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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1880)
... ?' wT t - II Qj V '.i VOL. XII. THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST; DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT COLUMBIAN REQION. Particulars as to Climate Soil, Pro- 4ucta, Resources, Statistics. Facts, and Incidents Concerning Oregon and Washington. INTllOBCtTOnV. Wo ahall Attempt, in a series of nrticlcs to 1)0 published In tlic Willaiikttt. Faumku, to write of the great region now growing up In the Pacific Northwest, on tliu watcis of the Columbia anil it tributaries, covering nu ex tent of country tint will in tinio become an cinpiro iu its importance, andwhlch tho enter priao of leading capitalists of our own anil other lands, is suddenly developing by a sys tem of internal itnprorcmcntsthntwill, within two yearn from this time, bring nil this legion within railroail reach of the city of Portland, where, the business of the North l'ncilic cen tres now, and must centra through nil the fu ture. This sudilcii inroad of enterprise is As tonishing tho inland regions, that have hither to been only roaming ground for herds and Hocks, and will open 1111 to cultivation and nt- tlcmcut fertile and desirable agricultural lis-i tncts that cannot Ihj surpassed on tuo face of the earth. Our skctchni will include all the wide scope of country drained by tho Colum bia, tho lands of East, rn Oregon and Wash ington, tho valleys of Western Oregon, Puget Sound, the wide and undeveloped stretch of mountains nud valleys in Southern Oregon and tho attractive portions of our State and Wash ington Territory that lie along the count towards tho Pacific. We shall endeavor to do simple justice to every section embraced with in this wide scope of territory, and not only descrilio its physical appearance and natural resources, but furnish statistics that will show all facts of importance elicited by tlie lntu "Voimus. THU7II, NOT riCTIO.V. We enter upon this work determined to do it the best justice possible with tho means nt hand, and in tl-e same spirit of fairness we havo always shown in writing of Oregon and Washington in our journal. We have never published exaggerated or too flattering ac counts, believing that more is to be gained by truthful and modcrato statements than by giving such a gloss to plain facta that honest men cannot recognize them. We have never sent a singlo statement forth in ten yearn that has been untrustworthy, and wo havo tho same conscientious determination now, wlien we commence the publication of what wo intend shall bo a full review of every part of these regions for general circulation through thu United States. We undertake it for the pur pose of affording all those who wish, tho means to send full facts concerning our North l'acitiu world back to their friends, when thuskutches shall Ihj completed and published together ill one number, which will be within two months time. TIIKIUII.HOAIIEIU. There never was a time, licforo this, in tho history of tho Pacifio Northwest when our re gion held nut so many inducements for settle ment. Wu have been waiting all these years for tho era of improvement that has existed elsewhere to overtake us. Hut wo have leen so distant and remote from the great thorough fares of travel that population has shunned us. Disappointment nftcr disappointment has thwarted our hopes; projected enterprises havo dragged slowly, so that in great part the facil ities of transportation wo (tosses nro thoie that have gradually developed with the coun try. Communication with the outside world has chiefly been by way of San Francisco, and this region, that was behoved to Ihi of great national importance lteforo California became an American possession, and to which a trans continental railroad was projected in 1810, to be built by means of a national subsidy, has liccu the last to realize such anticipation. Tho writer of this remembers reading in new spa Iters, forty years aeo, of Whitney's project lor building a railroad to Oregon, which was much discussed at that timo. Hut the years have flown, Oregon has developed slowly, railroad communication with the Eastern Status has been long coming, and is not here yet. Hut wu can see its approach; the woik is going on rapidly among