Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-03-20
KOdalSing a KOntinent.
The Amateur Makes Remarkably
Good Shot at the Puget Sound COun-
try, with Side Views In Detail OF Ia
coma and Seattle.


! Puget sound, which was the subject OF the In
ternational arbitration between the United States
and England for several years. Is a. nearly land
| locked fringe OF the Pacific ocean, etteninR from
| the strait Of Juan de Fuca south I'd the 41th de-
gree of latitude, containing several large islands
and presenting the appearance Of an estuary to
large river, especially at the southern extremity
NorthwaId. from the entrance to the ocean. IL l.
| broader and deeper, assuming an important gulf
| like appearance which extends far beyond the H.
ternationa boundary line. West of the sound,
between the 18th and iSth parallels OF latitude,
lies large portion OF the state of Washington,
containing about 5000 square miles, diversified
with the Olympia chain of mountains, several
important rivers that empty into the ocean, and
many fertile valleys all OF which are covered
with great forests, except in small clearings near
the rivers and sound that have been denuded of
the valuable timber for the purpose of txporta-
ton. East of the sound and It's numerous finger
like hords and coves, the same conditions are OBJ
servable to the Cascade mountains, which cross
the state from north to south about 200 miles
from the ocean
Soon after the definite settlement of the bounda-
ry question the vandal horde of forest destroyers
came rushing into this beautiful country to get
possession OF the matChless timber lands Contlgu-
GUS to river and sound. Extensive saw mills
were erected; the woodmans AK and saw began
the work OF destruction; operators were plan
ming to found permanent towns ut available
places where shipments OF their timber products
could be prohtaby made, Port Townsend Seattle
and Tacoma being the most important. The
Northern Pacific railroad soon to make It's
entree on the scene, and its projectors were i'm
portuned by interested parties connected with the
severa settlements to favor their town at the
pense Of others. Tacoma was the more or less
fortunate and the terminus OF the Northern Pa
ciic was located at that point. For few years
Tacoma had the call; Port Townsend had fallen
out of the race; but seattle, only 10 miles distant,
was seen to be- dangerous competitor for the
! commercial supremacy Of Puget Sound. Port
land, on the south, stands peerless above all 9TH
| ers; her destiny Is secure. Vancouver, on the
north, for many reasons (Which will explain in
a subsequent letter., will be the exporting centre
| for British Columbia, and the question is, can the
l z al hn
state, support TWO great cities with its agricult
/ ural and woodland interests only The unequal
| ed forests Of the Douglas fir or Oregon pine, and
! the giant cedars OF tue country above described
are being shamefully wasted and ruined. Fire
follows in the path Of the reckless and criminal AK
Sections of forest ten miles long and several miles
inwidth are seen " here nothing but the tall dead
! turned and lmbess trunks OF the once valuable
! Douglas tir remain In several instances count-
ed 10 TO l0Jl)f these lfeess monarchs to the acre
that would average more than four feet in diam
eter six feet from the ground
/ What is the present status OF TacOmas IL is
pleasantly situated at the entrance Of Elliot riv.
| er into small bay Of the same name. and has
| the appearance of great expectations, dmly i'm
| printed at present on the grandeur OF its LEADING
| hotel, wide, level streets, imposing commercial
| houses and the general ensemble Of the unhuish.
| ed conception OF IT'S promoters. Offices for the
sale or transfer Of real estate, developed or 9th.
| erwise, are much in evidence. Lawyers are plen-
| " TO give assurance OF titles before purchases
are made, and others to convince the buyer az
| ter he has paid tor us purchase, that lie has no
title whatever. Large plate windows are cover.
| ed with figures representing the prominent feat
ures OF the upto-date Rctre s, there being no oc-
| cupants OF the stores within. Peanut vendors Of
fine feelings ply their vocation at the entran, Of
| other large buildings without fear OF being jos.
tied by crowds OF pedestrians on the plank walks
Hebrew names co'er the sign boards with special
| announcements that this stock Of goods must
be closed out by April l." At the aiding hotel an
air Of neglect and premature decay hov-rs over
| the public rooms while the register announces
| but few arrivals and these mostly OF a local ia
| ture. These are your correspondents impress
! sions which were corroborated by impartial u-.o
pie who spoke intellig gently Of the subject There
were but few small vessels IN the hArDor and no
| indication OF activity ON the piers was apparent.
have been explicit IN the dissection Of TINS place.
