The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-06-02

spring OF l9O9 just before the close
of the legislative session, | made a
hurried trip to the San Juan islands.
The weather conditions were ideal
and the First trippers" aboard the
steamer were entranced by the won
derful beauty of the surroundings.
They were asking many questions of
the officers and crew # the boat and
OF the passengers and finally the
captain 'sicked them on'' to me.
While we were admiring the
sparkling Olympics from the stern
of the steamer we were suddenly
buried in q pail of smoke from an
early fire on WILDLY island that was
carried across the straits by an east
erly breeze. You can well imagine
that it was difficult fer me to make
satisfactory apologies to appease
their disappointment. l used all
the excuses due to a new and rapid
ly developing country the necess-
ity Of burning the stump lands and
slashings while the conditions were
favorable, and of course said that
there would come a time very soon
when burns of this character would
be of less frequency, but none of
these arguments could satisfy our
visitors, who were naturally disap-
pointed because they were deprived
of view of the matchless scenery
which some of them, at least, might
never have an opportunity to see
again. For an hour and half we
were unable to see a boats length
and then we were we'll into San Juan
channel, having missed entirely the
scenic beauties around Richardson
and San Juan pass. Fortunately it
was clear at Argyle and for the re-
mainder of the trip through the
archipelago, the most beautiful in
the world. 1t was we'll worth while
to hear the expressions Of satisfac-
tion from these visitors over their
good fortune in not encountering
only one hand of smoke.
But what of the com ng summer
Would the atmosphere be clear while
the hundreds of thousands were at
tending the exposition? On my re-
turn to the city few days later
this matter was taken up with the
publicity department of the A. Y.
P, the Washington state commission
and the newspapers, with the hope
of getting the farmers, the logging
interests and all others concerne to
postpone burning, as much as posi-
BILE, until after the exposition was
over. This would guarantee at least
a reasonably clear condition. Dur
ing the busy period of construction
and preparation the exposition Off
cials lost track of the matter, the
newspapers were Indifferent and the
agitation came to naught, with the
result that there were few days
when the most glorious mountain in
the world, Rainier. was visible
from the exposition grounds.
Remember that these grounds
were laid out with particular rela-
ton to Mt. Rainier and that the
main court was called Rainier Wis
ta", leading the visitor to expect a
continuous view Of this remarkable
mountain. A bill was introduced
in the legislature to suspend the is
suance of permits to burn slashings
etc., during the exposition months.
but it was voted down on the plea
that it would stop progress. As a
matter Of fact progress would have
greatly advanced if such a law had
been enacted. Inability to see
Rainier caused many to question its
existence and to disparage or dis
credit other scenic features.
With our 248 islands in the Puget
Sound basin, our 800 square miles
Of land-locked salt water cruising
waters unsurpassed -our snow-cap-
ped mountains with their fowery
parks, and an ideal summer climate,
we have the most remarkable sum-
mer tourist proposition on earth.
We can have tens Of thousands Of
tourists coming annually to this
coast, spending hundreds of thous-
ands of good eastern dollars, if
we will only make them comfo1 table
while they are here and LET THEM
SEE WHAT WE HAVE.
With clear air, so they can see and
enjoy our island groups. backed as
they are with a crystal mountain
distance. either from excursion boats
or steamers traversing regular
routes. or from beautiful drive
ways, all visitors from the. least and
from Europe will return to their
homes singing the praises of the en-
tire Sound country; and il; per-
chance, they have been induced to
make the trip through the San Juan