'w^jmmsmm^ma^£m^m^i^m£mm and 'm^m^^mmmimimimnm^mm^i^^im. 




WASHINGTON TERRITORY 



^i 



'▼T^^w (••••••••I 



WITH A MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



[1-073.] 



Xii:BU,-A-I?,"5r OOF THE 

UNITED STATES BUREAU OF EDUCATION. 



Division ..-- 
Shelf. JVo 

PRESENTED BY 



.Jrr/.AL 



.mi 
PACIFIC SLOPE LANDS. 



The Northern Pacific Railroad Co. 



OFFERS FOR SALE 



10,000,000 ACRES 



OP 



Siiunfpd in the region.fi trave7\^ed hy its line in Oregon and 

Washington Territory, and available for immediate 

settlement and improvement. 

THE Nortliern Pacific Eailroad is now completed from 
Puget Sound to Pend d'Oreille Lake in northern Idalio, 
and an additional division of one hundred miles, from 
Pend d' Oreille Lake to Clark's Fork, is now opened. Much 
of the country it traverses is 

THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WHEAT LAND ON THE CONTINENT, 
yielding from thirty to fifty bushels to the acre. The railroad 
transports grain to the shipping points on the Columbia River 
and Puget Sound at a moderate and uniform freight rate, 
which insures the farmer a good paying price for his products. 

Tfig GRAZING LANDS 

are covered with tile' nutritious bunch grass, on which stock 
feeds the year round. 

THE TIMBER LANDS 

are covered with a heavy growth of pine, fir and hard wood 
trees, and are traversed by streams that afford ample water 
power. 
The railroad lands are sold to settlers at the 

Government Price of $2.60 per Acre. ^^ 

A rich soil, a mild and healthy climate, good transporta- 
tion facilities, a growing, intelligent and enterprising popula- 
tion, and excellent opportunities for industry and capital 
invite the emigrant to Oregon and Washington. 

O. B. LAMBORN, 

Land Commissioner, 
PAUL SCHULZE, ST. PAUL. MINN. 

General Land Agent, 

PORTLAND, OREGON. 



A 















^r. 



r^i^. 



^--^-^^^^^^m^m: 




Mt. Rainer (14,360 /ee;!). 

ML 8t. Helens {9,750 feet). 



BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF PORTLAN] 
Mi. Adams {9,570 fett) 

[Published by permission of Messrs. J. K. Gill & Co. , Portl 




iEGON. 



ML Hood (11,025 feet). 



, owners of copyright.] 



The Pacific JS^orth-west. 



of social and material development. Towns and cities bad grown up, possessing 
all the elements of a stable prosperity. But the wide expanse of the interior 
country remained almost unknown. The broad lands of Eastern Oregon and 
Washington were the pasture grounds for ivnmense herds and flocks — rich in 
cattle, sheep and horses, but poor in agricv;ltural development and in population. 
Up to the summer of 1879, that wide region lying east of the Cascade Mountains 
was dependent for traveling and transportation facilities upon those supplied by a 
single company. This corporation owned the majority of steamboats on the 
Columbia and Willamette Eivers, and held possession of both sides of the great 
gorge of the Columbia River, where, by means of portage railroads, the steam- 
boat routes on the upper and lower waters of the stream were connected. 
Another railroad around The Dalles of the Columbia added to the securif^ of the 
corporation, and still another narrow-gauge line from Wallula to Walla Wall/ in 
Washington Territory, was owned by it. All the agricultural and other produ^d. 
of the rich region east of the Cascade Mountains were subject to handlipg and rS- 
handling by the necessary transportation over this much broken route, and high 
freights were a most onerous tax upon the people. 

It must be mentioned, also, that the Willamette Valley and the Umpqua Valley 
had already enjoyed a railroad epoch. Its result was a single road extending 
south two hundred miles to Roseburg, and afterwards another road on the west 
side of the Willamette Valley to the Yamhill river. But the credit of the State 
was seriously impaired by the financial failure of both these enterprises, and the 
prospect of continuing a railroad through to California was not cheering. Oregon 
stood as a bankrupt before railroad financiers, and the commerce of her vast 
interior was locked up in the embrace of a corporation that was content with 
large immediate profits, and was indifferent to the progress and development of 
the State. The whole region, indeed, was practically in a condition more despond- 
ing than expectant. 

In the summer of 1879, the word was finally spoken which dispelled the dull- 
ness which had until then held sway, and an era of unexampled life and activity 
was begun. At this date, after strenuous and persistent effort, large capital was 
enlisted, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company was organized, and, under 
the auspices of this" company, great projects for developing the Pacific North-west 
have been successfully put into execution. First, the property and franchises of 
the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, and the steamship line to San Fj-ancisco, 
were secured by purchase. Soon afterwards active operations were entered upon 
to push branch roads to the great wheat-producing districts of the Upper Colum- 
bia river, and to construct a trunk line between Portland and the naturally rich 
interior. 

The old steamers, between Portland and San Francisco, small wooden craft, 
uncomfortable and unseaworthy, were soon replaced by as fine iron steamships as 
float upon the ocean. The construction of a trunk railroad on the south bank of 
the Columbia river, from Walla Walla to Portland, was undertaken and has just 
been completed. From the latter place, the Northern Pacific Railroad is now 
building a line to Kalama, in order to make a through connection between Portland 
and the waters of Puget Sound. A fleet of fine steamships, owned by the Oregon 
Improvement Company, is developing the trade of all the ports on the coast, from 
Alaska to Southern California. The long-promised extension of the Oregon and 



Introductory. 



Califoriiia Railroad, from its present terminus at Roseburg, to connect with a 
branch of tlie Central Pacific Railroad at the boundary line of Oregon and Cali- 
fornia, has been sparred on. The transportation facilities of the Willamette 
Valley have been greatly augmented by the operation of an extended line of 
narrow-gauge railroad in addition to the older railroads which traverse that valley. 
East of the Cascade Mountains, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company has 
penetrated the very heart of the great wheat fields with fully-equipped standard- 
gauge railways, and is now rapidly extending its lines a total distance of several 
hundred miles. Indeed, in view of what this company has already accomplished, 
it virtually forms part of two leading trans-continental routes. It has been in 
connection for some time past with the Northern Pacific Railroad, near the con- 
fluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers, and its junction in the Grande Ronde 
Valley with the Oregon branch of the Union Pacific Railroad verges toward com- 
pletion. Thousands of laborers are still in its employment, engaged in grading, 
tunneling, bridge-building and track-laying wherever production invites enterprise 
to build railroads, which, in many cases, will be the pioneei's instead o/ the 
followers of settlement and civilization. 

The great results already attained can best be understood by the statement, 
that railroad construction has been pushed and steamboat routes extended until at 
present there are nearly 1,800 miles of transportation lines in operation, exclusive 
of 1,470 miles of ocean steamer navigation between San Francisco, Portland and 
the ports of Paget Sound. Before the close of 1883, there will probably be finished 
and in operation a grand aggregate of 6,000 miles of trunk lines and branches, all 
of which will meet in Portland. These lines will extend from St. Paul, in 
Minnesota, to Portland, to Puget Sound, and to San Francisco. They will, 
undoubtedly, give a wonderful impetus to the fertile regions of the Pacific North- 
west by developing the unbounded resources of soil, forests and mines, and by 
putting to use the inexhaustible water power which now waits for man to claim 
and employ it. In view of all this, is it too much to assert that the time is at 
hand when not only population, but the capital necessary to the development of 
industries and manufactures, will fiow into the Pacific North-west? Production 
has just begun. As soon as intercourse with the outer world shall be easily made 
by sea and land, the quarter of a million of inhabitants of 1880 will have swollen 
to half a million in 1885, and perhaps to one million in 1890. 

The harvest year of 1880-81 gave the Columbia River ten million or more 
bushels of wheat to export, all of the best quality known to commerce. Within 
three years the shipments will probably reach twenty million bushels. Now eight 
to ten million pounds of wool are annually exported, and that, too, will increase 
proportionately. Coal and iron are in inexhaustible supply to build up prosper- 
ous industries. All that now is wanting is more brain, muscle and capital for the 
Pacific North-west to weave from the warp and woof of its destinies a great and 
wonderful future. 



The Pacific JS'^orth-west. 



GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTOEICAL. 
OREGON. 

Oregon is situated between the parallels of 42' and 46" 18' north latitude, and 
between the meridians of 110" 33 and 124 25' west longitude from Greenwich. 
It is the most north-westerly State of the Union. On the north it is bounded by 
Washington Territory, the Columbia River forming the boundary to the point 
where that river crosses the parallel of 46" and the line running thence eastward 
along that parallel to the Snake River. Eastwardly it borders on Idaho Territory, 
the Snake River being the boundary to the mouth of the Owyhee, and theace by 
a line drawn due south along the meridian of 116' 05' west longitude to Nevada- 
On the south it is bounded by Nevada and California, the parallel of 43° north, 
forming the boundary line. The Pacific Ocean bounds it on the west. 

The average width of Oregon from east to west is 350 miles, and from north to 
south 275 miles. Its full shore line is 285 miles. Its area is 95,374 square miles, 
or nearly 64,000,000 of acres. It is as large as all the New England States and 
two-thirds of the State of New York added to them, and larger than New York 
r^nd Pennsylvania combined. 

The population of the State, according to the official returns of the census of 
1880, was 174,767, not quite two inhabitants to the square mile. The census of 
1870 gave a population of 90,978, thus showing an iuci'ease of 83.794 in a single 
decade. 

The discovery and exploration of Oregon and Washington Territory is credited 
to Spanish navigators early in the sixteenth century. It is also recorded that 
Juan de Fuca, a Greek mariner in the service of Mexico, sailed into Puget Sound 
in 1592. From time to time in the seventeenth century British and French navi- 
gators followed in the wake of the Spaniards. In 1792, Captain Robert Gray, of 
Boston, commanding the ship Columbia, discovered and sailed up the river which 
now bears the name of his vessel. Upon this discovery and exploration of Captain 
Gray, the United States subsequently based its claim to the region now embraced 
by Oregon and Washington Territory, which was formally ceded to this country 
by Spain under the treaty of Florida, concluded in 1819. 

In 1804, an overland expedition under Captains Lewis and Clark, U. S. Army, 
crossed the Rocky Mountains, and having followed the Columbia River from its 
head waters, reached Cajie Disappointment in November, 1805. The valuable 
resources of the Pacific coast were first made known by this expedition. 

In 1810, the first attempt at a settlement was made in Oregon at Oak Point, on 
the south side of the Columbia River, by Captain Nathaniel Winship, a New 
England sailor. A freshet soon after carried away the buildings and the enter- 
prise was abandoned. 

In 1811, a trading post was establishecP by John Jacob Astor, of New York, at 
the mouth of the Columbia River, and the place was called " Astoria/' in his honor. 
Chiefly in consequence of the war of 1812 between the United States and Great 
Britain this venture proved disastrous. In 1813, the British took possession of the 
post and named it Fart George. The Hudson Bay Company subsequently obtained 
the property, ruling supremely in the valleys of the Columbia and the Willamette- 



Geographical and Historical. 



until 1848, excepting, however, a few years prior to 1824, when its sway was dis- 
puted for a time by the North-west Fur Company, which latter corporation was 
compelled to yield to its stronger competitor. 

In 1824, the first fruit trees were planted in Oregon. In 1831, some servants 
of the Hudson Bay Company abandoned hunting and trapping and attempted 
wheat growing in the Willamette valley. The fields then ploughed have been in 
constant cultivation ever since, and, after the lapse of half a century, one of them 
at French Prairie, Marion County, still yielded, in 187!), thirty-five bushels to the 
acre. This, indeed, must be siaperior soil, and the fact is a striking illustration of 
the strength and productiveness of the land. In 1832, the first school was opened. 
Between 1835 and 1837, missions were established under the auspices of various 
religious societies and denominations, and the missionaries brought cattle with 
them. In 1838, the first printing press arrived in Oregon. 

In 1841, Captain Wilkes, U. S. Xavy, at the head of an expedition, surveyed 
the coasts, bays, harbors and rivers of the territory. In 1843, Lieut. Fremont, 
U. S. Army, reached Vancouver, on the Columbia River, and so connected his 
reconnoissance with the eastern terminus of Captain Wilkes's explorations. 

