The Forrest City times., 1899-08-18


 the east. and the Olympics across the Sound to the west. There Is no other view like it on the American Continent. and travellers say it is not surpassed in the scenic land of Switzerland.
 GOLD GALORE
 Many visited the United States assay office, where, there having arrived that very morning a gold-ship from Alaska, the receipt of the virgin gold from the hands of the lucky miners was witnessed the weighing process the melting in ovens heated to several times hotter than we would like to tell; the pouring of the truly "god bricks, and some were even allowed to handle the '' expensive stufT, ? the bricks containing about sS0O0 in bull lion, as this size is more easily handled than the $50, 900 bricks which were for merly made. A shipment to the hints was made during the day of Sl50.000 in bricks, and the agent of the government, Mir. Wing, said there was at least quar. ter of million Of gold at the assay office on that particular day. On the passage to Victoria an incoming steamer from Alaska was passed bringing several hun. dred miners and several hundred thou. sands more of the golden ''I ,c7e.
 pATTLEsHIP IOWA VISITED.
 Wednesday noon nearly 1900 people, including the National and State Press Associations and guests, boarded the splendid ocean steamer Queen-the Alas ka excursion boat which tourists will re- member-and, accompanied still by the band, the course was due west from Seat tie ten miles across the splendid bay, and five or six miles further up an arm of the Sound still west, to the Port Orchard dry dock, one of the largest in the world, and since the damage 10 the Brooklyn dock, which occurred few weeks since. the on. ly one in the United States capable of handling Uncle Sam's big warships.
 Out of this big dock the Iowa had come but few days since and the brave old warrior lay in pid stream, with a dingy old collier alongside. giving a supply of coal for the wa-ship's use. There was disappointment here when it was learned that it was impossible to give the visitors an opportunity to go aboard the ship. as 1t would require too much time. A few, however, were taken on board with tIle ships lannch. and after an inspection of the dock, the Queen took turn around the warship, the band playing patriotic airs as she went, the Kodak fiends taking snap sn0ts at the scared sides of the biz fighter and the crowds cheering and way. ing handkerehiefs, while tlle officers and men of the Iowa returned salute for salute.
 RETURN TQ THE CITY.
 The trip back to the city was without incident.
 All through the trip the editors were &C., companied by large end energetic recep- ton committee. who lost no opportunity 10 tell Ot the wonders of Washington and the Sound country.
 Approaching the city tle steamer passed along the water front, giving an opportun. ity to make observations on the city's com. inercial arrangements and to view the many prominent structures best seen from the water front.
 VALE AND FAREWELL.
 On landing again il, the hu,tliny city the faraway visitors hasten ed to their ears to get their baggage and transfer it to tI,e steamer Puebla. which had graciousIy been placed at the disposal of the N. K. A, and such Of the state editors As de. sired to visit Victoria, E. C. At6 o'clock in the evening goodbye" was said to the lingering crowd on the dock.
 IUdET SOUND.
 Puget Sound, says Fred G. Plummer weil-kh0Wn scientist, lis beyond doubt a fracture of the earth's suriasa. and hay. ing occurred at and below sea level. has formed land-locked gulf, with numerous harbors. deep and well protected. The shores are generally btld and often steep and treeless with narrow beach leedinp rapidly to deep water. The Sound is deep est m It's widest portion. and its bed. there fore, does not have grade toward the ocean. as 1t would have were it a valley of erosion. "
 The entrance to the Sound IS the Strait of Juan de Fuca, averaging eight or ten miles in width, without obstruction in it's entrance from the open sea- 1t is possi. ply the only great inland sea or harbor which has no obstruction or bar at its en. trance, and which allows of the entrance of any vessel which floats at any and all stages Of weather and tide. The depth is unknown, as is the ocean-so deep that no concern is felt regarding definite jntorma. tion. Mir. Runners description of "A crack in the earths surface, is as compre. hensive as any that can be given. but DOS sibly the fracture of Bane of glass would convey the same or better idea to some While the actual shore line of the Sound mot including the shore line Of the hun. dreds of islands within the Suund-is oOOO miles. the Sounds extent from north to south does not exceed ls0 miles it arms and broadest espan>e covering about fifty miles. Yet these fractures, or inlpts and arms, are so numerous and diversified that the extent of shore line miles is not exay. gerated. Consultation with government charts will show the entire shore line within the Sound. including the islands to be not less than 5000 mii.es
 Every harbor, every inlet, e,e cry arm uf the Sound io d sale and amp.u har. bor-snGicient for the housing uf every ship which floats today in the wide. wide world. It may be mentioned that Puget Sound is several hundreds miles nearer the Orient and Philippine Isl. ands than is San Francisco, and al. ready the trade existing between Sound ports and the Orient IS of magnificent proportions.
 A spendid map of the Puget Sound country. hanging on the walls of THE IIMES office Is worthy of diligent study Aud cunt pmolafion