Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1888)
THE WEST BHOUE. ibis is due, of course, to the proximity of tho ocean and the direction of the prevailing winds, which come from the warm Japan current that touches this const Corn is not largely raised, though a good quality of grain matures when it is grown. Good wheat and rye are produced, llop fields are among tho most profit able agricultural productions of the Chehalis valley, and the crop is constantly increasing in volume and importance. Most of the fruits common to the Pacific slope flourish in the Gray's harbor country, apples, pears, cherries, grapes, plums, prunes, etc. Orchard iog, as a business, has not received much attention, but where fruit trees have been cultivated they have yielded gratifying results, and clearly established the fact that fruit may be raised to advantage. All tho farmers have more or less fruit, and the handsome specimens produced indicate the possibilities of that locality in tho fruit business. Like the other branch cb of industry, this is now in its infancy, and little more has been done than to provo that excellent fruit can be profitably grown on the hills and in the val leys tributary to Gray's harbor. For a new country, the large production of honey is surprising, and the condition of the apiaries indicates that bees flourish and do profitable work. The extensive supplies of valuable timber aro the cauao of the rapid development that is now taking place in the region around Gray's harbor. The saw mills that have been erected during tho last fire or six years have infused life into all kind of business and put in operation forces that bad been lying dor mant These manufacturing institutions are those best suited to pioneer work, and now that cnranwcial relations have become established, a brink business is Wing done in all other lines. New enterprises haw lxen induced to follow the opening made by tho lum bermen, and tho variety of the manufactured output, as well as tho volume, is b"ing constantly increased. The lumber business is still of the greatest irnpor logs conitructed on tho Chehalis river. This compa ny consists of jobbers and mill men, ar.d is for rnutu. d Un fit. Many log hare gono out to m a annually, and have been Ut, by the breaking of Ummi at tho mouths of the streams tributary to the Chrhalis; but this trouble will in future Ui obviated by tho Ura company. Gyrations in the wood Ugin aUmt the first of March and continue till December ordinarily. The principal timber of the Gray's htrUr cnuutry is the Cr, but spruce, cedar, pin and such hard wood as oak, maple, ash, eta, are in the forest and of good quality for manufacturing purposes. Tint spruce grows to enormous sie, mo trees twelve frrt in ill. araeter having lieen cut, but thfir comjxirativrly short length brings their lutnbr yirlds much Mow tho av. ersgo fir, which is extremely tall, as well as of hugo trunk diameter. The sprue lumber has a -c 11 uii for small Uixes, which the coarse grain of the fir will not supply. Tho cedar of this locality make gn shingles, but as yet shirglo nuking is not rngsgwl in to any great extent, lutnler Uing more profitable. The fishing business of Gray's harbor is Impor tant and growing. The chief fUh are tho silvrr and ateelh'ad salmon, salmon trout, sole, rock col, blark cl, smelt, herring, dog fish, ground shark and stur geon. Tho small streams teeta with brook trout Of edible mollusks, thero aro several varirtks of clams, and oysters aro being successfully cultivatrd and promie soon to become an important artirlo In tho commerco of tho harbor. A company was organ!"! this year to proaecuto deep sea fishing for halibut off Gray's harlmr, and tho pronjta for developing an extensive business in this lino are very flattering. This will draw to tho towns of the harbor considers bio outside capital and furnish employment for largo nutntx-r of men. Many fishermen from tho At lantic oat aro turning their attention from tho t. hausted fishing grounds iff tho shorrs of ,Nr l!n gland to tho fresh grounds of tho .North !'anf! and , . . i. 1.1 1 1 .1. .. ..I tance, There are some nine saw mill constantly cut- ! gramy mg rrsous oouinei imra w. nprnroei.m ting timber, which is furnished from the country j halibut fi.hing the pant sam are sure to ray the along the streams flowing directly to Gray's harkr, transfer of a considrrablo .rtU of th f.hlrg inter, and the daily output of lumber is alout half a million ! eats from tho northeast cast of tho fnit-l hu!r to M. This is shipped direct by water to Kan Fran- tho northwest ct, and Gray's Ui U Is fv,ra- Cisco, the freight rates beinn so mueh chear-r than ! bly situate,! with re.j-rt to t.i.rf r., u.m ins from Paget sound ports, that tho difference yi'-l -Is a fit In tho mannfaf turer. Mt of w J 1 ' VI'S"lv js m-' the log supply for the mills is obtained from tho set tlers, who have large quantities of timber on their claims. The mill companies own titnf" land, but it I U ttlor. bit. . .lD.!nco ol li-r A M i l H Tt. " f . wl bjoo-go for two buLdml ouUm W ol I .Uru..; .U lU; t .t M to- ot J.;. ti b likfly It U-ciitttn tho w Ilr.lf.ifJ of ILo ar r.. Tho fiaheri of tho Nmtb IVifia romio to l-r.-rx;o of moro iwjrUnro than that -r-tnial Ul of con. trLtioo in th North Atlabtie, Tho elirl Ch of Gray's harbor U tho sahnop, at. I hundreds of mm aro e raj loyr. in tho k i f ratrh.