The territory was the subject of repeated negotiations and threatening contro- 
versies between the United States and Great Britain from 1813 to 1846. In the last 
named year a treaty was signed by the contending powers which fixed 49" north 
latitude as the northern boundary of the claim of the United States. Meanwhile, 
since 1841, there had been considerable increase in the American population, 
settlers chiefly coming from the border slave States ; until, at the time of the 
cession, the whites numbered about ten thousand. But diu'ing all the years in 
which supremacy over the territory remained unsettled, the country was held in 
joint occupancy by both nations, under conventions which were from time to time 
renewed. Nevertheless, no form of civil government existed. In 1845, the 
inhabitants had already found themselves compelled to adopt a provisional govern- 
ment, and this continued in force until 1848. In this year Oregon Territory was 
organized by Congress, and in 1849 General Joseph Lane wa^ appointed Governor. 
By the seventh census of the L^nited States, in 1850, it appeared that the territory 
embraced 308,052 square miles and had 13,294 inhabitants. At this date, also, 
Vancouver was the headquarters of the immense trade of the Hudson Bay Com- 
pany. Subsequently the Territories of Washington and northern Idaho and Mon- 
tana, west of the Rocky Mountains, were partitioned from it. 

In 1846, the first newspaper was established. In the succeeding year a massa- 
cre of settlers by the Indians occurred. This was the beginning of much subse- 
quent trouble with the aborigines which retarded the development of the country 
to a great extent. Indian difficulties, however, have happily ceased in recent 
years, and the Indians are now (juietly situated on reservations where they are 
provided for and educated. 

In 1859, Oregon was admitted into the Union as a State, with a population of 
52,465 souls. Her progress for many years thereafter ^^as comparatively slow. 
The chief difficulty which her people encountered was to find a market for her 
abundant agricultural productions. But this serious obstacle to her rapid advance- 
ment has been surmounted, as already explained, by affording the proper means of 
railroad transportation. 




NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD AND OREGON RAILWAY AND 
NAVIGATION COMPANY'S OFFICES, PORTLAND, OREGON. 



Washington Territory. 



WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

Before Alaska, which is not yet organized, was added to the domain of the 
United States, the most north-western part of the country was Washington 
Territory. This Territory lies between the parallels 45^ 32' and 49' north latitude, 
and the meridians of 117° and 124' 8' west longitude from Greenwich. On the 
west it is bounded by the Pacific Ocean. On the north it is divided from British 
Columbia by a line running through the centre of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the 
Canal de Haro and the Gulf of Georgia as far as the 49th parallel ; thence along 
this parallel to the west line of Idaho. This northern line is, therefore, quite 
uneven. It was run so crookedly, after a tedious arbitration, in order that Great 
Britain might not be deprived of important settlements which her subjects mainly 
occupied. In reality, the claim of the United States was valid to all the territory 
south of the 49th ]mrallel to the Pacific Ocean. But a strict enforcement of this 
title would have taken in nearly all of Vancouver's Island, where numbers of 
British colonists dwelt. On the south, the Columbia River, to about the 119th 
meridian, and thence, eastwardly, the 46th parallel, separate the Territory from 
Oregon. Its limit on the east is Idaho along the 117th meridian to Lewiston, and 
then the line follows the Snake River till it intersects with that of Oregon. 

The leng-th of Washington Territory, from north to south, ranges from 200 to 
250 miles, and its greatest breadth from east to west is about 360 miles. Its coast 
length is 245 miles, and its full shore line 1,788 miles. It is smaller than most of 
the Territories and several of the Western States, having an area only of 69,994 
square miles, or 44,796,160 acres, but is, nevertheless, one-and-a-half times as 
large as New York or Pennsylvania. Exclusive of the area covered by the waters 
of Puget Sound, and the mountainous region, which are unfit for cultivation, thsre 
would probably remain 35,000,000 acres. Of these 20,000,000 acres are timber 
lands, about 5,000,000 are rich alluvial bottoms, and 10,000,000 are prairies and 
plains. Of the latter, a large proportion is well adapted for wheat ciilture, and all 
of it for stock raising. 

The tenth census of the United States, taken in 1880, gave the Territory 75,120 
inhabitants, or about one to the square mile. 

The history of Wasliington Territory, until 1853, when Congress endowed it 
with separate political life and conferred upon it a name and identity, is closely 
allied with that of Oregon. At the date of organization it contained only 3,965 
white inhabitants, of whom 1,682 were voters. Its first Governor was Major 
Isaac I. Stevens, U. S. Engineers, who subsequently fell in the civil war as a 
General in the army of the Union. Olympia, pleasantly situated at the head of 
Puget Sound, was selected as the capital, and the first Territorial Legislature con- 
vened there in 1854. The Western portion of the Territory, especially the region 
of Puget Sound, was always a favorite habitat of the Indians. Indians. In 1840, 
there were not less than 25,000 Indians dwelling there, who found existence easy 
on account of the abundance of game and fish. From time to time there were 
diflSculties with the aborigines in various parts of the Territory, until in Novem- 
ber, 1855, a general outbreak occurred, i)receded by a massacre of settlors on White 
River, on the shores of Puget Sound, and the freijiKMit murder of individuals and 
small parties on their way to and from the Colville mines. The Indian war, known 



The Pacific Morth-ivest, 



as tlie " Oregou-Wasliington Indian War," was the result of these repeated out- 
rages. It raged violently from the autumn of 1855, to mid-summer, 1856, before 
the Indians were forced to succumb. This war was entirely unprovoked by the 
people of the Territory. It was simply waged by them in defence of the right of 
settlement. Subsequently there were occasional troubles, but not in very recent 
years. In the whole Territory there are now about 14,000 Indians, w^ho are 
domiciled at various reservations, where they live peaceably and are gradually 
advancing in civilization. In 1858-9, there was a great accession to the popula- 
tion in consequent of the discovery of gold on the Frazer River, British Columbia, 
in the preceding year. Large numbers of people flocked into the Territory in 
1861-2, during the time of excitement incident to the gold discoveries on the 
Salmon River. In 1S6':5, the Territory of Idaho was taken off from Washington, 
and the area of the latter was thus reduced to one-half its former limits. During 
recent years there has been a constantly increasing development of the varied and 
abounding natural resources of the Territory. Farming, mining, lumbering and 
fishing offer infinite opportunities for the successful display of enterprise and 
energy. 



TOPOaRAPHICAL. 

MOUJTTAIXS. 

The Cascade Mountains, which take their name from the numerous waterfalls 
that pour down their rugged faces, divide the entire Territory into two unequal 
parts, each of which is characterized by a marked dissimilarity in topography, soil, 
climate and, to some extent, productions. This range of mountains is a prolonga- 
tion of the Sierra Nevada chain, and traverses Oregon and Washington in a 
course slightly deviating from north and south. The average distance of these 
mountains from the Pacific Ocean is about 110 miles. As the range reaches north- 
ward it puts out spurs in many directions, so that the whole country west of the 
Columbia is broken and hilly. Snow-capped peaks of grand proportions and 
sublime aspect are a striking feature in the landscape. Their summits and ridges 
are covered with everlasting snow, -which makes them visible at great distances, 
appearing sometimes like summer clouds of fleecy whiteness, and at others bathed 
in brilliant lights. The most elevated peaks are Mount Rainier (14,360 feet). 
Mount Baker (11,100 feet). Mount Hood (11,025 feet), Mount St. Helens (9,750 feet), 
and Mount Adams (9,570 feet). 

At a distance, var>dng from forty to seventy miles west of the Cascade Moun- 
tains, is another mountain chain, I'unning also north and south, knowm as the Coast 
Range. Generally separated from the Pacific Ocean by an intervening narrow strip 
of upland, this range has an altitude of from three to five thousand feet, with the 
excejition of the principal peak, called Mount Olympus, not far distant from Puget 
Sound, which towers to the height of eight thousand feet. These mountains are 
all densely wooded, and offer many passes through which the sea fogs roll and 
the ocean winds rush. 

About 150 miles east of the Cascade Mountains, the Blue Mountains stretch in 
a general north-east and south-west direction through the country. Still another 



Topographical. 



mountain range known as the "Western Spur " of the Blue Mountains extends at 
rig'ht angles with the main chain, in a course from north-west to south-east, from 
tlie month of Trout Creek, on the De's Chutes River, to the Malheur River. A 
parallel but shorter chain runs from Camp Curry to Crooked Lake. 

These mountain ranges, conjointly with the numerous hills which flank and 
border and run out from them, especially in the country west of the Cascade 
Mountains, break and disrupt the surface of the land, bisecting it into numberless 
valleys of vary ingr extent and of great fertility, each of which is traversed by a 
more or less important stream. The scenic beauty of the whole vast region is, 
indeed, marvelous, and it can scarcely be surpassed in the diversity of its channs 
by any other portion of the United States. 

RIVERS, HARBORS, ETC. 

The largest river of the Pacific North-west is the Columbia. This mighty 
stream, with its numerous affluents, drains an area of 395,000 square miles. Rising 
in the Rocky Mountains in latitude 50° 20' N., it flows northward to 52° 10'. 
Receiving Canoe River, which has its source in 53° N., it abruptly turns south- 
ward, expanding in 51° into a chain of small lakes, the Kootenai River uniting 
^vith it in 49° 30' N. Immediately south of 49° the great north branch of tne 
Columbia, known as Clark's Fork, pours its waters into the main stream through 
Lake Pend d'Oreille. Then flowing south, the Columbia receives the Spokane, 
after which it turns almost due west, and is joined by the Okanagane from the 
north. The river now follows a course south of west, and the Methow, the 
Chelan, the Euteatwa, and the Wenachee contribute to its volume. Then turning 
south-eastwardly the Yakima unites with it. Afterwards, it receives the waters 
of Snake River (formerly Lewis' Fork), its great southern branch. Flowing south- 
ward, the Walla Walla empties into it at about 46° X., then sharply turning west, 
it takes in the waters of the fmatilla, the John Day and the Des Chutes. The 
Colimibia now forces its way at The Dalles through a narrow gorge in the Cascade 
Mountains, and afterwards receives the Klikitat, tlie Hood, the White Salmon, the 
Wind and other rivers. One hundred miles from the mouth of the Columbia, its 
largest tributary, the Willamette River, empties into it, and in the remainder of 
its course to the Pacific Ocean it receives the flow from the Lewis, the Cowlitz and 
the Young Rivers, as well as other less important streanis. The Columbia River 
and its tributaries penetrate in every direction through the length and breadth of 
twelve degrees of latitude and thirteen of longitude. The great value of this 
stream as a means of transportation is apparent when it is considered that the 
distance between its navigable waters and the Missouri River is only 450 miles. 
Excluding the portages at the Cascades, at The Dalles, at Priest's and Buckland's 
Rapids, and at the mouth of the Methow, the river is navigable to Kettle Falls, a 
distance of 725 miles from its mouth. From that point it could be navigated still 
further for 150 miles into the heart of the richest mining regions of British Colum- 
bia, At the Cascades, whei-e, in the length of four miles, the river falls a distance 
of 300 feet, the United States Government is constructing a series of locks, which 
will assist navigation materially as soon as they are finished. 

Snake River. — The source of the Snake River is in 41° N., and 111° W. It 
is one of the largest affluents of the Columbia, and its main tributaries are the 



10 The Pacific Morth-west. 

Grande Ronde, the Powder, the Burnt, the Malheur, and the Owyhee Rivers. 
From its confluence, at Ainsworth, witli the Columbia, it is navigable to Levviston, 
in Idaho, a distance of over 150 miles. 

Willamette River. — This important stream rises in the Cascade Mountains, 
and with the exception of the Columbia, is the chief river in Oregon. The 
Willamette is formed by the three streams known as McKeuzie's, Middle and Coast 
Forks. It is navigable for tlie largest ocean steamships and sailing vessels to 
Portland, 113 miles from the sea. At Oregon City it falls perpendicularly over a 
ledge of rocks about 40 feet high. Formerly these falls proved an absolute 
obstruction to direct navigation, and a passage aromid them was secured by a 
portage on the right bank of the river. Subsequently, at a cost of several hundred 
thousand dollars, locks were constructed, allowing the direct passage of steamboats. 
Now these vessels navigate the river during high water as far as Eugene City, 
138 miles from Portland, and as far as Salem, 51 miles, during the whole year. 
Small steamers of very light draught have been recently introduced in order that 
the river may be navigated uninterruptedly at every season. The main tributaries 
of the Willamette are the Tualatin, the Clackamas, the Yamhill, the Mollala, the 
Santiam, the Luckiamute, the Mary and the Long Tom Rivers. 

