and this year two town
ships. The pas. year he he has been working in
the vicinity OF Osette lake, which he describes
as follows:
The lake IL very similar in outline to Lake
Washington, although much smaller, and is
ABOUT nine miles north and south by one to
tnree miles wide, aud viii average forty feet Ia
DEPTH 1t is separated from the ocean by a roll
Ing plateau one and one-half miles wide, and
us surface is only twenty feet above tidewater
several streams flow into 1t, including Big
river, Umbrella creek and Crooked creek AID
iis outlet is Osette rlver, a beautifu. stream
about the size of Black river here, and five mites
long. The region about this lake IS a wonder
fully fertile one. the bottom lands being wide
ana their soil rich ailuyiaI deposit. The up
lands are low plsteaus rolling somewhat aud
they also have a good soil of yellow clay loan.
The entire region ia covered with dense
growth OF the largest timber 10 De found on the
Coast, Near the lake there - fir, the pre-
dominant growths being cedar. hemlock and
spruce. with some very large punches of nothing
else but cedsT Some OF these trees are OF euo;-
nous size, one cedar tree located OIL section
line being twenty feet ~ Ciamete~. ! also saw
an old cedar windfa.I which, ti-ty feet above
The ground, measured fourteen feet in diameter.
also saw an enormous spruce tree Which meas
ursd eighteen fee. in diameter. The hemlock
trees are also very large. there being any num-
Der li0 feet in height without limb and from
two to five feet III diameter These hemsecks
are remarkable not only on account Of their
great size, but for the large percentage OF tan
min IN their bark. About eight miles east OF
Osstte lake, in the hills which rise gradually
from the lake, there are great bodies o; ths
finest tir in the world, and also OF the largest
size.
Through this section there is a natural routo
for a railroad, the heads of the Hoko river,
ernptying into the STRAIT, and the DIckey river,
emptying into the Quiilayute, coming close to-
gether, with a very low gap in the hills lying
between. This IS called Dickey gap, anu it
affords the only means OF approach to the
Strait for q railroad from the Gray's haroor
country, as at the highest point this gap is not
lance from Cial!am bay, on the strait, TO the
Qniilayute By tGis route Is twenty eight miles,
and in my opinion il is one OF the best rail way
propositions on the Coast
also found float coal all over the couutry
but wherever seen III the ground il was in yerv
thin sealns OF course, did not stop TO pros
pect the mineral resources OF the section, gu,
should not be surprised II there were thicker
veins below those showing On the surfsce. Not
the least OF my discoveries, however, was u vast
ledge OF magnetic iron ore lying about eight
miles south OF Clallam. This body OF ore in
teriered greatly with our ueadles aud when VIC
broke of piece OF the stun and held It close
10 the needle, the latter could be moved clear
around the circle. This Ledge Is OF great length
ami don know how wide.
That whole region is well adapted for agricul-
turat pursuits. Down III the valley OF the Quill
iayute settlers have been farming sor the last
twenty years. There are some magnificent hop
fields there The settlers float their hops down
to The mouth OF the river on RATS ana transfer
to Indian canoes, by which the product is taken
through the surf to schoOpers, which bring il
to Seattle, and notwithstanding all this trouble
the growers make money There is no harbor
anywhere aloGg this part of the coast and the
only method OF getting in and ont OF the
country, aside from that described. is by trails
through the dense forest. No.wi,h ,tandng this
the country IS fast filing Up with settlers who
must PACK everything i'll and out Oh animals or
theIr own hacks. as have seen many do.
Although the country around Lake Osette has
squatters who have lived there for the last four
years. They have built themselves homes
erected scaoolh0uses and managed 20
make living in spite OF the euor-
nous difficulties they have had to contend
against In order 10 raise crop they have to
clear their land. and they get nothing for the
timber, when they cut down and burn I'D in
order TO get rid of it, A constant stream of
settlers Is pouring into that country, and now
that they can obtain titles to their lands, they
can raise some money to help them along six
townships were surveyed there the past year,
ana seven more will he surveyed this year.
There ten or twelve townships moro which
will be surveyed in the near future. The great
need OF that section Is transportation facilities
AM railroad from the strait 10 Quiilayute