us. Already over 800 miles of railroad has been constructed in Oregon and Washington, and with work urged rapidly nt each end of the long line we can now safely predict that 1SS3. at farthest, will see throuidi connection by more than one railroad to tuo East. That is all our country needs to place i it on tlie top wave of prosperity, and it must Ihj evident to all that the time to conio nere I and secure thu greatest benefits is lcfore tho j way is mad. easy for all vomers. Thco facts i will be made plainer in detail as we proceed, but they need to be bnruein mind from the first. There is no portion of the United States where improvement and divelopment now go on, any more rapidly than with us. Itailroads are now building in many directions and others are pro jected. The comprehensive designs of men of great sagacity and enterprise look to tho con struction of roads to all part of Oregon and Washington within two years, so that every productive region will lie within easy reach of market. The change already eflected seems like magic, and we know that the work is to be pushed forward in all directions. Eastern ai i t ?istiiuj(nsiit.iajjuti-LJiiJiiis,.iiLUB capitalist!, having visited this region, hwo become thoroughly convinced of its great im portance and vast resources, nud there is a strile between (intercut corporations to occupy tho fluid and reap the great harvest of tho fu ture. A country that capital is so eager to develop la surely ono where farmers can nlloril to carry on Tho worKoi production with saiety. KlioM 1830 to 1880. Ono who has for thirty years watched tho growth of tho North l'acillc regions who was hero wlien Oregon City was its chief business town and Vancouver was still tho headquar ters of the immenso trado of tho Hudson a Day Company) who saw tho first steamship come up tho Willamctto from the ocenu to Portland, and has seen this city grow from doubts nud uncertainty that clouded its early days nud claimed for other, now unknown, points tho greatness of future commerce, until to-day it has distanced them nil and is the commercial centre of tho vast Columbian region, naturally compares tho future with tho past and won ders w hat another thirty years will accomplish for this much favored country. Tho day of uncertainty is post nnd tho activity nud devel opment ol to-day indicato that nil that human enterprise can do will be done to make known tho resources of this great region; to build beru prosperous communities and givu oppor tunity nna cneuurngeinont to all thu industries that distinguish nnd enrich thu most favored portions of tho Knit. It is desirnblo to havo n trim nnd impartial description given of the North i'acifio country, setting fortli Its many resources; its varieties of soil and climate; its well established pro ducts; what can be done, as well as what has been done, nnd tho menus of wealth that are waiting for the hand of labor to develop them. It is the poorest policy in the world to over estimate any country or to overstate its re sources and advantages ami so endeavor to in diico emigration by false representations. All our country reunites is to Ihj known 011 its act ual merits. Thoro is 110 earthly paradise that waits lor tne coming 01 man to occupy ami enjoy i lifo without labor or hardships, but there art yet regions to bo tilled up that pos sess thu charm of newness and oiler rich re wards from virgin soils, nud of nil regions tltt to-day Invite settlement ami otter satisfactory rewards fur industry and enterprise, and iiru blessed with healthful climate, wu claim that none can exceed and few can ciptal thu natural advantages that belong to thu l'acitiu North west. TIIK KKA Of I)KVI.I.