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

Gloomy after colony has during the sum-
mer gone 70 make homes on WILDLY ISL
and. which. with the adjoining island OF
samano. forms Island county. It's soil &
among the most fertile in the state. and
- advantages 81 proximity and ready &C
cess TO the markets OF all the large Sound
ritles, makes h an unexceiled location for
y agricultural and horticultural pursuits.
WILDLY island IS about - miles long,
with a width varying from one 10 ten
1niies 4 contains about the same area
IS the island OF Corfu. which maintains
Is population OF 50 600. Along It's central
portion and parallel TO Il on the east. lies
ssmano. about II miles In length. taperlng
southwark 10 q point from ar extreme
wldih OF about s,x miles. With surface
iu the main level or gently undulat.ng.
lying from Ice 10 2oa feet above the sur
rounding water. unhroken by mountains
or high hills. and with no outcropplng
rock save st the extreme northern end.
almost the entire area OF both islands
could be prepared FOR the pillow. The fer
tile prairie lands OF WILDLY island. easily
cleared for cultivation. naturally at
sracted the early pioneers OF the North
west. Tnsse portions OF the island are.
therefore. among the Oldest settled and
most highly developed Agricultural loCa-
tons IN Western Washington. There are
many farms OF from 40 70 go acres. with
every foot under cultivation. with fine res
gdsnces and spacious barns. resembling
TIRE Oldest aud richest sections OF Illinois
or Iowa
Agriculture IL supreme.
From the earliest pioneer times the isl-
and has been a heavy exporter of agr-
cultural products. being an important
source OF supply OF the logging camps.
mill ports and young cities or the Sound.
This county has during the past 30 years
exported a larger aggregate Of farm pro-
duce than any other IN Western Washing
ton. The fertile prairie and bottom lands
produce potatoes. wheat, oats. rye. barley.
hay and vegetables sn the extraordinary
yields for which Puget sound lands are
noted.
The lasting qualities OF the soil may be
inferred from fhe fact that an average OF
over 100 bushels OF wheat per acre was
Fhis year thresaed from field Of - acres
which had been IN continuous cultivation
tbout fertilization since 1859. The culti-
waited portion OF The county Is but q dot
81 comparison with what remains In
atats OF nature. 1t Ia true that the wooded
uplands. though well suited for fruit
growing arc not adapted 70 general farm
ing out it Is equally true that large area
- fertile as any tn the county awaits the
conquest 81 the psow.
Thrifty Dutch ColonI.ts.
Woout @ooo Among the tens OF progress
during The past year the most important
s. he colonization OF HoUanders on
Wh.ihy island. through Tie agency 81 r
J.. Workman. THIS colony now numbers
80. many % them we1-to-d0 heads OF fam
Sizes from the Dakotas. Iowa and
As~B.gan. Descendants OF ancestors who
made farms In the sea are VEL fitted by
vhe perseverance, industry snd frugaitty
- thsir race FOR the work 90 retaining
fhe SOL from the rrireval wilderness.
Another stea forward was the orran,ra-
tcn % an agricultural and hort. cultural
fsir. Waich brought together al admirable
sv1 h.t in every aera rtment
A number of our fruit growers have Ne
Some Impressed with tne splendid poss.-
b@es awaiting the cultivation az chez
- fer the Eastern market ard have
s-nE ~ YEAR So cut MANY thousand
tfees. Orchards % al varieties have
ss'ea enarEes. Many extensive Young
cfN'Hr's 20 years. pr5ues ard apples are
" consttk fntc hearlng. waica VIII here
"raNe ao .mpor ant stem o. tAs an
7fe Use a r.seat has -rase - vrs~ a
rs s sre err is,arH countv farmers
TIE -rsrs. acreage ever known IN the
ee2-H az the -r4rtF ves srv1. and enc
Ne'a VAS cv--ot. s-Rlv larKe
fhe iuw Neru E -eeree-4 " Island CONN
8y ara cerx trratte. ss~.,.,,.v- -, t-,..,,--
tslaoG t.ss.atv -ss e5~ wears ess- a
center % t7@ 'amh,r.1e has.-~ss seq
aTss near see n.cu - a. -Aa g Ma --..s.-...e
art Skext rVs~s. rrtN y vys.. z.-.----.- 81.
hsrhcg % hfs1est FRESH ua--- ~ s-- -
tne tereao does uct uc-z 90 -rsseeess .~-
csfeat facilities fer eoem.r< logs ara So
feen1ataetssra - tuueev. T>-@ #sta-t 30
sstg covered w5sh large Sra..s -s r,.~.
v-snsahte timber. aud excessive l-es-r-
operations are carried On fV. =os.Eefv
p 80. EARLE