Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-09-23
ISLAND IS GIVEN
MUCH PUBLICITY
Extract Taken From The New
Book on Our State Just
OF The Press

A copy of the new book pub
lishcd by direction of the Secre-
tary Of State, j. Grant Hinkle and
to which we make editorial refer
encc in this issue, has found its
way to our sanctum, and we are
delighted with the big relative
space Vashon- Maury islands get
in this volume. For the benefit
of our eastern readers we are pub
fishing verbatim below what is
officially said concerning this par
ticular part of the Evergreen
State" hoping some of our east
ern readers may be blessed by
reading the article, and then being
further blessed by packing their
suit cases and buying a one-way
ticket for the Gem of Puget
Sound - Vashon-Maury Islands,
This is the article:
Vashon Island
Lying out in the Sound, midway
between Seattle and Tacoma, is
an important subdivision Of King
county, consisting Of two islands
Vashon and Maury, connected by
a narrow isthmus at point called
Portage. The two are generally
known as Vashon Island. 1t is
- miles long and from one to four
miles wide. It's total area is ap-
proximately "a square miles or
q, 760 acres, and its water front
age As lineal miles.
Much of the surface is at pres
ent covered with timber or is in
the logged-oft state, but consid-
cradle is highly improved, demon
strating the general fertility Of
the soil and its adaptability to
lage variety of crops. Orchard
fruits, and berries grow to per-
lection and nuts such as flberts,
English walnuts and almonds
can be raised proftably. The
island has been called the "Pear
Heaven" and this industry is be-
ing taken up by many growers.
But is most famous for the early
Strawberries, which are eagerly
bought as soon as they appear on
the market. Flowers do especial
ly well and 300 varieties of
dahlias have been raised on a sin
gle tract. Several green houses
are maintained, one of these near
Vashon, being the largest in the
west Poultry is also a profitable
industry and many crates of eggs
are shipped annually. Some dairy
ing is carried on and a cheese fac
tory is supported at Vashon. Ad-
ditional industries include a can.
merry, saw and single mills and
gravel pits.
The entire resident population
is about 5000, with an added sum-
mer population Of about 1000.
The most important settlements
Vashon, Burton, Lisabeula, Cove,
COlvos, Portage, Ellisport, Center
and DOcktOn. Seven poStOfficeS
are maintained, seven grammar
schools, two high schools, nine
churches, a Y. NJ. G. A., a Com
mercial Club, Improvement Club
and an Auto Club. A bank and
weekly paper are supported and
continuous light and power is sup
piled. The entire valuation of the
island for taxation purposes is
$3,626,OOO.
-Four daily trips are made by
the Vashon Island ferry from Dcs
MONIES, town midway between
Seattle and Tacoma, to Portage,
and three daily trips by the
Kitsap county ferry which runs
direct from Seattle to Harper.
touching at the upper end of the
island. Another ferry has Just
been established between Burton
and Tacoma. Several steamers
from Seattle and Tacoma also stop
at the different landings. Fifty
miles of highway reach every i'm
pOrtant settlement and farm dis
trict.