(1I'KM-.NT. Tho city of Portland, situated on tho Wil lamette twelve miles altovo its conlliicuco with tho Columbia river, is tho commercial metropolis of tho wido Columbian region, reaching from llritish possessions to the Cali fornia line, from the Itocky Mountains on the Kast to the I'acifio ocean 011 tho West, con taining nu nrca which will proridu great States and immense wealth iu the near future. The era of dnvclopcmeut that has commenced so energetically of late must continue until nil parts of this region are thickly settled and havo facilities for transportation fully equal to all needs. Tho past thirty year havu only led us up to thu day of great thing! wu havo only seen a beginning fairly made uud from now onward tho world is to know more and more of us, and our products will figure largely in tho world needs. Tho past thirty j ear havo seen this region we havo alluded to grow from a mere handful iu 18.10 to a quarter of n million, and more inhabitant in ISS0. Iu 18.10 it was nil known as Oregon and thu census showed but 13.000 inhabitants. There came hero during tho decade previous 10 imud uaniiim 01 earnest men who assert ed themselves ngniust liritish assumption nud nnd secured this then comparatively unknown region as n part of otirjiiational ten itory. The early history of Oregon is rich in romance nnd thu tatriotism of thu early pioneers deserve mu mimical minor wu can ocsiuw, A I'KOI'LG TO UK rilllt'li OK. Compared with the growth of 'all tho other no-called Western States, wo havu made rather slow progress, California has stood between us and the great world and held nil she could from coming to us. Tho early days saw thousands journeying across the plains in caravans, and many are coming so again, but though the people of thu Kast felt thu greatest interest in Oregon and thu romance of the early days of our history was repeated all througUaie West, yet thu long nnd tedious travel was a himlerancu to our success. lo come hero was to leave thu old civilisation a long ways behind; wo grow but slowly, nnd have always had to sutler from our remote ness, Tho great cost of making the journey hither with families is nil that has prevented thu Pacific, Northwest from being to-day peo pled by millions. Under such circumstances wu havo had comperatively slow grow th, but the best element of American citizenship has kept steadily coming hither, bringing 'with mem an me gouu qualities, tuo energy ami entti prise that make sterling worth more valuable. We can safely claim that Oregon ami Washington Territory to-day tosses a imputation that for moral worth ami all tho best qualities of citizenship are pot excelled iu tho United States. The tourist who visits us often hat occasion to express surprise at what we havo accomplished, When Presi dent Hayes was here be candidly owned that iu all respect the country, thu jteople, thu towns and cities, far exceeded his expecta tions; so tho distant citizen who has it 111 Ids mind to come hither need not fear that all that is worth having of life, comfort, culture, in telligence and refinement has long preceded him. We confidently assert that our country fuily equals in every social quality, in intelli gence, ability and general pi ogress, any of tho PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1880. newer states, and far exceeds most of them. Thu Willamette valley counties will compare fnvornbtv with tho best portions of thu lust cm mid Middla States, and its long scttlcinco' and social organization gives it every valuable feature of tho most permanent civilization. Of courto tho newer regions Kast of tho Cas cade mountains havo to bo seen at an earlier atngo of dcvclopcmcnt, but the people there erect tho school house nt the lx-gjuing and have not left tho true American idea lichind them. The class, of people who possess thu energy nud character necessary to come so far, nnd who frequently sacrifice so much to come hero nru not the one to sit down tamely when they havu made their location, but build up the community from tho beginning and strive to mnku their new homes wotth possessing. Our people nru gathered , from nil other sections nnd represent thu enterpriso of those sections. Tho vigor nud lifo of n new country is well sustained by such emigrants. We of tho Pncilio Northwest feel proud of our peo ple ns well ns of our country, uud those who seek a home with us nerd not doubt that they will find kind friends and good neighborhoods when they reach here. Before wo closu our sketches wo shall (dlude to tho trnns portntiou facilities we now possess nnd tho great enterprises that are in contem plation, nnd describe tho ways of travel by which tho Columbia river enn bo reached from every direction, so thnt our complete work will lie vnlimblu to many nud deserving of wide distribution, nirrruKKcrJi ok climatr. In tho outset we must call attention to a fact that bus never been nsado sulllcicutly plain