Other Rivers.— The largest rivers which empty into the Pacific Ocean along 
the coast of Oregon are the Rogue, the Coquille, the Umpqua, the Siuslaw, the 
Alsea, the Siletz and the Nehalem. North of the entrance to the Columbia River, 
on the coast of Washington Territory, the rivers Talux, Nasal and Willopah flow 
into Slioalwater Bay, and the Chehalis River and other streams empty into Gray's 
Harbor. Thirty-eight miles south of Cape Flattefy the Quillyhuyte River flows 
into the Pacific Ocean. Most of these rivers are navigable for long distances and 
beside them are very many more which afford passage for vessels of light draft. 

PuGET Sound Region.— This great body of tide-water, often called the 
Mediterranean of America, covers an area within Washington Territory of over 
2,000 square miles, and has a shore line of 1,800 miles. It is a beautiful archipel- 
ago, extending from the British line on the north, embracing the Straits of San 
Juan de Fuca, which afford a broad and absolutely unobstructed channel to the 
ocean, the Gulf of Georgia, which reaches several hundred miles into British 
Columbia, the Canal d'e Haro, Belliugham Bay, Rosario Straits, Possession Sound, 
Admiralty Inlet, Hood's Canal and other passes and inlets. Its waters are every- 
where deep and free from shoals ; the shores of its bays and harbors are bold; its 
anchorage is land-locked and secure, and it offers, in fine, every facility which the 
necessities of a great commerce would demand. Its more commodious harbors are 
Neah Bay, Port Discovery, Port Townsend, Port Ludlow, Port Madison, Port 
Gamble, Port Orchard, Port Blakely, Elliot's Bay. upon which the thriving City ot 
Seattle is situated. Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Steilacoom, Budd's Inlet, on 
which lies Olympia, the capital of the Territory, Tulalip, Penn's Cove, Utsalada, 
and Bellingham. At each of these places towns already exist or extensive lumber- 
ing and mining enterprises are carried on 

The rivers emptying into Puget Sound are the Lummi, the Nooksahk, the 
Swinamish, the Skagit, the Snohomish, the Skywamish. the Snoqualmie, the 
Dwamish, the Puyallup, the Nisqually, the Des Chutes, the Skokomish, the 
Dungeness, the Elwha and several smaller streams. These rivers afford many 
hundred miles of inland navigation for steamers of light draft and for logging 



TJ 
O 

Q 

i^l S 
■? H 



^. 



13 






SI. 




1'^ The Pacific J^'orth-west. 

purposes. The valleys of these streams, with those of their affluents, have an 
estimated area of 2,000 square miles of alluvial agricultural lands. Water-power 
sites are quite abundant, and gold is found in paying quantities in many of the 
river beds. The whole region is inexhaustibly rich in timber, as well as in 
deposits of coal and iron. 

Lakes. — In addition to the water-courses, there are in Oregon and Washington 
many lakes, some of which are of considerable size and importance. Among these 
may be named Klamath, Goose, Warner and Harney Lakes in Oregon, and Chelann, 
Kahchess, Washington and Whatcom in Washington Territory. 

Bays and Harbors. — On the coast line there are several commodious har- 
bors for vessels of light draft, exclusive of those at the mouths of the several 
rivers. Of these harbors the principal are to be found at Coos, Yaquinia and 
Tillamook Bays in Oregon, and Shoalwater Bay, Gray's Harbor and Belliugham 
Bay in Washington. At each of these places there is a thriving trade prosecuted 
either in lumbering, coal mining, fishing, oystering, dairying and in the products 
of agriculture. 

VALLEYS. 

The great mountain chains and the smaller ranges which stretch out from them 
create numberless valleys in the Pacific North-west, which give the country a 
distinctive character. The Cascade Mountains divide the region into two colossal 
basins. East of them, and extending to the bases of the Blue and Bitter Root 
ranges, stretches out the broad rolling plateau of the Columbia River, covering an 
area 150 miles wide by nearly 500 long, and embracing within its limits a score of 
valleys, many a one of which is larger than some European principalities. West 
of the Cascade Mountains and lying between them and the Coast Range, spreads 
out another grand basin, nearly four hundred miles in length, and seventy-five in 
breadth, which is broken up into a series of valleys, some of which are extremely 
large. Included in the latter division are the great valleys of the Willamette, the 
Rogue, and the Umpqua Rivers, in Oregon, and the Chehalis Valley in Washington 
Territory. The principal valleys east of the Cascade Mountains are the Klamath, 
the John Day, the Umatilla, the Walla Walla, the Grande Ronde, the Powder 
River, the Jordan River, tiie Touchet, the Tuckannon, the Palouse, the Yakima 
and the Spokane. 



CLIMATE. 



An erroneous opinion as to the climate of the Northern Pacific coast is widely 
current in the Eastern States. Usually Oregon and Washington are associated in 
the public mind ^vith a region of rigorous and prolonged winters. But the iact is 
quite the reverse. The severe winters and sultry summers and all the capricious 
inequalities of temperature prevalent in the States on the same parallels of latitude 
eastward of the Rocky Mountains are not known. The mildness and equability 
of the climate resembles in these respects that of Western Europe. It is genial 
and steady, offering the golden mean between the heat that debilitates and the 
cold that benumbs. The fact is well attested that on the Pacific Slope of the 
Eocky Mountains, north of 33" of latitude, the isothermal lines generally run 



Climate. 15 

north- west and south-east, and not east and west as they do on the Atlantic 
declivities. The mean temjierature of January ranges from 10' to 20' higher, 
according to locality, on the Pacific side than it does on the Atlantic side of this 
mountain chain which partitions the continent. This difference in the temperature 
of the two divisions is caused by the Kurosiwo or Japan current, which modifies 
the climate of the North Pacific coast in the same manner that the Gulf Stream, 
flowing- across the North Atlantic ocean, tempers the climate of the British Islets. 

But this general statement requires explanation. There is a great dissimilarity 
in the climate of Oregon and Washington between those lands lying west of the 
Cascade Mountains and the immense plains and undulating prairies which lie east 
of this range. 

West of the Cascade Mountains the winters are rainy rather than cold. The 
range of temperature demonstrates this fact. The average for springy is 5"2' ; for 
summer 67" ; for autumn 53% and for winter 38', showing a mean deviation of 
only 28' during- the year. The winter, or rainy season, begins about the middle 
of October, often later, and ends about the first of May. The rains are more 
copious in December, January and March than at any other time. During many 
weeks at the beginning and toward the close of the wet season, the rain falls 
rather in showers than continuously, with many intervals of bright, agreeable 
weather which often last for days together. Snow sometimes falls during the 
winter months, but rarely in great quantities, and it soon disappears under the 
influence of the humid atmosphere. This region is almost exempt from violent 
atmospheric disturbances. Thimder storms seldom occur, and hailstorms, hurri- 
canes, whirlwinds, earthquakes and other destructive phenomena are all but 
unknown. The comparative freedom of this country from high ^-inds is shown 
by the wind-records, kept by the United States Government, and extending over a 
period of twenty-seven years. 

In Western Oregon and Washington Territory, whenever the thermometer falls 
a few degrees below the freezing-point, the weather is usually bright and pleasant, 
with heavy white frosts at night. When frosts occur during spring or early sum- 
mer, which in other lands would be sufficiently severe to injure fruit and growing 
crops, they are commonly followed by heavy fogs, which roll in from the oceaa 
and spread themselves throughout the country. These fogs are so veiy dense that 
their humidity dissolves the frost before the heat of the sun can strike the vege- 
tation. Consequently, within the area of these foggj- belts, the late frosts do no 
harm to vegetation. On the ocean faces of the coast range the grass is kept 
perennially green by the moist atmosphere, and this is the case almost everywherb 
else in the low-lying lands. Indeed, it is not unusual for flowers to bloom in the 
open air the winter through. 

Only in very exceptional years is ice fonned sufficiently thick that it may be 
cut for use, and skating is a pastime in which youth rarely have an opportunity to 
engage. The mild spring opens so early that the farmer sows his seed, the apple, 
pear and cherry trees are in bloom, and the children gather wld flowers in the 
meadows at a time when, in latitude from four to six degrees further south on the 
Atlantic coast, the rigors of winter are still unrelaxed. 

During the remainder of the year, the long interval between the middle of 
October and April, the weather, as a rule, is serene and delightful. Throughout 
this period there are showers from time to time, but the face of the country is kept 



14 The Pacific Kortli-west. 

fresli and verdant by the dews of niglit and occasional fogs in the morning. The 
extreme dry season begins in July, but even the warmest summer days are 
tempered by sea-breezes and followed by cool nights. The coldest hours of the 
summer evenings are between 9 and 11 o'clock, but towards morning the temper- 
ature rises. 

It must be borne in mind that the climate of the country east of the Cascade 
Mountains has characteristics widely differing from that of the great basin lying 
west of them already described. This is not only true of climate, but also with, 
respect to soil and natural features. The popular division of the country, therefore, 
by \\\p Cascade Range into two sections, known respectively as Eastern and Western 
Oregon and Washington Territory, is warranted. 

In Eastern Oregon and Washington Territory, by far the larger area, the 
temperature is much lower in winter and higher in summer than it is west of the 
mountain barrier. The rainfall is also not one-half as heavy. In all this region, 
which may be termed, generically, the great valley of the Columbia River, the 
summers are often very hot. The thermometer not infrequently reaches 95°, and 
between 80° and 90° is the ordinary temperature. This heat, however, is not 
sultry nor nearly so ojjpressive as a much lower grade would be in the Eastern 
States, both man and beast being able to labor on the hottest days without special 
inconvenience. The nights are invariably cool and refreshing, and make light 
blankets a necessary part of the bed clothing. During this season there is abso- 
lutely no rain from June to September, thus giving the farmer perfect Aveather 
for harvesting and threshing his grain. 

The winters, as a rule, are short, but occasionally severe. Exceptionally, the 
thermometer sinks to zero, and sometimes even a few degrees lower, but 30° is 
about the average temperature. Snow seldom falls before Christmas, and then, 
in some seasons, it may lie a month or six weeks. Usually, however, it disappears 
within a few days. The speedy melting of the snow is due, at times, to a some- 
what remarkable phenomenon. A periodical warm wind blows up the channel of 
the Columbia River from the south-west throughout the year. This is called the 
" Chinook." It penetrates the gaps and passes of the mountain ranges as far east 
as Montana. Before it the snow melts so rapidly that often in the course of a 
few hours no vestige remains where it lay a foot in depth a day before. The 
" Chinook " wind is a great benefit to the country. Its warm, moist atmosphere 
is doubtless the result of its passage across the great thermal ocean stream, known 
as the Japan current, which operates so powerfully to mitigate the climate of 
the entire North-west Coast, that otherwise would be cold and rigorous in the 
extreme. 

Spring begins in February with warm, pleasant weather, and lasts until the 
middle of May. At this season rain falls in sufficient quantity to give life to 
vegetation and insure good crops. The average temperature is 52°. 

Autumn weather in October and November is generally delightful. There is 
often frost by night, but the days are usually warm and bright. The season is 
marked by showers, and also by thunder storms in some localities. The mercury 
ranges between 55° and 70°. 

The rainfall of the year does not average more than 30 inches. South of the 
Snake River it is not more than 15 inches, increasing gradually to the northward.* 

* See Tables in the Appendix. 



The Soil. 15 

The foregoing description of the climate of Oregon and Washington Territory 
must be understood, however, as applicable only to the general meteorological 
characteristics of the two grand divisions of the country. These characteristics are 
naturally modified to a greater or less extent by locality. The region is vast 
enough to embrace much vai'iety of climate Avithin the broad limits of the facts 
here presented. Intending settlers thus have a wide range of climate from which 
to choose that wliich may appear to them most desirable. Indeed, the trutli with 
respect to the climate and fertility of the Pacific North-west is so at variance 
with preconceived ideas that it is hardly possible to state the facts without seeming 
to exaggerate. 

The railroad lands are sold to settlers at low prices and on ea. 
THE SOIL. 

The excellence of the soil of Oregon and Washington Territory is not less 
marked than that of the climate. The combination of good climate and fruitful 
soil gives the country its exceptional value for agricultural pursuits. 

