Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-12-14

1t seems useless to tell where
Vashon island is locatcd-every,
one in the state and the United
States should know where it is.
1t is situated midway between the
cities of Seattle and Tacoma. Ii is
only eight miles from Seattlc's
business district and is separated
from its corporate limits by only
two miles Of water. The south
end of the island is about five
miles from Tacoma s business dis
trict and only one and one-half
miles from the corporate limits at
Point Defiance. The island is y
miles long from north to south and
from one to four miles wide.
The island contains $4,000 acres Of
arabic land and lies wholly within
King county. The mainland be-
tween Seattle and Tacoma paral-
lels the island shore at a distance
of from two to four miles, while
that to the west in Kitsap and
Pierce counties is separated by a
channel only about one mile wide.
The climate Of the island is eX-
ccptionally mild. 1t is protected
from the east winds by the Cas-
cades and from the ocean gales by
the rugged Olympics. The tempe,
allure rarely rises above so degrees
in the summer or falls much below
freezing in the winter months
The temperature on the island is
usually several degrees warmer il
winter and several degrees coole,
in the summer than OH the main
land. On warm days the beauti
full beaches of which there are SO
miles, afford a cool sea breeze al
any time during the day.
A great many people not famll
lar with The island climate are
prone to believe that the rainfall
is excessive. Government records
show that it is 11.60 inches annual
ly less than at New York, four
inches less than at st. Louis, and
2.22 inches less than at Kansas
City.
All of the lands of the islan6
were originally heavily timbercd
Over forty years ago the first pic.
neers came here and during that
time have succeeded in clearing
large part of the island. The sol
in the main is rich and deep, n
derlaid with hardpan which re
tains the moisture. With proper
methods Of cultivation and the ju'
dicious applications of fertilizers
the land produces the finest pro,
ducts to be found any where on
the Puget Sound.
The island is pretty well served
as to transportation. There are
automobile ferries at each end OF
the island, one making three
round trips daily to Seattle and
the one at the south end making
two round trips to Point Defiance
A steamer plies between Buto,
and Tacoma three times daily an'
the west side is well served by
line of steamboats,. In the sum-
mer an extra boat cares for the
traffic on the east side. On land
most satisfactory bus service is
maintained and is supplemented
by two "jitney' lines.
The chief industries of the is.
land are poultry, berry and fruit
growing, and production of green.
house products in the order
named. In addition there is
shipbuiIding plant at Dockton
and two modern sawmills are now
under construction on salt water
one at Ellisport and the other al
the mouth of Judd creek near
Burton.
In the poultry industry it is es
timated that there are between
100000 and 100000 laying hens
on the island, producing $4,000
cases of eggs annually. These valu
ed at on an average of 30 cents 3
dozen amounts to $4,000 yearly
If is estimated that 40@o of these
are sent to the block each year tc
make room for young stock, and
as they bring an average of 81
cents for meat purposes the in
come from that source is $4,000
1t is also estimated that like
number of cockerels is produced
each year to supply that number
of hens and these are sold at an
average of 25 cents as fryers and
broilers, which makes a return of
$14,00O.OO.
A oloco oc+;p,o n nrouno +bo+ +ha