to tho outside world, which is impressed with tho ideas that Oregon is n land of almost constant rains, and many suppose that tho same characteristics pertain to the wholo territory of tho Columbia nnd it tributaries, which is far from being tho truth. There is a great diversity of soil nud climate through this region. Along tho coast where the in fluence of thu great Japan current is directly felt, tho climate is humid, and tho sea influ ences prevail so constantly 'that the Coast mountain sides facing the oceah are grcinnll Summer nnd Winter; while also, over the range, inland between the Const mountains and the almost iuaocossablu ranges that wall in thu Western valleys and Pugut .Sound, on thu Host tho Cascade mountains the sun bleaches the pasture. Along tho coast and through the Pugut Sound coutry and tho Willamette, Uniqun and Kguo ltiver valleys Winter rains prevail, and these valley nro called "web-foot regions." ltoguu lEiver val ley, that joins California, has not so humid n climate as tho valleys farther North, and probably more rain fall in Puget Sound than in thu valleys South. UIIY I'LIUATK OK TIir.JNTKUIOK. Fully two-thirds of tho area of Oregon and Washington lies East of tho mighty Cascade range. Thu Coast mountains nro low nud havo no snowy peak?, and there nro several jtasscs through which thu sua breezes pour, or tho sea fogs roll, so that the sea influences are strongly felt in thu Willamctto valley, ns also they are iu the Uiupqun and Itoguo ltiver val leys, but East of them all rise thu Cascade mountains, the Andes of North America, thu continuation of the great Sierra Nevada rangu of California, and there are 110 low passes iu these mountains through which tho winds of thenceau pourtninilucncetheclimatonf tho in terior, whi'io the altitudo is from two to four thousand feet almvo thu sen level, and 111 uver respect the climate Is very dillcjrnt from that of thu valleys uros the mountains, only a geographical ilegicu to thu Westward. Snowy peaks of thu grandest proportions nud most kiiblimo aspect dominate this great mountain rango and look toward thu West for live bun dled mile on a region of rieluvalley lands that nru belted witli forests, threaded with precious streams; hill and dale in most cliurm nig suck ssiuii constitute tlie.it Western valleys, ollering thostiongestcontrast to thu much wider scopo of country that thesu mine snowy peaks look down upon towaids thu east. Tin re the formation ol thu country is diU'rrcut, forests are only found iu the mountains, or mar them, to any gi eat extent sticumsdig iletp chan nels thiougli illy table lands, nnd the sage brush plain extends for hundreds of miles, oltcn iu continuity with rich but naitow val leys. It is a legion w hero lain seldom falls iu piofusion, thu climate is dry, thu WiuUrs nru colder and tho Summers warm and tarchcd. Vet this wnlu legion has amazingly licit soil, and the all-prevailing bunch-grass is (tetter feetl than any glass we can cultivate. Wu aru now simply illustrating thu fact that this Mountain wall separate two regions that are utterly dissimilar in climate and in ull physi cal characteiisttcs. In the very beginning of a description of this Northwest country it is ncciuary to nave it Impressed upon thu mind that this ditlciehce in climate exists. ClIIKAT VAIHKTY OITMIKII. In the outset, too we mutt learn that every valley has its characteristics of soil and va rieties of climate. Each of thu Western val leys ha peculiarities and csecial advantages. There is a wonderful ditlerence lwtw een Itoguo ltiver valley iu Southern Oregon, ami Umpqua valley N.ith of it, both lteing bounded by the same rangu East and West. Umpqua, again ditlcrs materially from the Willamette valley, w hichisstill furthtirN orth, and has peculiarities far dills-rent from all thu rost. Then again, the wide intsrior country oilers very nuny dilfcrciit aspects ami varieties of climate Tiiise wedludsto, but will not compare in detail now, but wo wish to iinprc upon the minus 01 instant readers, lor wiue perurai these sketches are intemUd, that tins is a wonderful country, oxtensivo enough to cover great changes of climate nnd dllicicucc Iu re source, to that tho new citizen lias n wido range to choose from. There is not any other portion of tho United States that within tho