The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-02
,s..nr 1i..rsc.. On =. -x.r--n. eastern

Mining ,is.rsr.. On re extreme eastern
border ~ she county. winch was fh< Mecca
o. hsn1rets OF hopeful prospeczors only
little nOre than year ago. There are
iznown 70 be some qzfts promising Tiz-
srai quartz prospects there, ans at inter-
vas for \ number Ok years placer gold
mining aas been carried on = \ small Wy
near the mouth 81 Haby creek. Big ard
Little Beaver creeks and Baker river sre
the principal western tributaries OF the
Skagtt. Baker river draining . narrow but
fertile valley, where sew settlers and tn@
new state fish hatchery are loeafei. bot
Independent Of the timber and possible
cffer except 10 sporfsrnea Of the harder
sort ard hunters snd trarpers who love
the solitude Of the wilderness
The western half. or probably less fnan
hail. OF ghe county Il altogether dsnerens
II Is a broad area Of charulngiy varied
Topography. and resources o. vast extent
AMI unusual variety. This mountains
which cluster around the great snowciad
peak or Mount Baker. tewsrsng majestic
ally u.oco feet above ti1e-zaTer forty Hs'ss
away. are the sources OF numerous small
streams which pour their crystal waters
into the North. Middle and South FORKS OF
the Sooksaclk river. spien9idiy draining
one % the most sruftfU yaneys
or groups Of valleys on the Pa
forks Of the N0oksaek proper are narrow,
varying 10 width from one TO three miles,
and together with the contiguous slopes
they are pretty generally covered with
a dense growth OF the finest fir and cedar
timber A great deal OF alder and vine
maple grows along the river bottoms.
while what are known as the second bot
tom lands produce the finest cedar ana
the ridge lands the best fir. The soil OF
the bottom lands is deep and rich. produe-
ing immense crops of hay. vegetables and
cereals bat the lighter soil OF the bench
lands IS more suitable for fruit The NOOK
sack and ns south fork describe almost
ssgns-eircie OF forty niles or more through
the richest section Of the entire county
The main stream Is navigaDle for steam
srs OF ligat draft as far as i.ynden, about
twenty miles from the mouth OF the river
and twenty-five from Whatcom, and for
many years until the advent or rail and
plank roads. &c afforded the farmers OF
the valley almost their only means Of IN
eress and egress. OF late years the cnan-
uel has been so much DISTRACTED by logs
ana ariftwood that navigation has been
almost abandoned. withour. however,
causing any serious Inconvenience 20 set
tiers "a the county has within the past
four years constructed a splendid system
OF piank roads. which radiate from the
county seat and touch the river At va
r.ous points.
The Nooksack Valley.
The main valley OF the Nooksack Is the
most thickly settled portion OF the coun-
~ outside OF the towns It's surface, while
generally level, is sufficiently undulating
Ia most sections TO afford good drainage.
The soil along the river and In places for
miles away from Il Is heavy black loan,
deep and rich. splendidly adapted to the
production OF grain and grasses and root
crops, and having an abundance OF fresh
water II IS an ideal country for dairying.
II Is doubtful indeed IL there is any finer
locality In the West for this branch OF
farming. There are already two small
ereameries in the valley In successful OPP
era alton. at Lynden and Custer. and
much larger one is now in course OF erec-
ton at whatcom by a joint stock COM
pany, composed principally OF business
men who Intend also to establish sep
arator stations at other points where the
milk from 100 TO 300 cows can be obtained.
The greater part OF the most productive
land OF the valley is on the north side of
the river reaching TO the international
boundary line. IT is the more level por-
ton and least heavily timbsred. There
are stin large areas which are unsettled