In Western Oregon and Washington the general character of the soil may be 
described as follows : In the valleys it is a dark loam containing a large propor- 
tion of vegetable mould and having a clay sub-soil. In the bottom-lands, near the 
water-courses, it usually consists of rich deposits of alluvium. Of such lands 
there are often large tracts of great fertility, termed beaver-dam lands, which, as 
the name indicates, have been formed by the labor of this busy amphibious rodent 
during countless centuries. The constituents of this soil are earthy deposits or 
humus of great depth, produced from decayed trees and other vegetable growths. 
All these various soils are of wonderful productive capacity. Under cultivation 
thej' are quick, light and friable, yielding astonishing crops of hay, hops, grain, 
fruits and vegetables for a series of years, without manure and with only indifferent 
ploughing. The ability of the clay sub-soil to retain moisture explains, to some 
extent, the enduring quality of the land. The bottoms are mainly covered with a 
deciduous growth of vine-maple, alder, crab-apple and salal-berry, with only 
occasional firs and pines, and, as a rule, are confined to narrow valleys. Unlike 
prairie-lands, they must be cleared, at a cost varying from $15 to $30 per acre, 
before they can be ploughed. Usually, however, the wood and lumber thus 
secured will pay for the work, and the farmer will aftsrwards find his reward in 
the abundance of his crops. 

The soil of the uplands is somewhat inferior to that of the river-bottoms. That 
of the undulating foot-hills and more tillable mountain-faces is red, brown or black 
loam. The more elevated lands afford excellent natural pasturage, and also pro- 
duce good crops of grain and the hardier fruits and vegetables. 

East of the Cascade Mountains, the soil is a dark loam of great depth, com- 
posed of alluvial deposits and decomposed lava overlying a clay sub-soil. This, in 
turn, rests upon a basaltic formation which is so far below the surface of the 
ground as to be visible only on the banks of the deep water-courses. The con- 
stituents of this soil adapt the land peculiarly to the production of wheat. All the 
mineral salts which are necessary to the perfect growth of this cereal are abun- 
dant, reproducing themselves constantly as the processes of gradual decomposition 



16 The Pacific JYorth-west. 

in this soil of volcanic origin jiroceed. Tlie clods are easily broken by the plough, 
and the ground quickly crumbles on exposure to the atmosphere. Although the 
dry season continues for months, this light porous land retains and absorbs enough 
moisture from the atmosphere, after its particles have been partially disintegrated, 
to insure perfect growths and full harvests. This assertion is so at variance with 
common experience that it might well be questioned. Happily, it is susceptible 
of explanation. In spite of the fact that there is scarcely a shower between May 
and the follo\ving October, and that the average rainfall for the year does not 
exceed 20 inches, there is always the requisite moisture for maturing the crops. 
Paradoxical as it may seam, if the rain were greatly in excess of this low average, 
damage would certainly ensue ; and it is equally sure, if successful farming 
depended upon the limited rainfall, there would be poor harvests. The clouds 
supply only in part the moisture which is needed. The warm air-currents, sur- 
charged with vapor, which sweep inland from the ocean up the channel of the 
Columbia River, prevent drought. The effect of these atmospheric currents in 
tempering the climate has already been described. Their influence upon the vege- 
tation i.s no less vital. The moisture with which they are laden is held in suspen- 
sion during the day, difliised over the face of the country. At night it is condensed 
by the cooler temperature and precipitated in the form of a fine mist on every 
exjiosed particle of surface which earth and plant present. The effect is that of a 
copious shower. This is apparent on taking a morning walk through the grass, 
which can only be done at the cost of wet feet. In this region it is no unusual 
phenomenon for a smart shower to fall when clouds are invisible and the sun is 
shiuing. This occurrence is explained also upon the theory that the vapor in the 
atmosphere comes in contact with an upper current of cold air, which causes 
rapid condensation and consequent rain. A summer drought, therefore, which in 
most climates is a calamity, is here a benefit. The soil needs no more rains after 
those of the spring are over, and the farmer may depend upon cloudless skies at 
harvest time. In the whole vast basin of the Columbia River, an extent of 150 
miles in width by 500 in length, there is great iiniformity in the general character 
of the arable soil. There are, of course, moditications of its component elements, 
as between the valleys and the higher plateaux and lower mountain slopes. In 
the latter an admixture of clay to some extent is often found. In general, the soil 
of the foot-hills is more productive than that of the broader valleys. 

The exceeding fertility of this great area has only of late years been known. 
Some of the large wheat farms, which now are most productive, were marked not 
long ago upon the maps, by the United States surveyors, as " lands unfit for culti- 
vation." The prolific nature of the soil was discovered, finally, by a thoughtful 
investigator, who ploughed and sowed a small strip as an experiment. The result 
was a surprise and a success. It at once opened the way to the profitable cultiva- 
tion of the hitherto despised land. Now, wherever bunch-grass grows, the fact is 
accepted that wheat will flourish. Of such lands there are almost boundless tracts 
awaiting settlement. A mere fraction of the vast fields has yet been taken. In 
course of time, however, these unoccupied lands Avail be surveyed and settled, 
depending on the facilities which may be offered by transportation lines for mar- 
keting crops. For the most part, these vast expanses of good, arable soil are the 
grazing grounds of countless herds and flocks, which thrive, unsheltered, the year 
throughout, on the natural grasses, and supply with their increase the markets of 



Healthfitliiess. 17 



Utah, Nevada and other States. Even the white sage bush, when its leaves have 
been mellowed by the frost, is relished by the cattle. 

Most of the fruits grown within tlie temperate zone are raised at various points 
in the low-lying lands in great perfection. Peaches, pears, apples, plums, grapes 
and berries of fine flavor are produced. Orchards come forward rapidly, peach 
trees bearing often three years after planting the seed. 

The greatest difficulty which the settler will encounter in taking ui) a farm in 
any of these great arable tracts, is the comparative absence of timber. There are 
groves of cottonwood, birch, alder and willow along the waiter-courses, but pine, 
fir and tamarack must be transported as a general fact from the mountains. Nu- 
merous mills have been established in the hills, and, in many instauces, these are 
connected to railroad stations with tlumes which trans|)ort the lumber to central 
points for distribution. The cost of lumber at the mills is about ij;13 i)er thousand 
feet, aiad at the yards it ranges to a much higher figure, according to the distance 
it has to be transported. 



HEATHFULNESS. 



The temperate and genial climate, especially in its freedom from the sudden 
variations which prevail elsewhere, has much to do with the general healthiulness 
of the Pacific North-west. According to the census of 1870, this part of the United 
States was by far the most healthy. Although twelve years have since passed, it 
will probably be found that Oregon and Washington Territory still bear the palm. 
Naturally the health of the different districts varies in accordance with location. 
Portland, the metropolis of Oregon and of the whole region, is remaikably healthy, 
having, of course, its quota of diseases. The complamts incidental to childhood 
prevail seldom as severe epidemics. Scarlet fever, as a rule, is not of a malignant 
type, and the percentage of deaths is smaller than in the cities of the Atlantic 
coast. Occasional cases of diphtheria occur, though never in an epidemic form, 
the causes elsewhere prevailing being there absent. The climate of the city and 
of the western slope of the Cascade Mountains is not suitable for individuals suf- 
fering from phthisis or other diseases of the lungs, and is also ill adapted to those 
of a rheumatic tendency, because of the moisture and excessive rains of the winter 
season. Typhoid fever appears, as elsewhere, as well as other ordinary diseases. 
Typhus fever never occurs. Cholera, whicli has been a scourge in the East, has 
never reached this part of the Pacific coast. The inhabitants of towns situated on 
the banks of the rivers suffer more or less from malaria, as is the case elsewhere in 
places so situated. The further back one goes from the coast, the air is found to 
be more rarefied, and in some respects more healthy. Those who have a tendencv 
to diseases of the resjjiratory organs in many cases recover their health by a resi- 
dence at The Dalles, Walla Walla and other places in Eastern Oregon and Wash- 
ington. Mineral springs have been discovered which, in time, will attract great 
attention. 

In summing up the answer to the inquiry of those contemplating settlement, 
as to the health of the country and the i)revailing diseases, it may be said that all, 
or nearly all, the ordinary diseases occur. There are none, however, peculiar to 



18 The Facific Korth-west. 

the country. Moreover, as a rule, those prevalent elsewhere are found to be of a 
milder type in Oregon and Washington, and consequently less dreaded. Many 
diseases become malignant and destructive in crowded neighborhoods because the 
flame is constantly fed by the germs of the disease, which are continually generated 
and are easily spread from one person to another. But vs^here, as in the Pacific 
North-west, there is no need of crowding, almost every disease soon dies out because 
it fails to obtain nourishment. On logical ground it may be assumed, therefore, 
apart from the question of climate, that the people of Oregon and Washington 
Territory will enjoy great longevity, and that the country will remain healthy 
simply because artificial causes of disease are absent. 



PRODUCTIONS. 

CEREALS, VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND OTHER CROPS. 

Wheat is the staple agricultural product of the entire country. Its superior 
quality has made it famous in the grain markets of the world and insures for it 
the highest price. The berry is full and heavy, often exceeding by 5 to 9 pounds 
the standard weight of a bushel (60 pounds). There is j^ractically no limit to the 
quantity which may be produced except in the lack of farmers to till the soil. 
The surplus yield in 1881 was enormous, considering the acreage. Not less than 
4500,000 tons, or 10,000,000 bushels, were offered for sale. Of this great quantity. 
Western Oregon and Washington produced 180,000 tons, and the country east of 
the Cascade Mountains yielded 120,000 tons. Up to November 15, 1881, there had 
been shipped to foreign ports, including vessels loading, 105,000 tons ; sent coast- 
Avise, 15,000 tons; probable future shipments to San Francisco, 35,000 tons; total 
shiijped or provided for, 155,000 tons ; amount remaining to be shipped, 145,000 
tons ; tonnage on way to Portland, 80,000 tons ; leaving unprovided for, at tide- 
water, 65,000 tons. The inland means of transportation which existed in 1881 
were also strained to their utmost capacity in moving so large a crop. But, before 
the harvest of 1882 is garnered, the facilities for moving grain to tide-water will 
be greatly increased. In another place it is shown to what extent the railroads 
are building main lines and opening branch lines in order to meet the growing 
demands upon them. 

Oats also yield heavily and are exported largely from many points. The 
standard weight of a bushel of oats is 36 pounds, but the weight of 40 and 45 
pounds to the bushel is not infrequent. Rye and barley are likewise profitably 
raised. In the more southern parts of Oregon corn also flourishes, but the average 
summer is too cool for this cereal in the northern sections of the country. 

Hops are a very important product. They are grown on the river bottom 
lands, and, with proper cultivation, a large yield of superior quality is obtained. 
The crop runs from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds per acre. The principal gardens at present 
are in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and in the Puyallup Valley, Washington 
Territory. The hop acreage might be profitably increased tenfold, as the crop sells 
readily at prices ranging from 15 to 20 cents per pound, and the export demand is 
steady. Some of the advantages connected with this industry are, the certainty of 
a good crop, the early bearing of the vines, the extraordinary yield, the low cost of 



Productions. 19 

production, the facilities for securing suitable soil, poles, fuel for drying and cheap 
(Indian) labor for picking. This crop has never suffered from insects or disease. 

Of recent years flax has been raised for export, and its culture is a permanent 
industry. To produce it successfully requires particular care, but farmers find it 
an excellent crop to rotate with wheat, and the larger profits repay for the greater 
labor attending its cultivation. It is not unusual to obtain from 400 to 800 pounds 
of clean fibre per acre. The farmers in the neighborhood of Moscow, near the 
Idaho line, produced, in 1881, not less than 100,000 bushels of flaxseed, which 
netted them the same number of dollars. There is no doubt that linen making 
could be successfully engaged in, provided the necessary capital and labor could 
be secured for the enterprise, particularly as there is convenient water-power 
everywhere for driving any number of looms and mills. 

Vegetables of every variety and of the finest quality are produced. Potatoes, 
cabbages, onions, turnips, squashes, beets, carrots, parsnips, cucumbers and celery 
grow to large size. The potato bug has never appeared and potato diseases are 
unknown. Onions produce immensely on the low-lying lands. All the vegetables 
named thrive equally well and give abundant crops in both sections of the country, 
notwithstanding the great climatic distinctions which exist east and west of the 
Cascade Mountains. Melons, tomatoes and some of the fruits, however, flourish 
better in the warmer and dryer atmosphere east of the mountains. 

