The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-02-10
FROM WASHINGTON

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
Everett. Wash, Jan. 20, 1910.
j Editor Republican:
We receive the Capital regularly
and you may be sure that every word
Is read with interest. We note you
have an abundance of snow which
indicates good crops next year. Snow
Is almost an unknown quantity in
this country excepting the mountains
which are constantly covered. The
winter weather here reminds me of
spring, as we have green grass the
year around. 1t freezes some nights
but I am told that many winters go
by with scarcely a frost. 1t rains
| about twice a week, although many
! weeks 60 by without rain.
The scenery is beautiful with the
! Cascades only about 40 miles away,
although one would think they were
only two or three. One never gets
tired of looking at Mt. Baker co.
900 feet), Mt. Rainier (14,00O feet),
and Mt. Pilchuck (6,000 feet), which
look all the year round like large
frosted cakes, they are so white.
Everett is located on a sort of
promontory about four and one-half
miles long and M and one-half miles
wide, bounded on the east by the
ESnohomish river and the west by the
Puget Sound. The Sound is a very
beautiful body of water about IA
miles wide; and 1875 miles long, it is
Irregular in outline so that it looks
more like a very wide river. 1t is
one of the natural harbors of the
world and the most important on the
Pacific Coast. One has only to go
to the docks to see ocean vessels
from all parts Of the world. I was
down yesterday and saw seven. They
bring merchandise and take away,
largely lumber, as this is u prin-
ciple export. There is no telling the
quantity Of lumber these vessels take
away but the railroads last year ship
ped out 1000 carloads.
Across the Sound from Seattle the
government Navy Yards are located
where one can see war vessels at any
time: recently we counted seventeen
war vessels and cruisers in the har-
Dor. among which raj the famous
Oregon.
Everett is called the city Of smoke
stacks ON account Of the large NUM-
her Of factories located here-both
wood working and iron. as you know
there are iron and coal mines as we'll
% immense quantities Of timber.
SPEAKING OF minerals the Cascades
are full OF them-gold. silver and
arsenic. The only arsenic mill in
the United States 10 located here. We
also haveglarge paper mills. several
iron foundries. ship building yards,
etc.
On account Of the great number Of
lumber mills here fuel is very cheap.
They AK $500 for . large dray load
OF wood sawed IN 10 inch lengths.
One can afford the luxury Of q hre-
place without counting the cost.
There u enough timber slashed down
and burned In this county every year
to supply the entire state Of South
Dakota. Trees grow TO an immense
size. oftsn 3 to IL feet In diameter.
i was down to the Weyerhuser mill
recently and saw them cut up IN 8
foot los.
Fruit grows to . perfection-ap-
pies. psars. cherries. prunes. black
berries. r1spbesries. strawberries, etc.
It sestns 10 me that / never tasted
cherries ana Strawberries % luscious
-they are large and very sweet. The
great fruit growing sections of We
natchee and Yakima are just beyond
the Cascades from 10. where, for
tunes are being made from their fruit
orchards.
Vegetables form one Of the most
Important industries here where they
are grown for export trade. We have
fresh Vegetables al the year around.
For this reason It Is an ideal place to
ssaise chickens. They do we'll here
~ eggs : always high priced on
'secount OF the great demand. I am
acquainted with . retired minister
Who lives about three blocks from us.
who, last year from 500 hens. clear
"a 111oO over and above his living.
He lives ON four LOTT.
/ must not forget the fsh industry
which Is IN important feature here.