! for the reason that great efforts are being made
| TO borrow money by people Interested here, and
| advise the investors in New England to make am
pie investigation before placing their funds In the
hands Of the foster child OF the Northern Pacific
| railroad.
The route to Seattle is first along the Puyallup
valley, the Green river next, which emptIes into
the sound near the city above mentioned. Here
is another side hill town, the business street
| lying lenRthwise along the steep hills, which be.
| gin within ~ rods Of the wharves. These business
avenues are 100 feet in width and adorned on
either side by elegant structures all quite new as
| the town was nearly destroyed by nre six years
| ago. There are four very good hotels, ample
| school buildings and churches, also extensive
| public buildings Including city hall Chamber M
| commerce., etc The city people were paving a
business thoroughfare with a vitrited brick, set
| edRewise, form OF paving giving great satisfac.
ton where il has been used in other towns on the
coast. The stores are large, well filled with goods
and plenty Of shoppers were seen On the streets
and in the msrts of trade. | mention one novelty
which might be tried with good assurance Of sue,
cess in some Of the larger towns in Vermont
The provision and fruit stores are here combined
and are large and well equipped. Inquiry ELECTED
the information that they manufactured all the
butter that they sold, special room being ue
voted to the purpose, and will admit never saw
butter put up neatly for family use as in Seat
tie. The owners said they retdiled $50 to 30
pounds daily, one pound package being sold fol
IS &c Is anu two pounds for IS cents. Customers
receive the butter without salt, or with, as de
sired. The first man who takes up this innoya
ton in New England will please his patrons anC
greatly increase his business. The effect wa
pleasing TO see the dairy clerk manipulate tn,
plastic butter without contact with his hands anl
place IL on the marble slabs for the inspection o
customers.
The reader must remember that nearly all tn
exports OF the Puget sound ports consist of tn
| products of the forest in a more less finishe,
1 condition. These goods are sent to Australia
Hawaii, and many other foreign ports, not incud
ing tine enormous shipments sent to San Fran
cisco, San Diego, and other ports along the coast
| will add another staple article of expor
which, to my mind, will give Seattle futur
prominence not probable TO predict for any othe
Pacific port Seattle has very extensive deposit
of bituminous coal OF excellent quality within .
miles of tide water. Vessels are loaded dlrectl
from the cars which run TO the mines withou
4 handling, the coal being dumped from the car
into the hold of the vessel There is PRACTICAL
no limit TO this trafiic, which will continue to in
1 crease, while the shipments of forest product
+ must necessarily grow less after a few years
Here lies the future for Seattle Your CORES
| pondent had the privilege or inSpectig of tn
many mines now being improved and PERSONAL
saw a vein Of coal 10 feet in thickness, so pur
that il did not soil a white handkerchief in ham
ling Coal is retailed in the city at 50 per ton
? Three miles back of the city is an elegant lake
: | II miles in length by three In width which is bein
i improved in a liberal manner. Cable cars run
{ the lake in two directions, and many nice villa
{ already adorn the shores of this large body {
: fresh water which lies 90 feet above the surfac
. | of the harbor.
a The suburbs of Seattle extend over the hill
i many nice dwellings being two miles from IN
J. business centre. The country is very densel
y wooded and the expense of removing the wortl
less trees and stumps is a barrier to agriculture
development The soil is fertile, but not favorab
for corn or wheat Oats and barley yield emo
nous returns; 100 bushels of oats are frequentl
harvested from one acre, while grass and hay al
equally productive. The next generation ma
see western Washington one of the most impor
IL ant dairy sections in the United States. IL vi
q take 30 years to make the necessary improv
Is ments in the lands now covered with such il
n mense stumps, and of varieties that would NJ
I. decay in a life time. The pioneers must live
IS life of toll and hardship but their children ma
Al profit by their privations, if proper example
Ne education, temperance and frugality are incu
NJ Gated in their humble homes. 1t is Old New En-
land transplanted into new and broader field
where temptations are also more glarngly a
parent, where principles of honesty must be ri
lv idly impressed, and the standard of practiC
y economy never lowered sham and prohiga
~ rooted out in the springtme of life else IL hi
o. been better that the splendid forests of Il
c. mighty empire had remained intact as the CT