Fruits of delicious aroma and flavor and of remarkable size and beauty are 
abundant. Their culture must eventually prove a source of great profit, as the 
market for preserved and dried fruits is world-wide. 

Apples grow to perfection. The tree is indigenous to the soil. The fruit of the 
orchards is large, highly colored, and of delicate taste. Trees are stout and hardy 
and so prolific that, without due care, they are likely to exhaust themselves by 
overbearing. 

Prunes thrive as well as in any other part of the world. The trees are healthy 
and vigorous and bear quite early. They have hitherto been exempt from the 
ravages of the curculio. The fruit is rich, mellow, large and beautiful, and has a 
delicate aromatic taste. It is excellent for table use, and superior for drying and 
preserving. 

Plums are prolific, sweet, and of fine flavor. There are many varieties and the 
trees are hardy and reliable bearers. Some kinds are magnificent in size and 
color. 

Pears of all the best known varieties, early and late, are produced in profusion. 
The trees are hardy, bearing at a remarkably early age, and yielding sweet, mellow 
fruit which cannot be exceeded either in size or in flavor. Nothing is more deli- 
cious than the pears. Some specimens attain a weight of three pounds and 
upward. 

Cherries, which cannot be excelled anywhere, grow in unlimited abundance. 
The trees are hardy and heavy bearers, and the fruit is so superior in size and 
beauty that its value for shipping and market purposes leaves nothing to be 
desired. 

Peaches have been cultivated satisfactorily along the Columbia River and in the 
Walla Walla Valley, as well as at many other points east of the Cascade Mountains. 
With proper care the peach orchards may be made to yield not alone for home 
consumption but also for export. 



20 The Pacific Korth-west. 

Apricots,, quinces and grapes may be profitably grown, and, indeed, they are 
produced to a gi'eater or less extent. Many parts of the country are perfectly 
adapted to grapes, and even in those portions where the climate is naturally 
unsuitable to the vine on an extensive scale, there are always locations where 
grapes may be produced in limited quantities. 

Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries ■ and currants, delicious in 
flavor, large in size, and perfect in all respects, are easily raised and are quite 
abundant. Strawberries are often ripe by the lirst of May, and the other fruits 
follow in succession. The season for each kind of berry is more than ordinarily 
long, and the wild varieties of these fruits supplement those that are cultivated. 

The preparation of all these fruits for market ought to be a leading industry. 
Intelligent enterprise in this direction is, indeed, much needed. The business of 
fruit raising would aflbrd agreeable and lucrative occupation to many people who 
are unfitted for the more arduous work of ordinary farming, and the preparation of 
such products for market is an industry Avhich would naturally become important. 
Attention to the capabilities of the country in this respect has been attracted to 
some extent, and numerous large orchards have been planted. The fruit-drying 
establishments which already exist at various places in Western Oreg'on find a 
ready market for their productions in New York, China, Japan, South America, 
Australia and elsewhere. Both fresh and dried apples, as well as plums and 
prunes, are shipped to San Francisco. But the business of drying and preserving- 
fruits might be expanded indefinitely. 

Grasses, both native and exotic, grow luxuriantly and in great variety. East 
of the Cascades there are at a low estimate 40,000,000 of acres of natural pasture 
lands, most of which produce the nutritious bunch grass. West of this range of 
mountains the variety of native grasses is very large. These grasses retain their 
fattening qualities until late in the autumn. Wild pea vine, which affords an 
excellent pasturage for stock, grows in great abundance on the foot-hills, especially 
where the timber has been destroyed by fire. Of the cultivated grasses, timothy 
is the staple kind for hay. Red and white clover yield heavily under proper culti- 
vation, and alfalfa, blue, red-top and orchard grasses do well everywhere. 

The relative productiveness of the soil, of course, varies according to its nature 
and the skill expended upon its cultivation. In the wheat-growing regions, with 
ordinary care in ploughing and sowing, the yield per acre, without manuring, 
will be from 20 to 35 bushels. With a higher cultivatiou, and still without the use 
of manure, the yield often exceeds this quantity, a fact apparent from the following 
letter, written by Dr. Blalock, iinder date of October 20, 1881. This gentleman's 
enormous wheat farm is situated in the very heart of a " sage bush tract," and to 
him is due the great honor of having discovered the vast agricultural capabilities 
of lands so uninviting. He wrote : 

Walla Walla, October, 1881. 
Inclosed please find statement of number of acres cultivated by me this year in 
this valley to wheat, and the average yield per acre of the same : 

2,300 acres in one body, average 35^ bushels per acre. 

1,000 acres of same field, " 50 " " 

459 " " " " 38xVTr 

The land was accurately surveyed by the county surveyor. The 1,000 acres 
was selected out of the best part of the field, then to this thousand was added 459 
acres of the next best. 



Productions. 21 



The wheat was sowed in October and harvested in July, August and Septem- 
ber. We cut and threshed and hauled to market same day. This farm is wliat 
is known as foot-hill bunch-grass land, of which there is yet large areas of Uovern- 
ment lands unoccupied and open for settlement. 

Very respectfully, 

N. G. Blalock. 

The average yield of wheat per acre may safely be stated at 22 bushels ; of oats 
and barley, 35 ; of corn, in localities where it may be profitably raised, 40 ; of rye, 
20 ; of peas, 40 ; of beans, 36 ; of potatoes, 300 ; of sweet jiotatoes, 150 ; of turuii)s, 
600 ; of carrots, 500 ; of parsnips, 500. Cabbages produce from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds, 
and hay from two and a half to three tons per acre. 

The ordinary harvest time for wheat is from June 24 to September 10 ; for oats, 
from July 13 to 20 ; for barley, from June 20 to July 1 ; for rye, from July 1 to 10 ; 
for corn, from August 20 to September 10. 

Barns and sheds for keeping the grain, which are indispensable in other coun- 
tries, are scarcely needed here. The grain is threshed in the fields by machinery, 
and thence sent in sacks directly to warehouses for storage or exportation. 
Neither mildew nor rust has appeared to any great extent, and no failure of the 
wheat crop has been known since the settlement of the country, thirty-seven 
years ago. Owing to the dry summers, the wheat is not affected by the long sea 
voyage to Great Britain, whither most of it is exported, and by the double passage 
through the tropics, incidental to its transportation. 

TIMBER. 

It would scarcely be possible to exaggerate the extent and value of the forests 
of this region. East and west f)f the Cascade Mountains there are large tracts of 
timber lands which the lumberman has not yet invaded. Many such tracts will 
be brought within the reach of markets on the completion of the transportation 
lines now in course of construction. In the Blue Mountains and on the eastern 
slopes of the Cascades the siipply of timber is more than sufficient to cover the 
local demand. It will yield a large surplus for shipment to the level, timberless 
territories lying eastward. But west of the Cascade Mountains, and especially in 
Washington Territory, the lumberman must look for the material which will keep 
his mills at work without fear of exhausting the supply. The finest body of tim- 
ber in the world is embraced between the Columbia River and British Columbia 
and the Pacific Ocean and the Cascades. At a very low estimate, one-half the 
gro^vth of this Puget Sound district consists of trees which will yield 25,000 feet 
of lumber to the acre. The approximate quantity, therefore, in this great tract 
alone, the area of which is nearly as large as the State of Iowa, is not less than 
160,000,000,000 feet. During the last thirty-five years the aggregate cut has been, 
perhaps, not more than 2,500,000.000 feet, leaving a supply of 157,500.000,000 feet 
from which to draw. The principal growths are fir, pine, spruce, cedar, larch and 
hemlock, although white oak, maple, cottonwood, ash, alder and other varieties 
are found in considerable quantities. Three kinds of cedar, two of fir, and three of 
pine are indigenous to the country. The fir, however, exceeds in quantity and 
value all the other species combined, and the cedar ranks second in this respect. 
Trees attain an unusual development, both with regard to lieight and to symmetry 
of form. Perhaps nowhere else are they found so tall, straight and gently-taper- 



23 The Pacific Mrth-west, 

ing as to fit them peculiarly for ships' spars and masts. The yellow fir is not 
infrequently 250 feet in height; the pine 120 to 160 feet ; the silver fir, 150 feet; 
white cedar, 100 feet; white oak, 70 feet, and black spruce, 150 feet. Cedars have 
been found of 63 feet girth and 120 feet in height. The sugar pine of Oregon is 
equal to the best cedar. Ordinary sized trees yield 6,000 to 8,000 feet of lumber 
each, and many as much as 15,000. Of this are made railroad ties, boards, deals, 
fencing, laths, paling, pickets, barrel staves and heads, household furniture and 
ship-timber. The product of the saw-mills is shipped to San Francisco, the Sand- 
wich Islands, Mexico, the Pacific Coast of South America, Australia and even to 
England and France, China and Japan. The first saw-mill was built on Puget 
Sound in 1851, with a capacity of 1,000 feet daily. In 1853, a steam saw-mill was 
erected at Seattle which could cut 8,000 to 10,000 feet per day. The business has 
since greatly increased. The largest saw-mill of the fifteen in operation on Puget 
Sound is that at Port Ludlow, with a cutting capacity of 200,000 feet ])er day. 
The other mills are situated at Port Gamble, Port Madison, Port Blakely, Port 
Discovery, Seabeck, Utsalada, Tacoma and New Tacoma, and the remainder at 
Seattle. The aggregate daily cutting capacity of these mills is over 1,000,000 
feet. Some of the logs sawed are enormous in girth and sometimes 115 feet 
in length. Planing mills are attached to most of these large saw-mills, and 
dressed building lumber is obtained as required. Each mill is admirably situated 
with a view to economical production, and nearly every one of them comprises a 
town of itself, with stores, shops, steam-tugs, lumber-vessels and dwellings owned 
by the companies. Ship-building is also an important feature. 

The export of lumber from Puget Sound during 1881 amounted to 174,176,700 
feet, valued at $1,718,226. Of this, 41,760,700 feet, valued at $394,066, were 
shipped to foreign ports and the remainder coastwise. Owing to competition and 
to greater facilities of production, the price of lumber has steadily fallen in recent 
years in spite of the fact that the demand has constantly increased. The average 
price, in 1881, was $9.50 per thousand feet. 

The existing conditions of lumbering at Puget Sound could not be more favor- 
able. The forests remain for the most part in virgin condition, except for a short 
distance from the banks of the streams and estuaries ; the shores are not so abrupt 
as to prevent easy handling of the timber ; the harbors are numerous, deep and 
well sheltered ; the hardships, losses and delays incident to severe winters are 
unknown ; logs may be floated down the rivers without danger of a sudden rise 
and the breaking of " booms ;" by clearing the river channels of drift, both logs 
and lumber may be run out for long distances, and rafts may be towed with ease 
on the waters of the Sound with only the ebb and flow of the tide to consider in 
moving them to points of shipment. In this way loggers bring logs from all the 
bodies of timber along the shore lines to the mills, and dispose of them at fair 
rates to the owners. This gives employment to hundreds of working men. There 
are still very many desirable places for establishing not only saw -mills, but fac- 
tories for the manufacture of barrels, pails, house trimmings, doors, sashes, 
blinds, moulding and every other article made of wood. These opportunities are 
not confined to Puget Sound. They exist along the harbors and bays of the entire 
coast of Washington Territory and Oregon, and are only used as yet to a compara- 
tively small extent. For some purposes, and particularly in the manufacture of 
beautiful household furniture, the ornamental woods of Oregon are unsurpassed. 



CO 

> 

k 
t— I 

n 
f 

O 
z 

C3 

C?3 
h9 

OQ 
O 

P 




^4 The Pacific Jiorth-west. 



FISHERIES. 

The waters of Oregon and Washington Territory abound in fish, of whicli 
many varieties are of great commercial value. Particularly is this the fact with 
regard to salmon. Every river on the coast line teems with this fish, of which 
there are several species, all excellent in flavor, and many being noted for immense 
size and weight. These salmon are easily taken, and, being well adapted for can- 
ning and salting, a great and prosperous business in connection with them is car- 
ried on at several places. Especially is this the case on the Columbia River where 
the business of salmon packing is one of the principal industries. The good 
quality of the Columbia River fish has given it a far-famed reputation, and the 
demand for it is unlimited. In addition to the large market for this commodity 
in the Eastern States, it is sold extensively in Australia, England and other 
European countries. This business is likely to be permanent, and it is capable of 
indefinite expansion, constantly adding to the enrichment of the country. This 
industry was esta.blished on the Columbia River in the year 1866, the sales of the 
first year amounting to the encouraging sum of $64,000. The progress which has 
since been made and the importance which the business has reached within a 
period of sixteen years, is seen at a glance by the following statistics : 

Year. Product. Case Price. Total Value. 

