The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21

sHSE3S4e Sinai streams 2-lI WAFER COURSES.
that finally find their exit into Puget
sound. TIE city % Seattle, which al pres
eut draws its water supply mainly from
Lake Washington, Is upon the point OF
transforming several OF the lakes into TN
pounding reservoirs Of the pGrest noun
tain water. Al several points IN the eogr-
~ natural water power exists. The great
est Of these Is a. Saoqua.mie falls. thirty
miles from Seattle: q costly and eia5orats
electrical plant Is now erecting with the
intent TO transmit is, on q large scale. 20
Seattle and Tacoma.
The Rich Anuvial Lands.
In the valleys are many very rich aIu-
vial bottom lands. capable OF raising ard
In mary stretches blessed with abundant
crops and harvssts. Hereon grass. pota-
toes. hops. oats. onions. all the garden
vegetables. and al the small fruits and
berries grow readily and boun,ifuny. The
bench. upland and hill lands are best
adapted 20 the production OF all the tree
fruits. Kent and Auburn are inland val
ley towns OF tolerabe size. and are within
the central zone of hop culture. The Sno-
Quaim!e hop ranch. IN the northeastern
section OF the county. is the largest In the
world. In some Of the valleys dairy farm
ing 10 successfully carried on. and the
signs all point 10 this becoming one OF our
leading domestic industries. Bee-ra sing
Is another occupation. tried In spots for
which this county seems suitable. The
grass Is green all the seasons through, and
flowers bloom almos: psrennlaIy. Our
principal rivers are called the White
Black, Cedar. Green. Snoqua!mie and
Sauak.
In respect TO Climate and soil King coun-
ty partakes Of the general characteristics
OF the whole Puget sound basin. Broadly
speaking, this basin Is constantly bathed
IN an atmosphere Of genial moisture from
the Pacific ocean. This salt air is dis
tincty invigovating and wholesome. lis
tonic effects are noticeable in the faces
and remarkable good health OF the people,
and in the general freedom from zynotic
ailments. The mortality rate from disease
Is extremely ,ow throughout this whole re-
Gion There is considerable rainfall through
our winter seasons. The precipitation on
the iowlands takes this form even in cold
weather instead of descending as snow or
hail.
To the Traveller King county presents a
panorama OF truly varied. yet strikingly
beautiful scenery. OF differentiated topog-
raphy and Of mCltiform geologic condi-
lions Beginning on the west. one goes
over Hill and valley. stream, lake and
plain, rising and falI!ng-but steadily ris-
ing the whiie--uniil he finds the county
girt and hemmed In by the snowclad bar
riers of the lofty Cascade mountains. In
these valleys and mountains are known 20
lie great stores of coal and mineral wealth.
iron. gold. silver copper. lead. magnificent
resources only partially developed.
Coal and Metal Mines.
There are several coal-producing mines
IN the county and the coal outplt Is large
and remunerative. Issaquah. Newcastle.
Renton. Black Diamond and Franklin
are the principal coal camps. Hundreds
Of men find employment a. each Of these
T.. - -
quality. The product Is shipped by rail
TO Seattle; part Of II is there used for
home consumption and part OF Il sent
thence to Oregon, California, the whole
lower Pacific coast including Central and
South America, and abroad to other for
eign countries. Big golfers ply regularly
between Seattle and San Francisco. These
coal mines derive their supplies from Sc
attic
There are several places in the county
where mining for ores and even placer
mining Is carried on. Capital was Just
fairly beginning exploitation and develop
ment work around lis when the Yukon
gold excitement tempted IL largely to stray
TO Arctic regions The mineral wealth ia
here. however. and the future viii reveal
It. There are some fine patented iron
mines.
Outside OF King county, but directly
tributary to Seattle lis chief port. have
been found and worked to a profit some
mines OF superior ore. Seattle is the
main supply point Of all the mining
camps on this side Of the Cascade range.
The Great Timber BcIt.
When discovered. and for long years
after discovery. this coln;y. like all the
sound country. was heavily wooded with
evergreen trees from tide water to noun
tain summit. For miles back from the
gae
serviceabe timber The valleys and
plains wherein grew both evergreen and
deciduous trees. have been likewise
brought under cultivation and settlement.
Beginning about ten mites east Of the
coast line, however the county is stiil
heavily wooded eastward. while across
the sound. stretching westward towards
the Olympic mountains, there are vast
forests OF almost virgin timber. North. as
well as south. of King county, are grand.
continuous belts of magnificent trees. The
woods cut and marketed are principally
fir and cedar. The lumber industry in and
around The county has assumed gigantic
proportions. Logging CAMPS and saw mills
are numerous and in active operation
The finished product is shipped by rail- 20
all parts OF the Union, and by vessels 10
all parts Of the world. tbs section IS re
nowned for It's splendid masfs. spars and
ship knees Port B.akeley. directly oppo-
site King county. and ONLY ten miles away,
Is one o. the largest humber mills ever
bull, Seattle IS the main supply point NJ
the lumber industry.
The Railroad system.
Traversing King county are two great
American trana>ontluental railway lines.
both having their tefmlni In Seattle. VIZ:
the Northern Pacific and Great Northern.
The Canadian Pacific also reaches Seattle
and tide water through the Seattle & IN
ternational Wholly within the county ~
the Columbia and Puget Sound. broad
gauge system, which taps certain 0. the
coal center= and brings coal and farm
products to the sea5oard These roads are
mighty factors IN the uphui.ding of the
county and the country encompass sing Il.
The Northern Pacific railway II the only
.and-crant railroad N our midst. Il st4h
retains the ownership of many thousand
acres in kiag county OF me original
grant
Room for More settlers.
There are settlers al over The county
wherever me pubic IaHi surveys rave
been extended. and here are settlers all
through the uAsuTteyed lands The U'l-