The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-03-15
Fault. AGRICULTURE. MINERALS.
Nowhere On the Globe Has Nature Dis
tributed So Much That Is Conductive to
the Happiness Of Mankind.

The statement is made, without fear O
successful contradiction, that the regior
embraced within the limits of San Juat
and Whatcom counties, of which Belling
ham bay is the natual supply and distrib
uting center, can point to q greatrr di.
versity of valuable and available products
than any region in this or any other state
This may seem broad assertion, but an
intelligent and candid investigation of our
more important resources and industries
already developed, with consideration
of our climate, shipping, and other ad
vantages, will convince the most doubt
ing. 1t may well be ask ed. where else on
earth is there like area, such prOdigious
wealth in timber; such marveIously fer
tile soils, lavishly productive of all the
fruits, cereals and vegetables that al e
grown anywhere north of the Gulf of
Mexico; such unlimited coal deposits, al
ternating with iron deposits; such an
area of bearing quartz, waiting the
advent of capital and machinery to add it
to the worlds circulating medium; such
a bountiful supply of food fishes, or such
perfection of ocean and river shipping ia
cilities-all under the beneficent influence
OF mild climate, equable and agreeable
the year round.
THESE TWO COUNTIES
have an area of nearly 2, 300 square miles,
or about Lac, 900 acres. They embrace
every Imaginable physical character
istic from the beautiful marine envi-
rOnment of the score of islands in front of
Fairhaven, on the west, to the mainland's
rolling pic e-clad hills, rOmatic mountain
locked lakes and broad, fertile valleys.
SAN JUAN COUNTY
contains only abont 500 square miles, but
it is rich in beauty of the scenic type
and famous as a producer of delicious
fruit. The county is comprised of the
islands of Orcas, San Juan. Lopez, Deca-
tur, Stuart's, Johns, Blake,ey, Waldron,
and numerous smaller ones known as the
Archipelago de Haro. The largest of
these is San Juan, on which arc large de-
posits of limestone Of a superior quality,
and large quantity of lime is daily man
ufactured to meet the demands of the
coast trade. Fire clay is also found in
large quantities suitable for brick maxi ing
and pottery. Waldron island is noted for
it's fisheries of halibut. cod and salmon.
and all the entire group are well adapted
to fruit culture. The plums, prunes, pears
and apples here grown are of fine size,
while small berries grow abundantly.
Stock raising, wool growing and dairying
have proven to be very profitable indus
tries The soil consists of sandy loans,
limestone lands, clay lands and black
bottom lands, each adapted to different
uses.
The rainfall is much lighter here than
in almost any other part OF the Sound
country. AS a summer resort OrcaS island
has long been prominent. The scenery is
beautiful, the forests abound with game
and there is an abundance Of fishing.
For several years San Juan county has
been conceded to be the fruit garden of
Washington. Every acre of cultivated
land will sustain family, and five acres
if planted i'm fruit and berries and sys-
tematically titled will afford comfort
able income. Good land may be pur-
chased at prices ranging from s25 to 500
per acre.
Large amounts of hay, grain and vege-
tables are produced on these islands each
year. Bellingham bay is the nearest and
most valuable trade center, and through
it's we'll organized steamboat service and
other timely accommodations has cult
waited very Intimate and satisfactory ar
rangelnents with the neighboring islands.
TIE GREAT NOOKSACK VALLEY
lies wholly within this county. 1t is
about thirty miles long and five to ten
miles in width. Unnecessary to crowd, as
i'm some sections Of the world or even in
eastern portions of the United States,
Whatcom county could easily sustain an
agricultural population of 100000 souls
Fairhaven WOrld-Herald.