Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-10-20
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1.-THE following letter from tbs
Rowland family touring the west u
from Los Angeles, and covers the triT
from Seattle to that city. They an
on their way home and the next let
ter will cover the trip back to ABB
lene.)
We left Seattle Sunday, September
| Is, as 1t was raining and we did moi
wish to become wet footed we beat II
out and then drove four days In the
rain.
Around Seattle we saw great fields
of all kinds Of garden vegetables
raised by Japanese gardeners. They
are very thorough and their gardens
are absolutely NEEDLESS and some
thing is kept growing all the time.
One crop is scarcely of Of the ground
when another is planted. They raise
lots of small fruits. It rains 1856 days
along the coast In Washington and
II months per year In Oregon so they
do not need to lirrigate. At least that
is what we have been told.
Tacoma has altitude from sea
level to 213 feeE population Of 96,-
986. 1t Is pre- eminently q manufac-
turing city but extensive coal mines
and timber lands, fisheries, agricul-
ture and strategic location have all
played important parts In making 1t
one OF the leading cities In the north
west. In 1914 SOS, 2S7,267 was In
vested in 339 manufacturing estab.
lishments, which employed over 5000
people and turned out products valued
at S27,7O7.6O6. In 1918 according
to estimates by the Chamber Of Com
merce ALI manufactures, including
shipbuilding. amounted to $4,000.
600. As a grain center Tacoma leads
the northwest. The daily output OF
the dour mills Is 5000 barrels. The
total for the year of 1918 amounted
to 2,16O,474 barrels. valued at 49,
747,551.
Among the most noteworthy fea-
lures Of the city is great amphithea-
tire built to conform with monster
ravine overlooking the sound; this
cost 1886, 900 years ago and contains
20 miles Of concrete seat tiers with
a seating capacity Of $4,000 people.
The city also owns hydro electric
plant costing $2,250, 900, two high
steel lift bridges and several modern
fire stations. From almost any point
in the city one, catches a view OF the
island dotted Sound and the forested
mainlands rising gradually to the
foothills Of snow-capped mountain
ranges, crowned by Mt. Rainier be-
yond.
Olympic is located on the North
ern Pacific and Oregon Washington
railroads at the southern extremity OF
Budds Inlet, the most southern arm
Of Puget Sound. The city Is sur
rounded by natural beauty which is
now being embellished by the expen-
diture of several million dollars In
new capitol buildings, a 155-room
hotel, q four-story ELK building, and
various other business structures have
lust been completed. It Is adjacent
to the most valuable oyster beds in
the state and possess number OF
important manufacturing plants. 1t
is the state capital and county seat
Of T'hurston county. South OF Olympia
lies Camp Lewis, government reserve,
situated between beautiful pine COW
cred mountain ranges.
Around Centralia are lumber mills
and some dairying. At Kelso we Wis
tied the Crescent single mill which
has been in business five years, inco-
operated and owned by sixteen OF the
men who work there, employ 35 men.
7 bundle makers. The capacity Is
100000 shingles per day. Shingles
sell at SO to $3.50 per thousand to
local trade. These are 5 to 2 clears,
cedar. We crossed the Columbia river
at Vancouver. The Washington Ore
gon state line is about 800 feet from
approach Of bridge over the water.
This bridge is 21a miles long and an
immense steel structure. Toll Is loo
and sc per passenger. In Oregon and
Washington all dangerous curves are
marked by red lights.
A beautiful camp has Oregon City,
np on the heights overlooking the
Willamette river. While there we
visited the Hawley pulp and paper
mill. They use white fir and hem
lock wood for making the finest grade
of paper. All kinds except writing
paper are made in this mill. -'s'
try and give a slight idea as to how
this paper is made. A log Is convert
ed into pulp in about z or 8 hours
First it is Clipped up fine by ma
chine, then these chips are cooked In
made by burning sulphur
an dforcing the smoke through water
which flows through tower filled
with seven tons Of limestone. This