same limit contains such great change of cli mate and varieties of physical conformation. or that plescnts such unlimited resources that await developemcnt. It wilt bo our mm to ninue nu iiicxc characteristics plainly under stood mid so well illustrated thnt the readers caunot mistake the tx-culinrtic of any section, or thu immigrant foil to know the disadvant ages bo will havo to contend with. TIIK COAST IICIllON. As you sail up tho coast from San Eron ciico, you notice that tho mountains thnt rite near the ocean shore after awhile become wooded, nnd that the forests are more dense mid of much heavier growth ns you sail North ward. Tho darker forests tell you that you nro looking upon tho shores of Oregon. Alt along tho sm front rivers nro putting into tho ocean, or into bays that aru mora or less set tled. Through these gaps nro scattered set tlements and tho richest of bottom laud, covered sometimes with vino maple or abler, can bo had for tho clearing. On tho South const, where tho forests nro less dense, a con siderable number of cattle nro kept. Iu due course of tinio this coast region will be it great dairying country, because thu mists from thu ocean preserve the pastures green all Sumiiicl and drive otf the frost nnd snow nit Winter. Along vheru rivers or streams put in nre fisheries an 1 canneries thnt nro busy in seasons when salmon run. .Saw-mills nro ntwork cut ting up thu iutermiunbtn forests, nud small vessels ply constantly from liogue ltiver, nud 1'oit Orloril, thu Cnquillr, Coos Hay, tho Ulii qua, Hiuslaw, Alsca, Ynquiun Hay, nnd Tilla mook Hay, o Ssn Francisco or Portland, nnd small bcesn steamers nru used in the same trade. Co Hay is famous fur lumber nud coal, ami it is claimed that more vessels enter there I huit to tho Columbia river, but they nru of coryj'ttll stnsll tndv'Mptel to thnt trade.. Coos llav will be tin important oint in the futtue oil account of the iiinicnso trade that must be carried 011 there nlwnys for co.il and lumber, thuigh its agricultural lands nro not extensive. Hut nlong thu coast nre settle ment, and ilenty of room for more, for good land waits thu hand of tho woodman, who lias but to clear it to find its lesources truly In exhaustible in his lifetime. Ynquiua llay is another point that promises much ami claims much, as it is a good hnrltor for light diaft vessels. It is connected by nu easy pass through thu coast rango with tho Willamette, nud a projected railway holds out induce ment to lxlicve that before long there will bo n business toiut of great iiiixirtaucu there, that will bo n place for tho export of the pro ducts of the great Willamette valley that is so near by. There nru numerous passe through thu mountains from thu Western val ley to thu ocean, nud it is safe to say that in duo course of timo tho long line of coast will Imj occupied by a large and pioscrous popula tion. There is no reason why, ns time tasses ami all the advantages of this coast region can I to made available, the lays, nooks, valleys nud benches of amble laud should not hu clunred and cultivated, for they nru among the most productive lands wu have, nud being so near thu ocean will have a market closu at hand. Stock of all kinds thrive along thu coast, and that interest must increase. As wo come North wo first stiiku Curry county, which is scantily Mtpulated; then comu to Coo county, with Coos Hay, which will Ihi a very important point in all thu future. Next is the coast line of Heitton and Polk counties which tin chiefly iu thu Willamette, but on their oceni front is located an Indian 1 estiva tion that keeps out white settlement except nt quilia Hay ami Alsen, There is n constant though not largo stream of emigration find ing its wny into themi coast counties, but they caunot diveit tho chief tide of emigration that flows steadily 11 it the Columbia uud fills up thu great plains alleys, ami open hills of Eastern Oregon and Washington. Wu shall not pre tend to bo definite as to the rcsouicc nud topulatiou of the coast country of Oregon, be cause tho desire for settlement there (a not so great as to other sections, but we havo pre sented their ease so plainly that no man who fancies such n location can fail to recogulu all the advantages they possess, UP 1IIK (IILI'MlilA itivr.u. Heaching thu Columbia river wd can