1866 4,000 $16 00 $64,000 

1867 18,000 : la 00 234,000 

1868 • 38,000 12 00 336,000 

1869 100,000 10 00 1,000,000 

1870 150,000 9 00 1,350,000 

1871 200,000 9 50 1,900,000 

1872 250,000 8 00 2,000,000 

1873 250,000 7 00 1,750.000 

1874 350,000 6 50 2,275,000 

1875 375,000 5 60 2,100,000 

1876 450,000 4 50 2,025,000 

1877 460.000 5 20 2.392,000 

1878 400,000 5 00 2,300,000 

1879 480,000 4 60 2,188,000 

1880 550,000 4 80 2,640,000 

1881 -.530,000 5 00 2,650,000 

Thirty-five canneries on the Columbia River, between the Cascades and the 
town of Astoria, near the entrance of the stream, share in this enterprise. Cans of 
ordinary size hold one pound each, and there are forty-eight cans in each case. 
Estimating the weight of the case, including the cans, at 72 pounds, the pack of 
1881 was about 19,000 tons, and toward the close of the season the catch was so 
enormous that many fish were thrown away for lack of canning facilities. 
Although competition has reduced the wholesale price of a case of salmon from 
$16, in 1866, to $5, in 1881, and the sum paid the fishermen for each fish has in- 
creased during that interval of time from ten cents to sixty-five, the profit of 
the canning establishments continue to be satisfactory. In this business on the 
Columbia, a capital of at least $2,000,000 is invested, and all the operations must 
be conducted with the utmost system and economy to insure success. The fish 
are taken with gill nets, seines and traps. In 1881, the number of boats employed 



Productions. 25 



was 1,650, including ten steam tenders. The cost of a boat fully equipped with 
net is iibont !f!600. Tlie gill nets used are from 250 to 300 fathoms long and 20 feet 
deep. The seines are from 100 to 200 yards long. The boats and nets are gener- 
ally owned by the proprietors of the canneries, who lease them with the necessary 
implements and supplies to the fishermen on the condition that one-third of the 
catch is to be paid for rent and the remaining two-thirds must he .sold to the 
owner at a stipulated price. Each boat will catch on an average 2,000 fish during 
the season. With the exception of a few Indians, the fishermen are white men, 
chiefly Scandinavians and Italians. About 7,500 men are employed during the 
season. Of these, however, over 3,500 are Chinese laborers, engaged in the can- 
neries doing the lighter work. 

Three average salmon will fill four dozen cans. TI:e fishing is at its height for 
three months, from May to July, but the most abundant run in later years has 
been toward the last weeks of the season. Artificial hatching has been resorted 
to in order to maintain the supply, and with judicious legislation to protect the 
fish there is no reason to fear their eventual extirpation. 

Beside the salnn)n fisheries on the Columbia River, similar establishments, 
many of great importance, exist on the Willamette, the Umpqua and Rogue 
rivers, and, particularly, on the waters of Puget Sound. The fish, differing much 
in quality and value, abound literally in millions. They crowd the seas, bays, 
estuaries and the smaller rivers which flow into the ocean at certain seasons of 
the year, and may be easily caught with gill nets and with the hook. There is 
amide opportunity still for the healthy growth of the salmon fishing industry in 
the North-west region. 

In addition to salmon, the streams of Oregon and Washington Territory 
abound in various kinds of delicious trout. Sturgeon of immense size are found at 
the mouths of all the larger rivers. The lakes and ponds teem with fish of several 
species, among-which may be mentioned the lake-trout, the perch and the pike. 
Oysters and clams are taken in the bays. Halibut of enormous size, and of a 
delicacy and tenderness not known in its Atlantic congener, makes its habitat in 
the waters of Puget Sound. The eulachon, a delicious fish, about the size of a 
small herring, is found in enormoirs quantities all along the coast. Codfish, aver- 
aging two and one-half feet in length, and with a girth around the shoulders of 
eighteen inches, are taken in the Sound, but they fairly shoal the waters of the 
banks on which they liv^e, beginning at the western extremity of Vancouver 
Island and extending beyond Alaska. Herrings and smelts are plentiful. Whales 
and seals are also found along the coast. Those and other denizens of the waters 
abound in inexhaustible supply, needing only capital and labor to establish fish- 
eries in this part of the country which would prove as productive and as 
profitable as any on the face of the globe. 

MINERALS. 

The mineral wealth of Oregon and Wasjiington Territory is large and diversi- 
fied. Not only are the precious nn^tals obtained, but coal, iron, and other useful 
minerals exist in lavish quantifiers at many points throughout the country. The 
production of gold has been going on constantly during the last thirty years, and 
the coal and iron interests have also, of late, assumed considerable importance. 
But, as a rule, the mining industries are yet in their infancy. 



26 Tlie Pacific JYorth-west. 

Gold was discovered in Jackson and Josephine Counties, Southern Oregon, in 
1851. Some time afterwards auriferous gravel was found in large quantities in 
Baker and Grant Counties, Eastern Oregon. At various times, also, placer and 
quartz mining have been carried on, respectively, at Coos Bay and in the extreme 
southern part of the Cascade Mountains, in Oregon. In Washington Territory, 
likewise, tlie Colville country, and the bed of the Skagit River, have yielded more 
or less of the precious metal. Perhaps the entire quantity obtained during the 
past thirty years has not been less than $40,000,000, more than half of which is to 
be credited to the first decade in which gold mining was prosecuted. Hitherto, as 
a rule, oj^erations, in all their phases, have been conducted in a very superficial 
manner. True, some wonderfully rich deposits have been found, and worked 
with great profit. But only arastras and other primitive methods for crushing the 
quartz have been used. Claims were generally abandoned after the surface gravel 
was exhausted. The expense and labor of sinking shafts, driving tunnels, and 
employing the other scientific and profitable methods now in vogue, have not been 
applied. There seems at present, however, to be a disposition to prosecute gold 
mining with ordinary skill and vigor. Companies have been formed with the 
capital necessary to develop the real value of the deposits. Several claims have 
been opened at various points, on which large amounts have been expended for 
the requisite machinery to carry on hydraulic mining on a larjje scale. 

Coal will take a foremost rank among the mineral resources which are here- 
after to be a prime factor in the growth and development of the country. The 
abundant supply of this raw material will keep in motion many prosperous 
industries. Immense beds of semi-bituminous and lignite coal are known to un- 
derlie many parts of the region. Especially is this the fact west of the Cascade 
Mountains. This mineral exists in Oregon, at Coos Bay, in Coos County, on the 
northern Umpqua, and in other localities in Douglas County. It is found at 
Yaquina Bay, at Port Oxford, near St. Helens, on Pass Creek, on the line of the 
Oregon and California Railroad, and at different points in Clackamas, Clatsop and 
Tillamook Counties. At most of these places the beds have only been partially 
explored. The Coos Bay mines are quite valuable, one of them being capable of 
an output of 1,000 tons a daj^ if necessary, and they represent an invested capital 
of $2,000,000. The principal market for the Coos Bay coal is at San Francisco, 
whither it is conveyed by small sailing vessels and two small steam colliers. 
The coal fields of Washington Territory, at Pufret Sound, however, are far 
more extensive than those of Oregon. At a very early day in the history of the 
Territory indications of coal were discovered. In 1863 deposits were found on 
Issaqua Creek, near Samamish Lake, and on Coal Creek, near Lake W'ashington. 
A very important coal mine is at Newcastle, near Seattle. It is owned by the 
Oregon Improvement Company, and its product is a pure lignite, well adapted to 
household and railway purposes. The coal fields are connected by a narrow- 
gauge railroad with Seattle, the shipping port, 22 miles distant. The company 
have a fleet of four new steam colliers,' each vessel averaging two and one-half 
trips a month between Seattle and San Francisco. These steamers were built at 
Chester, Pa. , expressly for this trade. The coal beds at Newcastle are practically 
inexhaustible, and the yield becomes cleaner and harder the deeper the veins are 
worked. The output from this mine alone, known as the Seattle, in 1881, was 
not short of 150,000 tons, and the quantity mined this year will be considerably 



Productions. 27 



greater, in consequence of increased transportation facilities. The total output 
during the ten years since this mine has ueen in operation has been 800,000 tons. 
Other coal fields on Puget Sound exist on Carbon, Cedar and Green rivers, speci- 
mens from which indicate an excellent quality. The Puyallup River coal de- 
posits are also very valuable. Here thirty distinct veins have been found, in 
three diflEerent groups, varying from three feet up to nine, fourteen and even 
eighteen feet thick. To the Puyallup coal region a branch line of the Northern 
Pacific Railroad was built in 1870, terminating at Wilke&on, 81 miles from New 
Tacoma. Excellent coal is also obtained at Carbonado, on the Carbon River, and 
at numerous other points in the Territory. The mines at present worked are the 
Seattle, Renton, Seaton, Wilkeson and Carbonado. 

Iron ore, bog, hematite, and magnetic, exist in great masses, and may be 
easily obtained. It abounds on the Columbia River, extending from a point 
opposite Kalama, southward, almost to the falls of the Willamette River. It is 
also found in large deposits in the Counties of Columbia, Tillamook, Marion, 
Clackamas, Jackson and Coos. Smelting furnaces are already established at 
Oswego, on the Willamette River, eight miles soath of Portland, and near Port 
Townsend, in Washington Territory, at which latter place a rich bog ore is ob- 
tained. The pig iron produced at these furnaces is of excellent quality, and is 
largel}' used at the local foundries. Iron ore has been, likewise, recently found 
on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. W^ith this abundance of iron 
and coal there is ample opportunity for developing important manufacturing 
interests. 

There are likewise deposits at various points, of copper, lead, tin, zinc, cinna- 
bar, plumbago, gypsum, kaolin, pottery clays, mica, marble, granite, limestone 
and sandstone. All these, in time, will assuredly attract the attention which 
they deserve, and be made to yield handsome returns. 

LIVE STOCK. 

Oregon and Washington Territory are undoubtedly the best country for cattle 
in the United States, not even e'xcepting Texas, is the opinion of stock-raisers. 
The general practice of farmers west of the Cascade Mountains is to provide 
fodder for only a part of the year, and to allow their cattle to roam at large the 
remainder of the time. In the cold weather stock suffers sometimes ; but, as a 
rule, it does well enough in the open air throughout the year, subsisting on the 
abundant natural pasturage. The region most favorable to herding on a large 
scale is in the vast tracts of open country in Eastern Oregon and Washington. 
Here, immense droves are raised, and from one hundred and fifty thousand to two 
hundred thousand head of cattle are driven East every year over the mountains 
and across the plains to market. As a general thing, the animals get through the 
winter without other feed than that supplied by grazing on wild grass. The 
extreme cold weather is never so cold, even for a day at a time, as the extreme 
cold weather of Illinois and New York. The largest owners of horned stock are 
doing much to improve its quality by infusing short-horn blood into the herds. 
In the Willamette Valley there are several breeders of Short Horns, Holsteins, 
Jerseys, Alderneys and Devons of pure race, the latter being well adapted to the 
peculiarities of country and clunate. 



28 The Pacific Morth-west. 

Horses of an excellent type are largely raised. The soil and climate, combined 
with good blood, have succeeded in producing not only the best kind of draught 
animals, but also good trotters, roadsters and' carriage horses. Great attention is 
given to this matter, and much money has been invested in obtaining fine 
iniported stock, from the heaviest Percherons and Clydesdales to the fleetest 
thoroughbreds. The horses raised east of the Cascade Mountains excel those 
produced elsewhere in speed. This is due to the vast ranges of open, hilly 
country, the abundance of bunch-grass pasturage and the distance to the water- 
ing-places. Sometimes the animals go for ten miles on a fast trot from their 
feeding-places to water, thereby developing muscle from the time of their birth. 
In the bunch-grass districts great numbers of horses are economically raised, the 
feed costing nothing. 

