New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
NETHERLANDS or THE PACIFIC SLOPE
RICHNESS OF THE swIHoMIsH FLATS ~ sKAGIr
COUNTY. WASH.


rom Inc seattle BOSl-lnteliIgcDcer.
In this great Western country. where there is
so much wild land. where millions of acres of
soil have never felt the touch Of the plough
mans share the keen edge Of the wO0dman's
axe. Il does not seem that it would be necessary
to reclaim land from the sea to obtain acres for
cultivation. But that has been done. and in
Skagit County. almost in the very northwestern
corner Of the State. can be found scores OF the
finest ranches in the world. lying behind dkes
built to keep Out the sea and the overfowS
OF the Skagit River. the largest stream that
empties into the Sound.
This is the Vcritablc Holland Of Washington
In Skagit County are situated the famous Swino-
mish flats. the Beaver marsh. the Olympic marsh
and the Samish flats. all surrounded by dikes
ranging i'm height from two to fifteen feet. There
are tide-gatcs along the seashore which act
automatically. and which drain the land 80 per
feCuy that crops are raised on land below the
sea level With safety. And such crops,
For ages the big river has been bringing down
from the hills the richest sediment. and there is
really no bottom TO the soil. If a farmer in the
East piOughs little too deep. he turns up clay
rocks, if the BcaVei marsh rancher holds his
plough handles too high. he simply digs up more
Of the rich loan that raises every year without
fail such crops that the old ranchers Of other
sections cannot believe the stories. one hundred
and twenty-five bushels of oats to the acre. a
ton and half Of hops. or five tons Of hay are
common yields. while all sorts of root crops give
equally large results.
In order to plough this land. which, Of course.
Is soft and spongy the ranchels often put
"tuley" shoes on their horses. the shoes consist
ing Of wide wooden blocks to prevent the animals
flom sinking into the loan.
There are at present eight dikng districts in
the county, and nearly every ranch Of any size
is IN or another If these districts. Fully one
hundred miles Of bikes are in use in the county,
and many Of them are used also roads. Very
picturesque are these embankments IN many
slaces as they wind around through the trees.
When the SkaSt Is having a freshct as has been
the case this week. the people turn out to watch
their bikes. and by repairing them save their
lands from inundation. Sometimes very high
tide will 20 over a dixie ard cover a number OF
ranches with salt water. If the water does not
stand too long this does no particular damage.
AS there is nothing but sand and black loan
70 construct the bikes Of no permanent work has
ever been done and cannot be until the river -
so improved that ii has reasonably straight
channel to the sea. Five or six forks or mouths
discharge the water into the Sound ana the delta
thus formed is excellent farming land. II the
water should be confined to one channel thou-
sands of acres Of land would be reclaimed and
tho danger Of overflow reduced to a minimum.
By this improvement magnificent naVlSable
river tecming with fish and flowing throush a
wealth Of timber and mineral land would be
opcned up and would provide employment Tor
countless numbers of people.
If any resident Of Washington has never seen
tho verdant fields of the Skagit Flats. let nm
On M and take a look at them 1t VIII pay MN
n no wants TO know all about the resources or
~ STATE If he cannot afford to take that trip,
nd wants TO see some Of the products OF those
dikod fields. let him go down anon the com com
,,,i,eion houses in Seattle and look at the nay
AID oats which are brought from that favored
lion in steamboat loads The only failure OF
crons ever known there is when the dlkes preaK
and the growing grains are ruined win water