see tho shores, after crossing thu b.ir, covered with forests of fir and spruce ami scarce a sign of cultivation to lie discovered. On the south is Clatsop peninsula, with port Stuvens, and cat th work 011 thu point; Clatsop plains South of it aru covered with farms. Hero thu soil is light ami sandy, for the ridi'es that couqtosu the plains aru successive sea beaches that thu ages havu thrown up a barrier between Asto ria and thu sea. On the North, Capo Hancock flow ns upon thu entrance, it summit armed with COO pound coluutbiads, Tho military post is inside tho haibor under the leo of tho cape. Close by is llwoco, a Summer bathing resort; fifteen miles across thu bay is Astoria on a rocky jtoint that pushes out toward thu sea, while thu Columbia river come down past it iu a grand How that is several miles in width. Everywhere aio densely wooded shores; occasionally we see sawmills, fisheries, cauusrie ami once iu a whiluu titrating or river town, and though wo find but few stuns of settlement wo know that there are valleys among the Coat iitquiitains that aiu (.copied ami cultivate'!, such as wu havu described as to bu found w hero streams seek the ocean all nioitg inu coast, nut im-ru is tar more ooject in cultivating and clearing land along thu Columbia, ns tho growth of Astoria, the de mands of commerce, thu wntita of mills, fish eries and canneries all make n remunerative demand for whatever thu fanners of thnt region can produce. Hardy Swedes nnd Nor wegians settle along these valleys nnd appreci ate thu advantages they oiler. It needs hard tabor to redeem such laud, but when redeemed it is near market nud must nlwnys grow in value. Ono hundred miles from Astoria thu Wil lamette river enters the Columbia, nltovo nnd below which point tho country is more open, ns wu havu passed through the portion wiiero the river cuts through the Coast ltango ami though the shores nru wooded, nnd hills nro in the near distance, there is more oportimity for settlement nud cultivation than wo found below. Wo are now taking n merely cursory view of thu country so ns to get n generally correct idea, but shall follow with inoru de tailed description. It is necessaty to under stand that tho Columbia wilt not meet your oyu with nu open country nlong it banks; that tho cultivntnblo region Is limited, nnd the laud nil along thu river has to be cleared with heavy labor, but this will eventually be dope, nnd these lands when cleared will (tosses im menso value. Considerable Itottom laud is found along tho shores of thu Columbia, nnd 011 thu Cowiitz that comes in from thu North, anil tht'ie nre islands that overflow at highest flood which nru also occupied. About twenty live miles nlsivo the Willamette wo nro con fronted by tho Cascmlo Hauu'f, nud tho river emerges from thu wondrous tlellle that it has created to ellect its Msago through tho most formidable mountain wail to bu found in North America. This great gorge of tho Columbia atlords the majestic scenery that lias made tho liver so famous ami well known. Wo have sailed over a hundred ami fifty miles from thu ocean to teal ire that llryant in his youth, when ho wrotu of tho "continuous woods where rolls tho Oregon," hail nu in spiration that truly pictured tho region that was then unknown save in a pout's dream. Away to tho tho South, cradled among giant mountains, lies tho beautiful Willamctto valley, the garden spot of the Pacific, tho Etlen of Orccon, extensive enough to build busy cities ami maintain a vast population. aiplalrendy demanding for it products tho aertfieo'of ii greatllect ol tlihw'tlint tionle frftKi nil countries to ascend tho Columbia nud il lamctto livers ami Itcar away breadstuff to ftl thu peoples of tin1 Old World. This great valley will Ite described iu detail. WK.HTK.llV W'ASIIINIITOS TKllIUTOItV. Helow the Willamette, 011 tho North side of tho Columbia is Kalama, the Southern ter minus of thu Western division of tho North Pncilio ltailroad, that connects tho Columbia river with Puget Sound at Tacoma. This road is over a hundred miles lung, winds up tho Cowlitz rivsr past many line farms, crossc a rough timltereil divide thnt separates the Columbia from tliu waters of Puget Sound, anil then comes down over gravelly prairiel reaches to the shoies of thu inland sea. A great deal of this