The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-10-07

the traveller. The saw mills are eat.
ing away vast tracts, but there is an
abundance left yet.
Puyallup, Wash, Sept. 15.-Editor
News: When you cross the Cascades
into the western slope, you pass into
different climate. There are only
two seasons west of the range-wet
and dry The rainy season sets iii
about October l and lasts until the
following April. 1t has a wonderful
effect on the vegetation. Some of the
greatest forests of the world are found
here. You are pointed out trees that
were growing before Columbus dis
covered America and few would date
back to b. c. 1t is astonishing how
many billions of dollars worth of trees
are going to waste, either by forest
fires or rotting on the ground. 1t
seems, to the tenderfoot, that the peo-
pie of the western slope have grudge
against their magnificent forests and
overlook every other resource in their
mad desire to clear the land of the
great trees. Perhaps the conservation
plans may mature in time to save
portion of the forest lands. Next to
the forests is the waste of water pow
en- Innumerable streams rush sea
ward, down the mountain slopes, UNI
harnessed and unhampered in their
courses. The coal fields of Washing
ton are known to be practically mex
haustible, yet they are not being de-
veloped. The lumber industry over
shadows them. While the Pacific
coast country is perhaps the greatest
fruit raising belt of the world, there
is room for great Improvement. The
early orchards and vineyards are OBJ
solete. New varieties, selected with
more care and properly cultivated,
yield enormously and the quality is
unsurpassed.
Puyallup is considered one of the
best fruit districts of the state. The
small trees, mere twigs, are distorted
with the weight of the fruit they bear.
Hops and berries of all kinds grow
to an enormous size, with but little
care or cultivation. AS might be ex-
pected, the land in the clearing is
worth something. One man, who had
Sold his quarter section of wheat land
in the Palous country, was moving his
family to farm he had just bought
adjoining the city limits of Puyallup.
This fruit farm of five acres cost him
$4,000 in cash. He had it figured out
from this 5-acre farm than from the
16O-acre Palous wheat ranch. Most of
it was in berries and it costs money to
start a berry patch and construct the
frames and trellis to which the bush
es cling. Peaches, Bartlett pears and
small fruits grow and thrive here.
Great logs are shipped in for the saw
mills and their great size almost
makes the poor tenderfoot gasp for
breath in utter establishment.
The hop industry is another import.
ant crop in this section. Ezra Meek
err, who with his OK team and prairie
schooner is now travelling over the
old Oregon trail, has fine residence
here. He was the first settler here.
His first log cabin is still standing and
close to it is the second home, built
out of sawed logs. He donated block
in the heart of the town to the city
which is used for a park, On this
block are log cabin and old house
Old Ezra owned the original town
site and would have been rich if he
had not speculated on the losing side
Puyallup is connected with Tacoma
and Seattle by interurban car lines
The prediction is freely made that in
time these three cities will be merged
into one with a water front of fifty
miles. Tacoma is enjoying a wonder
full growth. 1t has deep water har
Dor, the best on the coast. 1t has the
largest stadium in America, which
seats $4,000 people. 1t is a natural
ampitheater belonging to the high
school. The cement work on the seats
alone cost $15O,O00. l took the steam
ship, Indianapolis, to Seattle, up the
sound. 1t was delightful trip. Seat
tie is called the city on stills" but
it would be just as appropriate tc
name it the city on terraces" The
great size of the city and the almost
insurmountable obstacles overcome il
building it is truly wonderful to be
hold. 1t is built in streets that start
along the waters edge and are built
, one above the other like gigantic
stone steps, that might be the stair
way of the gods, to the summit of the
? highest crag. Some of the mansions
that adorn the highest points looh
like toy houses or dove cotes perch
ed on the highest hills overlooking the
sound.
} Seattle is distinctly American, with
the hustle and hustle of the Yankee
} hubs of commerce. Her public build
ings are grand and modern. This
young giant of the Pacific bids fair tc
make the eastern cities Ego some
} during the Twentieth century. / stop
} ped day in Centralia, Wash. This
little city has thirty passenger trains
day. Besides vast quantities of fine
timber, there are coal mines and stone
~