Sheep-husbandry is one of the greatest and most productive industries. The 
business is carried on throughout the entire region, under the most favorable con- 
ditions of climate that can anywhere be found. Eligible locations for pursuing 
this branch of enterprise in a country so large are to be found without limit. In 
Middle and Southeastern Oregon, as well as in Eastern Washington Territory, 
there are thousands upon thousands of acres which are eminently fitted for 
l^asturing sheep, and which are not occupied to within twenty per cent, of their 
capacity. The number of the flocks incTeases year by year, however, sheep not 
being so much affected by railroads and wheat fields as cattle, and the indications 
are that sheep-husbandry will grow to still greater proportions for a long time to 
come. There is no doubt that this business, conducted on intelligent principles, 
is certain to yield large profits. This has been repeatedly proved by experience. 
The wool produced has obtained a reputation of its own in the markets of New 
York and Boston, and is fast taking rank with the best fleeces which reach the 
East. The fibre is uniform, showing no weak spots in all its length, thereby 
attesting the fact of its growth in a climate to which extremes of heat and cold 
are unknown. The industry of wool-growing has been of sufficiently long 
standing to admit of improving the breed. This has been done by enterprising 
growers, and rams of the best merino and long-wool blood have been imported 
for the purpose. That wool has become a staple of commerce is shown by the 
fact that in 1881 the clip was over 8,000,000 pounds. 

With regard to the bunch-grass pasturage for live stock of all kinds east of 
the mountains, it may be said, that it affords all the elements of nutriment neces- 
sary for bone, muscle and flesh. It is quite as strong as oats or barley, and the 
quantity of this grass which an animal will eat in a day will supply it with as 
much nourishment as the quantity of timothy, clover or hay it will eat in the 
same time, with the usual amount of grain added. It is found, in the work of 
grading the Northern Pacific Railroad, that the horses and mules which graze 
upon bunch-grass during the winter have a better appearance, and do better work 
than those fed upon hay and grain. At noon a ration of oats must be given to 
working animals, simply because this is a condensed form of food, and the time 
allowed for feeding at that hour is not sufficient for them to get the needed 
quantity of grass. At one time the contractor was breaking to work forty young 
colts which had never tasted grain, but ran wild each winter on the bunch-grass 
upon which they had matured. They looked like grain-fed animals, and a 
remarkable feature was, that while they were well rounded, hard and solid in 



Education and Religion. 29 

flesli, they were not large bellied like animals fed on ordinary grass. The 
farmers and stock -men, therefore, do not use grain, because the animals keep in 
excellent condition without it. Horses employed on the railroad grade are turned 
out at night, and before morning they get enough food to work on. This bunch- 
grass matures early in summer, and stands the year tlirough, curing in the warm 
months without loss of strength. It grows in well-defined tussocks, several 
inches apart, and to all heights under thirty inches, the spears being round and 
fine like wire, and quite strong and tough. In some places on the hill tops and 
upper lands the grass is so heavy that a ton could be cut to the acre, and if cut and 
fed to stock they want nothing more. Besides this bunch grass, there is another 
wild variety of value for hay which is called rye grass. This grows to a much 
greater height than bunch-grass, and has broad flat leaves, some of which are 
over an inch in width. 

ZOOLOGY. 

There are many wild animals common to the country, and opportunities for 
hunting and shooting cannot be surpassed. Black bears are numerous, and east 
of the Cascade Mountains the grizzly bear is sometimes captured. Of the deer 
family, elk of large size are in great abundance, as well as the black-tail, the Vir- 
ginia, and, on the Spokane Plains, the mule deer. The cougar or panther, and 
many of the smaller felidse, are to be found. There are several varieties of foxes 
and wolves. The beaver, the badger, seals, both hair and fur ; the raccoon, the 
marten, the mink, the fish and land otter, the musk-rat, the weasel, the skunk, 
and several kinds of rabbits and squirrels are plentiful. Among the birds of pass- 
age are many varieties of swans, geese and ducks. There are also other aquatic 
fowl. The grouse family is well represented, and quail and snipe of large size are 
numerous. Song birds and birds of prey, in very great variety of species, are 
common. 



EDUCATION AND RELIGION. 

Both Oregon and Washington Territory are alive to the importance of educa- 
tion and public morals, and, relatively to the population, schools and churches are 
quite liberally supported. 

The school fund of Oregon is in part provided from the proceeds of sales of 
land which was granted to the State by Congress for educational purposes, but the 
larger part of the income is derived from a direct tax of from three to four mills, 
which is imposed by the Legislature. Kecent statistics showed that the pupils 
enrolled in the public schools numbered 37,533, and the average daily attendance 
was 27,435. There were 1,007 school districts and 934 school-houses. Forty-five 
of these schools w^ere for scholars of advanced grade. The average time school 
was maintained in each district was four months and a half. The total number of 
teachers was 1,314, of whom 635 were male and 679 female. The average monthly 
pay of the men was |44.19, and of the women, $33.38. Total exj^enditures for the 
year were $307,031, and the value of the school property was $567,863. There 
were also 143 private schools, with an attendance of 4,200, among which 15 were 
classed as academies and 13 as collegiate schools. The latter were founded and 



30 The Pacific Xorth-west. 

are conducted under the auspices of the Episcopal, Preshyterian, Baptist, Roman 
Catholic and other churches. Teachers' Institutes hold annual meetings in each 
judicial district. For higher educational purposes there are four (so-called) uni- 
versities, which are in reality only collegiate institutions. These are : the State 
University, at Eugene City ; the Willamette University, at Salem, a Methodist 
college, with a medical department connected with it ; the Pacific University and 
Tualatin Academy, at Forest Grove, which is non-sectarian in character, and the 
Blue Mountain University, at La Grande, Eastern Oregon. There are also four col- 
leges, one of which is the Corvallis College, situated at the town of the same name, 
Tinder the management of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. To this insti- 
tution is attached the State Agricultural College, endowed by Congress with a 
grant of 90,000 acres of the public land, which is doing good service. The other 
colleges are respectively known as McMinnville College, at McMinnville, which is 
Tinder the control of the Baptists ; Philomath College, at Philomath, directed by 
the United Brethren in Christ (Moravian), and Christian College, at Monmouth, 
with which is connected a normal school. These institutions are generally well 
attended in all the classes, and each of them admits women to the several depart- 
ments. There is also at Portland a college for women, St. Helen's Hall, Tinder the 
care of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The State University is reported to be 
in a flourishing condition, and fairly meets the anticipations of its most ardent 
friends. It has a numerous corps of professors and tutors, and is well supplied 
with apparatus and collections. The grant of land made by Congress toward its 
foundation was 66,080 acres, of which about 20,000 acres remain unsold. The 
State also supports establishments for the education of the blind and for deaf 
mutes. 

Educational matters in Washington Territory are very much on the same basis 
as they are in Oregon. There are in each township 1,380 acres set apart by the 
United States Government for school purposes, but these lands have not yet been 
sold so largely as to supply more than the nucleus of a school fund. That the 
foundation, however, for a generous support of the public schools has been made, is 
shown by the legislative appropriation of $100,000 from the Common School fund 
in 1880, which amount was apportioned among the several counties. The terri- 
torial revenue laws .provide also for a tax of three 'to four mills for the support of 
the schools. Seattle, Walla Walla, and other of the larger towns have graded 
schools, and the aim is always toward thoroughness and efficiency. In 1879, there 
were 378 school districts, 326 school-houses, besides 14 temporary school-rooms. 
Of the 17,173 persons of school age, 11,540 children were enrolled. The number 
of teachers employed was 323, of whom 136 were men and 167 women, the gen- 
eral average of monthly pay being $45. The University of Washington Territory, 
situated at Seattle, is a part of the public school system, and has a normal depart- 
ment attached. It has an average of 150 students in its four departments. There 
are many Avell-conducted private academies in the Territory also, among which 
may be named the College of the Holy Angels at Vancouver, a Roman Catholic 
institution, with about 100 pupils. 

From the latest available statistics (those of 1875) it appeared that there were 
in Oregon 351 religious organizations of all denominations, with 242 churoh edi- 
fices, 320 clergymen, 14,324 communicants, and 71,630 adherents. The assessed 
Talue of the church property was $654,000. With respect to numbers, these reli- 



32 The Facific JS'orth-ivest. 

gious organizations rank as follows : Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Roman 
Catholics, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and five minor sects. Since the date 
named there has been a large increase of the population of the State, with a cor- 
responding augmentation of the churches. It is estimated that in Washington 
Territory there are 135 church edifices, and the same number of pastors, with 
church property to the value of $150,000. All the denominations are represeuted, 
the Methodists here also leading in numbers, followed by the Eoman Catholics, 
next the Baptists, and after these, in their order, the United Brethren, the Episco- 
palians, the Presbyterians, the Congregationalists, and the smaller sects. 



CITIES AND TOWNS. 

Portland is the commercial metropolis of the entire region. The city is situ- 
ated on the Willamette River, twelve miles above its confiiience with the Columbia. 
The population in 1870, including that of East Poi'tland, was 11,103. This had 
swollen in 1880 to 23,000 souls, and the ratio of increase in future is certain to be 
very much higher. The reasons for this are quite obvious. Portland's growth 
and progress are based upon the solid foundation of natural advantages of position. 
Its site is so admirable that the limits of the city may be extended on every side. 
It is virtually a sea-port, to which large vessels may come direct from any part of 
the world and find^ wharf accommodation. It lies in the very heart of a great pro- 
ducing country which has no other outlet, and for which it must serve as a receiver 
and distributor of exports and imports. At no other point in the Pacific North- 
west are these manifest superiorities offered. In this connection it may be remarked 
that the navigation of the waters of the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers is 
only made difficult by obstructions that are caused by. parsimony and neglect. 
The channels of these streams may be kept clear by a com])aratively small annual 
outlay upon the bars and slioals. Portland is the seat of a steamship company 
which runs lines of ocean steamers to San Francisco and Puget Sound, British 
Columbia and Alaska,. as well as a fleet of river boats. It is likewise the centre of 
a railway system which, within the year 1882, will have 2,000 miles of road in 
operation, and bring the city a heavy commercial tribute. Its streets are wide, 
regularly laid out, well paved and well lighted. The buildings of the business 
thoroughfares woiild do credit to any city, and the same may be said of many of 
the churches, the post-office, the custom-house, and other public edifices, as well as 
private residences. The markets are good and spacious. There are public and 
other schools of various grades, a large library, well-conducted newspapers, banks, 
commodious hotels, street cars, water, gas, manufactiiring establishments, tele- 
graphic communication with all parts of the world, an immense wholesale and 
retail business, and, in fine, all the features of a flourishing modern city. The 
permanent advancement of Portland is guaranteed by the air of substantial pros- 
perity which ]jervades the place. The volume of business is greater than can be 
shown by any other city of its size in the United States. Interesting facts with 
reference to the shipjjing and export trade of Portland are given under the head 
of " Commerce," on another page. 



34 The Pacific JVorth-west. 

other thriving towns and cities in Oregon, with their respective populations, as 
given by the United States census of 1880, are : Salem, the State capital, 52 miles 
south of Portland, on the Willamette River, and the county seat of Marion County, 
2,538 ; Astoria, the county seat of Clatsop County, situated 12 miles from the 
mouth of the Columbia River, with fine advantages as a port of shipment, and for 
commerce generally, 2,803 ; Oregon City, county seat of Clackamas County, an 
important manufacturing town, with unlimited water-power, 1,263 ; Corvallis, in 
Benton County, seat of the State Agricultural College and present terminus of the 
West Side Division of the Oregon and California Railroad, 1,128 ; The Dalles, a 
flourishing city on the Columbia River, in Wasco County, 2,232 ; Roseburg, in 
Douglas County, leading town in the Umpqua Valley, and terminus of the Oregon 
and California Railroad, 822 ; Jacksonville, in Jackson County, the largest town in 
the Rogue River Valley, with an active business, 839 ; Baker City, a flourishing 
town in Baker County, in the midst of a mining and agricultural region, and also 
prominent as the terminus of two nearly completed railroad lines, 1,258 ; Albany, 
with its precinct, an impoirtant wheat centre in the Willamette Valley, 3,517 ; 
Eugene City, seat of the State University, also in the Willamette Valley, 1,170. 
Besides the places named are many more of much prominence which are partic- 
ularly mentioned in the appendix in a description of the counties to which they 
helong. 