region is siiseeptiblu of cul tivation and is already settlei by hardy pio neers who havu iiiulei taken to make the wilderness lcar fruit. Tliu Chehali river rise in this mountainous country nudwoiks it wny down to (irav's Harbor, navipiblu for some distance and afloiding 11 rich country fur settlement nil along its holders. The Che hali country promises to hecouio iuitortant in the near future. Along theoccan to thu Wt of this load is Shoalwater Hay, famous for Its oysters that are sent to Sail I'lancisco ami Portland, ami itos.csniiig more or less good land along it shores that will supiort a large, community. Small vessels sail from this bay' to San li'iiiicisoo ami various other toints. As wu pass up thu coast wu find streams (tour ing into thu ocean from tho Olympic lauge, that rises between Puget Sou ml nnd thu ocean, nud on these stream aiv valleys while dairying uud stock raising tire successfully earned 011, Hounding Capo Flattery we cuter thu Straits of I'uca, nucoiivcr Island ami thu Jititish flagon one side, ami thu soil of Washington Ten itory 011 thu other. This leads into what is commonly known ns TIIK. ITIlhT MlirNliniU.NTUr, Where many islands dut the waWrund fur nish home for many people. On the West us wo enter is Port Townsendt down thu bay to thu left is thu promising city of Seattle, that show more activity than any other place on thu Sound, Along the shoies nto saw-mills nud ship-yards; iron mines aru being wot Wd, and preparation making for a rolling null. Tho dcKi.it of iron ore is immense, ami in thu future will bu n source of great wealth to thohuwlto shall successfully work it. Kick of Seattle, as nlso nt many other jioluts along thu shores of the Sound, nru found great beds of coal of excellent quality, ami an extensive trado with San I'rsncisco 111 coal and liimbei constitute the chief industries of the country. At thu head of thu Sound ate Tucouia, tliu terminus of thu N. P. It. It., and OIiiupu, thu State Capitol. The latter is thu oldest town in thu territory, and is a delightful place with some extent of farming country within easy leach. All around thu Sound tho shores aio densely wooded, and the tiiulter is sawed up into lumber or cut furspaisnud shipad to thu end of thu world. Tliu Sound country is too moist for wheat to mature alwuys with succe.s, but is famous for oat, hay, (totatoe and other vegetables, Iu the Puyallup valley, Ea-it of Tacoma, many hoiu are raised, and aru highly appreciated at San i'rauciico because of their excellent quality. A barrel factory 011 an immenso statu is now iu iqwration at Seattle, and thu wealth of foi est will i-iieoumge all industries of that sort. There i u steady increase of population 011 the Sound, iiml no doubt its aspirations as a commercial jtoint have some- ,,1l'HpiiJ'''1 7 ?I M - o -. if r NO. 42. thing to do with this growth. AH along tho Sound fisheries nud canneries nre in operation when fish runup tho steams. Wo do Dot find Puget Sound strictly within thu ltouudorioii of what wo term the great Columbian region, nud shall not deal with statistics nnd descrip tion n lolly ns with other tortious of the Noithwest. We have given n glimpse at the country nnd the people, tho industries and tho ftrodticts, resources ami developoinents, nnd it s n very attractive pictmo. It is nu interest ing legion because of tho facilities here nllortled for comtnerco. Tho grand snow penks thnt look down upon It such ns Tn coma, Mount linker, nnd tho serrated Sum mits ot tho lofty Olympiurnngo-foriiin scene of grandeur ttint astonishes nil visitors. Tho shores nre rocky Mull's frequently, but level for some distance in man) parts. Tliu streams that put iu 011 tie IJist side have charming nud fertile valleys, nnd me being cleared up nud peopled by veiy enterprising settlers, o hnvr sailed tiji tho ucrnn shoro In fancy for live bundled miles), have visited thu Sound country; have crossed the divide that scpnr ntes the Sound wntcr from thu Coluinhin; have entered the liver from the ocean mm sn lied up its wooded shores nud past its pic iresqiiu Islands, until wu found ourselves ttirtsiiiio within the great canyon by means of which it lias cleft thu mountains 111 twain, and havo thus had n very good introduction to thu im perial region that wo call the l'acitiu North west. rituprcr in