The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

loads of poultry and poultry products
from the East, the principal portion of
this consignment coming from the
state of Iowa. The freight a.one on
this 16 carloads of produce would
have paid for a small farm built the
buildings and completely stocked it.
Referring again to the excerpt from
the contribution by F. Walden, printed
at the head of this column, it is only
necessary to point out that the East
ern Washington farmer has a serious
handicap when confronted by these
eXtortionate freight charges; charges
which must be paid or guaranteed be-
fore his product will be transported to
a market there to be turned into
money wherewith he may pay his bill.
Mr. Walden points out the fact that
after year of labor, the farmer is in
debt 5b cents to each box of apples
which he grows.
There is no such contingency to be
cared for, nor to be taken into consid-
GRAFTON in the small garden truck or
poultry farming of the district lying
west of the Cascades.
This district, bordered in every di-
rection by the navigable waters of
Puget Sound has had the transporta-
ton problem solved for it, and the
Mosquito Fleet comprising the small
craft plying Oh Puget Sound, solves all
transportation problems, as freight is
not only frequent but accommodating
and cheap.
Not only is this true, but the natural
increase in the value of property lying
in Tacoma, as the city grows, as it as
will md 1oC in
the past ten years, offers to the agri-
cultural investor a sure and certain
increase of his money so that a farm
which may be bought for compare
lively small sum of money today may
reasonably be sold for a much greater
sum four or five or ten years from
now.
Disregarding the probable volue of
the products of the soil, the increase
in the value of the land itself offers
an opportunity not 20 be sighted nor
neglected.
There are many interesting facts
about American Lake. 1t is gem
among lakes, and known for half
century as the most beautiful lake in
Western Washington
Near American Lake the Hudson's
Bay Company established it's Puget
Sound trading post. Later, Fort Steil-
accom- was located nearby by the
United States Government. Here
came Grant and Sheridan after leav-
ing West Point Both knew Ameri-
can Lake before the Civil War.
Six miles long by three miles wide.
Fed by springs, it's pure, crystal-clear
water rivals the world-famed waters
of the Alpine-fed Lakes Geneva in
Switzerland and Como in Italy
Recognizing American Lakes i'm
portance, the United States Govern
ment has stocked it with lake trout
and black bass. A home at American
Lake is preferable to one on salt wa
ter-avoiding the dangers to both chill
dren and adults of tides, high bluffs
above and steep banks below the salt
water surface.
American Lake is the most fertile
part of the grand natural park stretch
ing southwark from Tacoma. Rich,
black soil, beautiful evergreen shade
trees, live oaks and naples, enchant-
ing views of mountains, forest and
lake, pure water, good markets, proX-
unity to the great manufacturing city
of the Coast, electric and steam rail-
road nsportation-these are some
of American Lakes advantages.
The Northern Pacific Railways main
line to Olympia and Grays Harbor runs
through our property.
The Tacoma Railway & Power Co.'s
high-speed electric interurban line
runs through our property, now being
extended to Olympia. This is the on
ly line giving transfers without addi-
tional fare to every part of Tacoma.
The Metropolitan Boulevard to
Olympia, 100 feet wide, traverses our
property. Plans for opening this boule-