The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-08-09
s. B. SMITHS LETTER
Gives Brief Description of Largest
Sawmiis in the World Lo=
Gated at Port Blakeley.
Big Ferns of Washington Surpass il,
Proportions the Luxuriant
Weeds of Princeton.
In nv perambulatiOns for pleasur

In my perambulations for pleasure
/ visited Port Blakeley, which is
located across the sound, about nine
miles from Seattle. It is claimed that
the largest sawmill in the world is To-
Gated at Port Blakeley. It is also re-
ported that lumber is shipped all over
the world from this MILL This is
doubtless partly true, for lumber is
shipped to many foreign ports from
this mill. There were seven ships at
the dock loading lumber the day
was there. The mill is running night
and day, Sundays excepted. I was
unable, when at the mill, to ascertain
the number of men employed or the
quantity of lumber sawed yearly, but
since then I have learned that about
1,4OO men are employed and about
3OO,OO0,000 feet sawed annually, or an
average of 100000 feet per day.
The Bremerton searchlight, in
speaking of the large number of
Bremerton people that are going out
camping, says "they are seeking rest
and quietude among the shady ferns
along the shores of Port Orchard
bay" The idea Of resting in the
shade Of a fern may be amusing to
Minnesotans. but if they could but see
the Washington ferns they would be
more amused I have been out in the
shade of these ferns, and my opinion
is that fern is not proper name for
them. They should be called brake.
We know that brake is a fern, but
fern is too feminine for the Washing
ton species. The average height of
the fern here is five or six feet and I
have measured number that we're
seven feet high. This fern, or brake,
is one Of the greatest nuisances that a
farmer has to contend with in clearing
the land.
In continuation of my travels
through this part of Washington I Wis
tied Seattle and there found H.aA.
Bouck and his sister, Mrs. A. Ander-
son, former residents of Princeton,
and I had a most delightful weeks
visit with these friends and took in
the sights in and around Seattle. I
proposed in my heart writing up a lit
tie item giving a description of the
city, but when I seated myself to the
task I was unable to find language to
suitably describe the place, so I came
to the same conclusion that others
more talented have arrived at after
attempting to describe it, and that is,
"Seattle cannot be described: it must
be seen in order to be comprehended. :"
So, after describing few scenes that
came under my observ alton I will
leave it for the readers of the U O n
to come and see the city themselves.
When approaching Seattle on the
sound the first thought that comes into
the mind is of ga city set on a hill
that cannot be hid," and as you leave
the boat and take streetcar and ride
up and down it's many hills, through
its beautiful parks, and visit it's
charming lakes, the second thought is
that it outrivals Rome and it's seven
hills with the exception that it's build
ings are more modern than Rome's.
Some of the hills are about 400 feet
above the sound. It is reported that
the city's limits contain 100 square
miles. If this statement is not correct
we can with safety predict that it will
in very few years have that amount
of territory, for it is enlarging very
rapidly. In 1896 the city's population
was 10000, and it has now between
100000 and 100000. For building pur-
poses they are using concrete very ex-
tensively. The highest building in
the city is Il stories and is built en-
tirely of concrete, including the floors.
Jim Hill has tunneled under the city,
and as the cars emerge from the tunnel
they enter the new depot. This depot
has just been opened and is one of the
best in the west. It is an ornament to
the city and credit to Mr.. Hill.
Those who wish to see a beautiful
night scene should visit Seattle. We
read of apples of gold in pictures Of
silver, but in Seattle we see letters of
gold painted on glass in the window
of every store, Office, or place of bust
ness where signs are used, and behind
these signs are electric lights so ar
ranged as to show plainly every let
ter. All of the large signs have small
glass bulbs placed around the edge
of the letters about three inches apart
and these bulbs or globes are lighted
with electricity. This night scene is
truly beautiful and it is said that there
is not another city in this country that
is so brilliantly lighted as Seattle
There are three beautiful lakes ada
cent to the city. Lake Washington