The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17
CRAPS HARBOR COUNTRY.
Its Advantageous Position as Seapor'
Tributary Country.

Tributary Country.
DR.. o. G. Chase, Of Hoquiam, read the fol-
lowing paper which gives a good EXPOSE
ton of the great Grays harbor country:
My several years experience in Hoqui-
am, on Gray's harbor when added to at
least forty years experience Of prairie,
mountain and Pacific coast life, always
using all honorable means to induce a flood
Of self-supporting immigration, is an apol-
ogy fer my intrusion upon your valuable
time for a few minutes only. The Grays
harbor country is in it's infancy, and until
the Fifty-third congress made a parsi-
monious appropriation of $4,000 or $4,000
1t lived and prospered upon it's natural re-
sources. How much more important
would our shipping become were we to re-
ceive congressional appropriations worthy
of our position, midway between the
Straits of Fuca and the Columbia river
thus making it at once formidable rival
for the future carrying trade of the great
Northwest.
steamboat leaving Gray's harbor at the
same time one departs from Tacoma will be
halfway to San Francisco bay when the
Tacoma vessel has reached point oppo-
site Gray's harbor. And yet Gray's har-
Dor is but 100 miles west Of Tacoma. In
case of vessels leaving Portland, Or, and
Gray's harbor at the same time, the ves-
sci from this port has start of the Port
land boat Of 100 miles-Gray's harbor being
but sixty miles north of the entrance to
the Columbia river, and the city Of Port
land being 160 miles from the mouth of
that river. Any steamboat that can enter
the Columbia river can safely enter Gray's
harbor, and tie up at the docks of the city,
of Hoquiam, if the outer bar was improved
The largest tributary to the Chehalis riv-
er, or Grays harbor, Is the Humptulips
river. This river has sufficient water to
assure profitable navigation for fiat bot
CT CT ip
year, and at this date, several logging
camps are just starting in the vicinity Of
Humptulips city, twenty-five to forty
miles from its mouth. The Humptulips
river has its headwaters arising in the
mountains. amongst timber of the finest
quality. The highlands, freed of timber,
are Of great farming value. Crops of the
most diversified kinds, from cereals to
roots, and fruit to hops, can be raised in
abundance on these lands.
The largest and most important section
Of this country is the Humptulips valley,
drained for fifty miles by q river of beauty
and freshness. The land is very rich in
character, as only Washington bottom
lands can be. These lands, destined to be
the garden and granary of the har5or, are
sufficient to support population Of $4,000
people. The bottom lands are covered for
the most part with light growth Of vine
maple and alder easily cleared. A few
acres will support small family In COM
fort. At present there Is good demand
for the products Of this fertile region, and
high prices can always be obtained. The
growth Of the lumber interest has been and
is so rapid that it has exceeded the agri-
cultural development; and there is there
fore good reason to believe that settlers in
this region will for some years to come find
q highly profitable market for their prod
ucts. The land up the Humptulips be-
tween the river and the ocean, is owned by
large holders, who are dividing it up in
to small farms of ten to forty acres,
and will sell on easy terms. Fur
Their on there are squatters on the un-
surveyed tract belonging to the govern
ment, and still north there is a large un-
surveyed area ready for settlement There
IS much inquiry as to the Humptulips re-
gion, and it is altogether probable that
within a few years it will be filled with a.
thriving agricultural population. Hun
dreds Of miles Of rivers will yet be utilized
for steamboat navigation where now the
canoe is the only means of transportation.
In place of "going to Look emigrants
should write. Ask such questions as inter-
est you only. State your age, married or
single, how many in the family, former
occupation and residence, writing names
of persons and places very plainly; state
the amount you wish to invest. when you
wish to emigrate, ETC., always enclosing
stamps to secure an answer.
Immediately north Of and tributary to
Chehalis county, Is an immense body OF
valuable timber lands, very rich. black
vegetable mold soil, with innumerable
springs OF pure, soft. cold water. never fail
ing. Also In the upper Humptulips valley
and the Quinaielt lake country we find un-
limited water power. Most Of this land
81 surveyed. This land is composed of hills
and valleys. like Pennsylvania, Virginia
and Ohio, with one difference, viz: To
the very top of the hills-400 to 800 feet
above sea level-the ground is very pro-
0uctlve In fruits and vegetables. The VAL