thu .south pacikic iikhion', Tliu ex torts of thu Columbia reach nearly or quite to twelve millions of dollars annually. Tho fisheries on tho Columbia alone, produce canned nnd packed salmon valued nt four mil lions of dollars a year, nud tliu lumber trade is extensive nud must increase ns time paas.s. Ufbrts nru making for the propagation of risk in the streams by artificial hatching, so that thu supply will bu fully maintained fur alt time, uud tut tho salmon from the Columbia is remarkably line eating, tho business c-iu lie ilciviidcil on to siiptort thousands of families nud permanently enrich tho country. Hut tliu coming settler is more interested Iu know ing something nltoitt thu character of the soil uii'l 4lic pntduiv. wlia tin tint (mm tin villi) vation, iu which ho will nntiirnlly expect to engage. Ho will nlso wish to know what de mand theio is for those products nnd to what market they nro to bo shipped. wiikat iinowiMi, Tliu great staple of production is wheat, which is nntiiially suited both to tho soil and climate of every put of this region. The illamettu valley lias been cropped iu some part for half a century, as some of tliu ser vants of the Hudson Ray Company abandoned tho business of hunting uud trapping ns far back ns 18.10, ami commenced wheat growing nt tho desire of the company. Since then tho samu fields havu been iu almost continuous cultivation, ami thu Mriiiauent qualities of tliu soil can Ihi iiudcistiiod from n stnteineut made to us by Hon, P, X. Mathiew, a wealthy merchant and fainter, who live nt Hiittovillo 011 Trench Piniriu, Mai inu county, who says ho iitvns thu first field ever sow id to wheat in Oregon, nnd that niter it had Ik en iu continu ous cultivation for half a century he summer fallow eil it mid had 11 yield of ,Ti bushels to thu aero III lh,H. t Ills must havu Iteeu siite nor soil, but it illustrate tho gi cat strength uud productiveness of thu land in thu Willaiu site valley. Wheat, then, is thu great staple of agricultural pi oducliou. Thu present year this liver will send forth vessels ImuiiiiI for ull parts of Europe, coiryiug eight million bush els of wheat of a fairer quality than any raised III thu United State or California, Thu wheal of the Willamette valley tiring u premium iu l.ierHut of live cents a bushel over thu best glow 11 111 California, In cause thu Hour is of such unusual w Idleness that English Isikers mix it with duiker and stiougor grades to obtain a whitci r.d more desirable Hour. Our whe.-tls n plump berry, nnd compares favorably with the boat glow 11 iu England, sir thu choicest flom tliu last wheat-glowing provimesol Hussiii, nud is bight r pi iced than the thoicist pioduct of Minnesota, their gill edged nil winter. If tliu so. d gi own In thu Eastern States is planted luio it glows plump niul full, nud will innuedhitely ehuugu mid impinvii in appearance so that thu Eastern glower who furnished thu seed would hot be lieve the product to bo thu samu variety. T illustrate wu will tell an incident concerning thu first shipment of wheat ever made from Oregon, KlllsTSIIII'HK.STOK WIIKAT KIUIH (IIIKIiON, It must havu been over twenty, mid perhaps twenty-five yeuis ago, that Mr. Joseph Wutt, an enterprising man, who ho done mueth t devclopu thu country anil it interests, thought hu would try a shipment of wlitut to New York. So hu loaded u Vessel, uud iii duo time, after half eliding thu gloU', it reached port, mul thu emgo was ofl'eieil for sale. Thu up pcaraiKO of the wheat was unusual, It wu so whitcidid plump and round that people wouldn't believe that it was 11 healthy pio duct of thu soil, An experienced miller gave u pi ofcafcion.il opinion that thu wheat wiut damaged; that thu cargo was wet and thu wheat had swelled, so it was put up for sale under tliiou discouraging circumstances, ami tint ssiitu inilhr hail somunuu 011 hand tobuyit for himself ami hu made a good thing grinding it, mul the enterprising Oiegouun who was trying In n loyal way tointroducuthu products ofOn-goti to thu world, itockctcd a loss of als. ut ?H,IKKIusa rewaid for hi enterprise. Having heard this story originally fituii Hon. John Alliito, wo afterwards iuqiiittd of Mr, Wutt himself, uml thunlou is substantially ton Oct, though it is years since wu hc.iid it (I'utitliiuetl to Urn I'uurtli I'i.'u-)
