The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

cool and pleasant. Rain falls during the
winter months. but the summers are de-
lightful. During the hottest weather the
mercury seldom rises above 80 degrees.
while In winter the thermometer rarely
registers lower than 10 degrees above
zero. and the average for term OF years,
taking the coolest day of each year. is
not below that figure.
Making no pretensions of being a grain
county King raises abundant crops CT
hops. oats. barley. hay, potatoes and other
agricultural products. exporting each year
large quantities OF hops and potatoes
Vegetables and small fruits are also
grown with great success, and strawber
ries are shipped East by the ear load from
these fertile valleys.
Dairying which has never attracted
much attention here, has recently re-
ceived a new impetus. and bids fair 10 be-
come a most important Industry. Glover
and timothy. which grows here in such
Iuxuriance are declared by experienced
butter and cheesemakers TO be the Ideal
feed for successful dairying.
The present population OF the county
is estimated a $4,000. the census Of 1852
showing that Is. 762 persons were counted.
Coal and lumber are the chief articles
OF export. although the fish industry Is
rapidly coming 20 the front. The mining
and exporting Of coal has been prosecuted
during which time many million tons
have been taken out and consumed both
at home and abroad. The coal Is Ignite
and bituminous. and the annual product
Of the King county mines is about SOC. 900
tons.
The lumber mills have q capacity OF
on 90 feet Of lumber and over 2.000 coo
shingles per day. Their products arc
shipped hv rail 10 all parts of the Middle
Western states. and by sail and steam
vessels 20 all other parts 81 the world.
4 local manufacturer recently took a con-
tract 20 cut ten ship loads of lumber for
one firm in Japan. Cargoes are also
shipped 10 Central America. Hawaii.
South Africa Australia. and, in fact.
there IS hardly a port In the civilized
world that has not received vessels load
ei with Puget sound lumber. Where
length and strength are required. our red
or Douglas FIR enormously called oregon
pine) has no equal In the world, and our
red cedar shingles are rapidly becoming
recognized as the best and cheapest roof
Ing manufactured.
The mineral wealth Of King county IA
practically unknown. but OF late some
rich finds OF go.d-besring quartz have
been made IN the Cascade mountains, and
practleal mining men give Il as their
opinion that This county viii soon become
the center Of great mining development
OF precious metals, The county IS also
rich in iron ore bat no developing work
has been done on either the famous Dem
~ lode IN S0ooualmie pass. OF the Guye
mines in tAaJ neigh borhood.
The county IS supplied with ship yards
ana marine ways for the building and
repair Of vessels. and one yard now has
under coH~tr uctton Two steel vessels for
tFe United Stetes government. one a reve-
nus cutter FOR service in San Francisco
tav, ard tha o.aer a torpedo boat which.
vner completed. must develop a speed OF
81 w.es Psr hour.
To tee uaH a. moderate means who Is
iu search ~ a Aome On the West, and the
man - wealth VIA is willing 20 use his
money in ghe devel ypu1ent OF rich latent
resources, tais county offers a most Invit-
Ing fed. : L. CRAWFORD.