Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-12-25
OLYMPIC Peninsula
AN UNDEVEOPED REGION rich IN
RESOURCES.
Is Described in the POStlnteIIigenCer
by q Mahah Indian. Rich in Tim
Der, Minerals, Game and Fish.
Railroad will Open Opportunities S
for Investment.

The following description of the attrac-
tions Of the Olympics presents the views
OF one familiar with the region from his
earliest recollection, for it was written by
Henry Markishtum. Mahah Indian,
whose home is Neah Bay and the coun-
try around Cape Flattery.
Mr.. Markishtum is graduate OF Car
lise OF the class OF 1904, has taught in the
various Indian SCI ocls throughout the
Northwest, and is becoming known to
some extent a. a writer of Indian trali-
ton and folk lore.
The following is his story OF the Olym-
pic region as it was written for the Post
Intelligencer:
"There has been much talk and news.
paper gossip about the wonderful Oym-
pic peninsula, more SO because OF the
probable construction of two railroads
around this great district, viz the Oym-
pic & Port Aegeles Railroad Company,
the Northern Pacific extension from
Grays harbor north, and the projected
line from Port Angeles to Moclips. This
will be the means of openlg upa vast area
of land for settlement, and will make an
opening for numerous industrial enter.
prises to locate.
The country is rather rough and
mountainous, but it is we'll tim mbefed.
There are broad and extensive fel tile
tracts of land in the prairies and valleys
and all along the course of the rivers is
the finest sort of land obtanable. -
"The farmer can produce immense
crops of almost anything he may desire
to grow. Stock raising can be carried or
extensively and profitably, because the
vegetation is there all the year round.
1.-THE forests OF this region constitute
vast wealth, as there is more timber in
the Olympic peninsula than any where in
the state Of Waahington. The timber
mainly ss.spruce, hemiock, ossaaw, .esstl~
pine Of the finest quality. Valuable de-
posits of different metals exist through.
out, but development has been slow be-
cause of its inaccessibility and remote
ness.
1.-THE fishing industry is yet in its in
fancy. Millions of salmon migrate to its
rivers all the year round. Shell fish
abound in its waters, including the ia
nous Dungeness crabs.
'In the center Of this region lie the
Olympic mountains, estimated to be
about 5000 feet above sea level. There
is wealth Of scenery contained in this
section. From the Pacific side these
mountains appear sublime as they rear
themselves, wreathed in clouds. The
distant peaks appear ghostly, out the
nearer ones, bathed in the sunshine,
change as the eye glances down the
slopes and sides from white at the tops
to the deep greens all along the base and
on to the coast line, where the fields,
praires, river bottoms and forests are, to
the white, sandy beach OF the ocean.
Here are marvellous rock formations in
natural colorngs. There are jagged and
black.looking peaks everywhere, and
along the shore are pointed rocks, where
the swels of the restless Pacific come
tumbling in, breaking into white foam
and dashng their spray on the rocks or
rolling on the smooth beaches in gentle
ripples.
'Within the borders of this region is
one Of the greatest sporting resorts for
the hunter, angler or artist, with his
knapsack on his back, and his gun, rod
and net in hand. There is pleasure and
sport on every lake and river, and in
every forest and fed. Nature is no.
where more prodigal OF picturesque
charms than in this region, and it is
within ones grasp. Big game is suifi-
ciently plentiful to afford sport which
nowhere can be surpassed. 1t is now
the greatest game preserve within the
borders of the state, and it offers the
best hunting and fishing, and will be the
leading resort OF the West when it be-
comes familiar to the tourists.
"The construction Of an up to.date
railroad in this region will ultimately
bring the Olympics into popularity. A
circuit from Grays harbor to Port Ange-
les and immediate country via. Port
Angeles to Olympia, on the peninsula,
will afford an outlet to or from either
side. The opportunity for the capitalist
and pleasure seeker is great. Vast re-
sources lie in its wildernes 50 and adjacent
waters, while the charm of primitiveness
is there for those who love nature. With
this great peninsular highway supplied,
the Olympics will take appropriate place
among the tourist points OF the great
Northwest"