The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-04-07
A Trip in the Olympics

w. ii. Ham supervisor of the Olym-
PIC Forest reserve, returned yesterday
from months trip through the Olym-
pcs. His object was to look out for
settlers who had entered the reserve
since the exclusion act took effect
March l, 1898; to fix locations for
rangers during the summer, and to in
spect the trail which has been built bv
the Sunset Telephone Company along
Hoods Canal and is utilized by the
government in its forest patrol. He
found a few trespassers in Clalam
county but did not molest them as it
has been decided by the authorities
not to be too severe in this section
until it is settled whether or not it is
to be returned to the state.
"We feel quite certain that it will
be" says Mr. Ham, "and hardly like
to eject settlers when they will prob
ably be allowed to have the land again
before long. Powerful efforts are be-
ing made to have all the surveyed land
In Clallam county stricken out of the
reserve and we have not much doubt
that it will be done.
"I went in southwest from Port
Angeles, on the Elwah river, and
travelled about 200 miles, taking in
Jefferson county and the settlement Is
on most OF the streams emptying into
Hoods Canal found no timber tres
passers anywhere, although at Port
Crescent one logging camp is working
pretty close to the line. l inyestigat-
ed case at Duckabush which had
been reported of man accused of set
ting fire in the reserve last fall. His
nelghbors made written statements
charging him with it, but did not
find evidence enough to warrant an
arrest. The fire ran over a whole
township between the Duckabush and
Docewallips creeks.
THE Docewallips settlement Is one
of the most interesting l visited. It
is fertile valley with many settlers,
schools and similar civillzing adjuncts,
although many of the residents have
no wagon road. One Of the most pros
porous ranches, owned by the. Fergu-
son brothers, has been cleared for ten
years and there is not q thing on the
place except window glass, which was
not made there, for there is no means
of freighting except by pack horses.
"There is a school in this settlement
with 2S pupils, taught by Tacoma
girl, Miss Hanlein.
"The Sunset Telephone trail is pass
able now for horses from Hoodsport to
Duckabush, distance of 25 miles, but
can hardly be said to be complete, for
there are fords which would be impass-
able in high water. This trail is of
great benefit to tourists, prospectors
and settlers, as we'll as to the telephone
company and the rangers. We secured
the use of it furnishing a man to clear
it out.
"The settlers all along Hoods canal
expect a large influx of tourists this
summer and are making preparations
accordingly. The postmaster at
Brinnon says there will be at least
1000 prospectors in over the Brinnon
trail, and the Duckabush trail expects
about the same. Mining is looking up
in the Olympics. There is also trail
into the mountains from Quilcene,
which strikes the Dungeness river at
the forks. At all these points there
are hotels and others are being built
to accommodate the people expected
this summer.
"Another rather singular settlement
is at Simmons valley, little pocket
in the mountains containing 1000
acres. 1t is seven miles from Blynn,
at the forks of The Dungeness and is
1000 feet above the sea. The valley
is surrounded on every side by high
mountains, and it seems hardly posi-
BILE it is SO close to tide water. There
are twenty settlers who have been in
there for several years, but they have
no wagon road, hauling all their sup
plies in on sleds over narrow trail.
They we're attracted to the spot by
the fertility of the land and the easy
clearing.-Ledger.