The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-06-14
Beautiful San Juan

dCIle lines, Leslie Darwin, writes
as one personally familiar with con-
ditions on the islands. Mr.. Darwin
was from its inception until the re-
cent consolidation with the Herald,
manager of the Bellinsham Reveille,
and he has had opportunity and oc-
casion to keep in touch with part
of the world which it is evident
from perusal Of the write-up, he
is in love with.
Brief portions of his comment are
printed below:
To write of Friday Harbor one
must of necessity write of the San
Juan islands, which comprise San
Juan county, of which the town is
the county seat. And to write of
the islands is to write of spots which
have seemingly grown more beauti-
I full 10 the writer with each passing
twelvemoDth for the last twenty-five
years. There is a charm abo ut them
which it is impossible. for me at
least. to describe. 1t seems as if
the Creator. having finished with
the rest Of the world. desired one
spot more beautiful, more pleasant
than any other-and the San Juan
islands are the result.
There is about them that which
lures not only him who perhaps may
be indolent. and here ne would find
haven. but the man of intelligence
and culture. who has known the
busiest phases of life and who has
visited the worlds beauty spots.
Without doubt in the next few
years they will become the summ,r
Fairgrounds Of America, just as to-
day California and New Orleans
are its winter playground capitals.
The equitable climate, the beauti-
full scenery, aud still more beautiful
waters of the island form combi-
nation declared by globe travellers
to have no equal anywhere on the
face of the earth.
The result is that this county to-
day has a population, which in point
of intelligence and refnment is
without peer in the entire state.
To be sure. the Siwash and the half
breed love it just as well as do their
white brothers. But here have
come retired manufacturers and
merchants, and many Of a less
wealthy class, who prefer a life
here among the beautiful surround
ings, rather than great riches, which
might be their portion by remain
ing in the turmoil of the city. And
many there be who, unable to per-
manently maintain their residence
here. nave acquired summer homes.
To this number are added each
summer thousands who make their
homes in tents and on the rims OF
the many of the hundreds OF the
beautiful inlets and beaches with
which the islands abound.
Even as fine as is the Puget Sound
climate. the very best is that pos
sessed by these islands. Neither the
extremes of heat nor cold OF the
adjoining mainIands are ever reach
ed on the islands,. In the winter
they are warmer, in summer cooler.
The difference between the sum-
mer temperature and the winter
temperature. over range OF years
differs only 25.6 degrees.
Situated here is the University
of Washington's marine biological
research station. Originally four
acre site was donated, but three
more acres have been acquired, CIV
ing seven-acre site at the present
time on which have been erected two
very large buildings, representing
an expenditure somewhere between
SIS. 900 and $4,000. Last year
sixty students attended the summer
session and it is estimated by Prot.
Trevor Kincaid that this number
will be doubled this year.
The universities Of six other states
have joined with the University OF
Washington in its maintenance and
lit is expected that at least SIX more
states will come in this year. Pro
fessor Kincald who is said to have
visited every big station Of this KIND
in the world, including the greatest
of all. Athens. Greece declared that
in no other waters, save those OF
southwestern Alaska. can so many
specimens of sea life and sea growth
be Obtained as in these in the I'M
mediate vicinity Of Friday HarDor.
Regarding Elk for This County
San Juan Islander. FridayH Harbor.
Gentlemen: note is your last issue
= = e~aS2y.