The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-03-21

ana the GuIT OF OeOI Sia VII VIC "e0o ''
north. But once in the interior OF any
of these islands what beautiful Vlsta
presents itself to view: Valleys, broad
and level for miles and miles, dotted
here and there with beautiful new farm
houses, barns, granarles, machine sheus,
ect.: Fields green with never failing
winter wheat, and other cereals, orper-
haps ornamented with acres of hop
poles, waiting for the verdant hop
to train its way heavenward. All or
this together with the beautiful ORCH
ards, with their snow white blossoms,
make a scene more beautiful than
words of mine can describe. AS L nave
already said, the climate is all that can
be desired, the summers are especially
pleasant and healthful; the nights are
cool and mosquitoes are unknown; sun
strokes are never heard of in summer,
and the rainfall, in the winter, is much
less than on the mainland, while snow
seldom remains on the ground for more
than few hours at time.
Our island county is fast becoming
resort for tourists and picnic-camping
out parties are plentiful from May to
October. The scenery is equal to that
of far famed Switzerland, and by as
cending Mt. Constitution on a clear
summer day, one can see the whole
Puget Sound country. Away to the
north the Selkirks rise their lofty peaks
in robes of lofty whiteness; while to the
eastward the Cascade mountains stand
out, clearly showing Mt Baker in oil
its lofty grandeur, and the "Three
Sisters-guardians of the grand old
mountain; If the day be very clear Mt.
Rainier will be visible in the south; To
the southwest the Olympics, stern and
grim, guards the gateway to Puget
Sound. From this lofty prominence,
the following cities can be clearly seem:
Tacoma, Seattle, Port Townsend, La
Conner, Everett, Victoria, B. G. and
Vancouver, B. G.
Deer are quite plentiful, while Cali
fornia quail are found in countless
numbers. A number of chinese pleas
ants have been turned loose on San
Juan island, while a number of the
fresh water lakes have been stocked
with carp, which appear to be growing
nicely, and the islands is fast becoming
resort for diciples of Isaac Walton.
The island OF San Juan, the largest of
the group, is about fourteen miles in
length by six in width and contains
immense deposits of lime rock of super
ior quality, from which thousands of
barrels OF lime are manufactured an
nually, for the markets of the Pacific
Coast. The lime plant on the north
end of the island, which is owned by
the Tacoma & Roche HarbOr Lime Co.,
is the largest in the world and can burn
l, 300 barrels of lime per day. A small
army ofmen is employed at these works
and the lime company's steamer makes
regular trips around the islands collect
ing wood for the kilns. There is also a
large barrel factory and shingle mill
located at Roche Harbor.
| Cowell's Lime Works, on the south
side of San Juan island, has two large
kilns in operation and can burn $50
barrels of lime per day.
Lime deposits are also found on Orcas
and Shaw islands, while gold and silver
have been found on Mt. Constitution,
but has not yet been struck in paying
quantities.
There are four saWmills in the county,
the principal one, which is located on
East Sound, is owned and operated by
the Cascade Bay Lumber & Manu-
featuring Company.
The soil consists of sandy loans, clay
lands and black bottom lands and is
adapted to a wide range of agriculture.
A large portion of the most prolific soil
consists of marshes, which were once
covered with salt water The soil On
these marshes is decomposed vegeta-
ton, is of unknown depth and the most
productive in the world. Besides the
marsh land we have alder bottoms,
which when cleared are equally pro-
ductive. The more shallow soils, which
are covered with second growth fir, are
especially adapted to fruit raising. One
of the most important crops raised in
this county is timothy hay. There
is no place where grass grows better or
remains green longer than here. I'M
mense crops of oats are grown on the
marsh land, while wheat, rye, and
barley do equally as we'll.
Nearly all kinds of root crops produce
abundantly, on the rich bottom lands,
without more than ordinary cultivation
The table beet frequently gets too large
for the dinner pot, in fact it is nothing
unusual for a garden beet to weigh ten
pounds. All of the following vegetables
grow to perfection: Cabbage, aspara-
gus, beans, brussels sprouts, caulfiower,
carrots, celery, rhubarb, spinach, tur-
nips, kale leek, lettuce, onions, parsley,
radishes, parsnips, peas, potatoes, etc.
But the pride of the islands is our
fruit. Apples, pears, prunes, plums,
cherries and all kinds of berries pro-
duce abundantly and are of excellent
quality. The climate of the islands is
much bteter adapted to fruit raising