In Washington Territory the principal towns are Olympia, the capital, with 
1,232 inhabitants; Seattle, the most important point on Puget Soimd, with a steadily 
growing commerce in coal, lumber, fish, etc., 3,533; New Tacoma, terminus of the 
Pacific Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad, also on Puget Sound, 1,098 ; 
Port Townsend, the port of entry for the Puget Sound Customs' District, 917 ; 
Vancouver, on the Columbia River, headquarters of the U. S, Army for the Depart- 
ment of the Columbia, 1,722 ; and, in Eastern Washington Territory, Walla Walla, 
a prosperous city, the centre of what is at present the most fertile wheat-produ- 
cing region, connected by railroad with Portland, 3,588 ; Dayton, with a woolen 
manufactory, and also in railroad connection, doing a great business in wheat, 
996 ; Colfax, 444 ; Spokane Falls, 350 ; Yakima City, 267 ; Palouse City, 148 ; the 
latter being agricultural towns. 



THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 

This valley, famed alike for its beauty, salubrity and fertility, is situated in 
Western Oregon. From north to south, its length is 125 miles, and its average 
hreadth the entire distance is over forty. A better idea of its great size may be 
gained by remembering that its area is larger than that of Vermont or New 
Hampshire, Massachusetts or New Jersey, nearly as large as that of Maryland, 
almost three 'times as large as that of Connecticut, five times as large as that of 
Delaware and ten times larger than that of Rhode Island. On either hand 
it is hemmed in by wooded mountains, from the defiles of which numerous 
lateral valleys debouch upon it. The whole of its wide expanse is refreshed 
and beautified by more than forty water-courses which feed the navigable 
river of the same name that flows through it. The valley * presents the most 
charming alternations of scenery, including every feature from snow-capped 



The Willajnette Valley. 35 

raountain peaks to thickly wooded liills, rich meadows, shady groves and pastoral 
dales. lu view of its manifold attractions, it has been not inappropriately termed 
" the Eden of Oregon." Although the earliest settlers established their homes in 
this valley, and it is now, as it has been always, the most pO))ulons portion of the 
State, embracing within its limits the most impoitant towns and cities, it still 
offers vast tracts of agricultural lands to cultivators. Witliin its natural boun- 
daries — the (.'olumbia River on the north, the Cascade Mountains on the east, the 
Coast Range on the west, and the Callapoia Mountains on the south — it contains 
four millions of acres, of which area nearly the whole is of unusual productive- 
ness. But to assume that one-tifth of this land is now under cultivation, or even 
held in permanent meadows for pasturing and grazing purposes, would be estimat- 
ing very liberally. 

The staple productions of the Willamette Valley are all the cereals, with the 
exception of Indian corn, wool, cattle, fruit and vegetables. Wheat raising, how- 
ever, for which the soil and climate are particularly adapted, takes the first rank 
in order of importance. Under favorable conditions of cultivation the yield is 20 
to 80 bushels per acre, and even as much as 40 bushels. Land summer-fallowed 
and fall-sowed is certain to produce 25 bushi'is as a minimum yield. In some 
parts of this valley where the fields have been cropped continuously for a quarter 
of a century they still produce enormously, thus demonstrating the great strength 
and permanent qualities of the soil. The wheat of this region is a plump, full 
berry, from which tiour of uncommon whiteness is made. Its excellence in this 
respect is so fully recognized that in the English markets it commands a premium 
of from three to five cents a bushel over the best i)roduced in California. Many 
varieties of wheat are cultivated. The old white winter wheat, originally intro- 
duced by the Hudson Bay Company, is excellent in quality and retains its hold on 
popular favor. White velvet wheat is certainly as good, and perhaps more pro- 
ductive. Spring varieties of white wheat, Chili Club, Little Club, Australian and 
others, are well liked and give good crops. The peculiarities of the soil in the 
various counties mainly detemiine, however, the kind of wheat which is used for 
seed in different localities. 

The principal owners of unoccupied lands in the valley are the United States 
Government and the Oregon and California and the Oregon Central Railroad com- 
panies. The lands owned by these corporations were obtained under a grant in 
aid of the construction of their railroads. These land grants, of course, were made 
long subsequent to the passage of the " Donation Law," the provisions of which 
have been elsewhere stated. Congress undoubtedly benefited the State by the law 
in question, in so far as a large immigration was thereby attracted. But what was 
originally an advantage has since proved a detriment. The lands taken uj) in 
large tracts by the pioneers were naturally those which could be cultivated with 
least labor. In this way the most easily tilled lands of Western Oregon and the 
rich prairies of the Willamette Valley fell into comparatively few hands. Unfor- 
tunately, the class who now hold these choice acres are, as a general thing, too 
unen(;rgetic to cultivate all they possess, and at the same time too unwilling to 
dispose of what they do not use to those who would render the soil productive. 
Under these circun^stances both the i)ublic and railroad lands of the Willamette 
Valley consist mainly of timber tracts, which are not so easily brought under cul- 
tivation. The lands in question for the most part are situated along the foot-hills 



The Paloitse Country. 37 



•of the Cascade and Coast ian<ros. Exi)erience lias ami)iy jjroved tliat when th(^ trees 
and undergrowtli have once been ck'ared away, these timber-lands are (luite as 
valuable for agricultural purposes as the best prairies. Over large areas destruc- 
tive fires have already swept off the forests so effectively that the ground, at very 
little exiiense, may be entirely cleared for i)loughing. Immense tracts of brush- 
lands in Benton, Yamhill, Marion, Polk and Clackamas counties, long supposed to 
be worthless, have recently been cleared and put under profitable cultivation. As 
illustrating how little was formerly known as to the value and productiveness of 
these brush-lands, the Waldo Hills region may be instanced. These hills are 
near Salem, contiguous to good highways, to railroads and steamboats. The soil 
is red and rich and easily worked. A few years ago the Waldo Hills were believed 
to be sterile and almost worthless. They are now the I'ichest grain fields in the 
valley, producing the best samples of wheat that were shown at the Centennial 
and Paris Exhibitions of 1870 and 1878, and last year yielding 350,000 bushels. 
To-day the cleared portions sell readily from $30 to §50 an acre, exclusive of 
improvements. 

The grants to the Oregon and California Railroad Company comprise the odd- 
numbered alternate sections within twenty miles of the road on either side, to the 
extent of 12,800 acres for every mile of road. This company sells its lands on the 
liberal terms of $1.25 to $7 per acre. If the purchaser pay cash he is allowed a 
discount of 10 per cent, on the price. If he choose to buy on credit he may take 
ten years to make up the amount in small annual payments, with interest at 7 per 
cent, per annum. Paying one-tenth of the purchase money at once, at the expira- 
tion of one year he pays 7 per cent, interest on the remaining nine tenths of the 
principal. At the close of the second year, he pays one-tenth of the principal and 
one year's interest on the remainder. In this way the payments go on each suc- 
cessive year, until all are made. 



THE PALOUSE COUNTRY. 

Perhaps settlers could find no more favorable region in which to establish 
themselves than in that part of Whitman County, W. T., which is known as the 
Palouse Country. This tract is situated between the Snake River on the south and 
the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad on the north and west, and lies within 
the great grain-growing belt of the Columbia River Valley. Its merits for agri- 
cultural purposes have not been unrecognized, in view of the fact that railroad facili- 
ties have been supplied in order to forward its rapid settlement. The face of the 
country may fairly be described as high, rolling prairies. It is traversed by many 
streams, chief among which are the Palouse River and Rebel and I'nion Flat 
Creeks, with their numerous tributaries. Pure spring water almost everywhere 
abounds. In healthfulness the region is unsurpassed. The dryness of the climate 
secures comparative exemjjtion from throat and lung troubles, rheumatism and 
fevers, and the invigorating air admits of great physical exertion with the mini- 
mum of discomfort. 



38 The Pacific Jforth-west. 

The soil of the Palovise Country is highly productive, and its constituents insure 
its lasting qualities. Its average depth is about three feet, except on the southern 
hill-slopes, where a slight admixture of clay is sometimes detected. It is, as a 
rule, equally productive on any spot where the plow can be used. 

Wheat is the leading agricultural product of the Palouse Country. A heavy 
yield, varying from thirty-five to fifty bushels per acre, is usual. The quality of 
the crop leaves nothing to be desired. But bounteous harvests are not character- 
istic of wheat alone. Oats, barley, rye, timothy, flax, millet, potatoes, cabbage,, 
beets, and, in fine, all the hardy cereals and vegetables, produce largely. 

The unsettled lands of all this region, hill and valley alike, are covered with 
wild flowers and bunch-grass, which are a sure indication of the fertility of the 
ground. The abundance of this growth, and the nutritive properties of the grass, 
made this particular region a favorite pasture-range for cattle- raisers during many 
years. Of late, however, the ranchmen have been driven farther afield, because 
the fertility of the country has rendered it more valuable for agricultural pur- 
poses. The bunch-grass grows luxuriantly until about the middle of July, at 
which period it begins to be turned by the sun into excellent hay. Upon this wild 
grass stock subsist all the year round ; although, particularly as far as horned 
cattle are concerned, it is always a risk to be unprepared with hay for winter feed- 
ing. The breeding of all kinds of stock is a prosperous occupation. Especially is 
this true of horses and sheep. Unlike horned cattle, these animals rarely need to 
be foddered, or even sheltered, at any time. They thrive finely upon the bunch- 
grass, pawing the snow away to get at it during the winter. The fecundity of the 
domestic animals is surprising, and this insures large profits. 

The Palouse Country is not only within the limits of the land-grant of the 
Northern Pacific Eailroad, by which line it is traversed, but it is also brought into 
connection with the principal centres of business and population in the entire 
Pacific North-west region by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's lines. 



THE GRANDE EONDE VALLEY. 

This remarkably beautiful and fertile valley is situated in Union County,. 
Eastern Oregon, east of the Blue Mountains. It is about S5 miles long by 20 wide, 
and contains about 250,000 acres of excellent farming land. The soil is well 
adapted to the production of wheat, oats, barley, rye, flax, hemp, sugar beets and 
every sort of vegetables. The country can not be excelled for the purpose of 
dairying and stock-raising. The Grande Ronde Valley is almost surrounded by 
high mountains, the summits of which are covered with snow from early in 
November until late in July. The scenery is extremely beautiful, the eye never 
wearying of the grandeur of the mountains and the charms of the peaceful 
valley. Along the base of the mountains and within easy access of almost any 
part of the valley are fine bodies of timber consisting principally of pine, fir and 
tamarack. There are numerous streams of water threading the valley, which afford 
ample power for driving mills and machinery, and serve as well for irrigating in 
times of drought, although for the latter purpose there has been thus far very 



^fL^^^':''f'l:^r^^^^ 39 

rareiy occasions to use thenj. The cWmsxtTcTihTn a ^ T^ 

fuland remarkabiy healthy the.T^^^^^^'^^'^^'^^^^^^^^^^^^y^^deWghu 

plain, have neverLn,!!;^^:;^^^^^^^^^ ^^ '^"'T .^^^^^ >— " 

were considered hopeless have bef^:d t; ■! ^^ "' 'f "^^^ '''''''' 
altitude of the Grande Ronde is 3 000 feT , ^r'^ '^^"'^^ ^° ^^^^ ^a'l'^y- The 
record was 18^ below zero and its' t IZ 96 O^ •'' f "^- ^^^ ^"''^" 
valley has been comparatively overlXd bv ' ^'"^ "' '°'^""" *^^^^ 

Columbia River. Its settler irveteenH a ""'''^''"'' " '"" ™"''' "^ '^^^ 
in search of homes and w arr s ed b ";e%'"'"^^^^^ ^^' ^^^^^^^ ''^^^ P>-- 

region offered. ^ *^'' favorable opportunities which this 

There are four flourishing towns in Grande Ronde Vallev Tb.v tt • 
the county-seat, with a population of over 800 • T TT ,'■ , ^ ^^"^ ^°'''"' 
number, and Island Cit/and SanrerX e'ch ht -inJl:: T'" t-^V'^^ '^'^^ 
The mining camps in Union nnrl r, ,' .^'''''''^*^^^«^ ^^^"dred inhabitants, 

have always afforde "a fei market f .7 T"''"'' '"'' ^^"^ ^^^^ '^-^'- "^ W^'-- 
duced in the valley ^^^d'^es^fV ^^^-7"-"^*"^ "" '^"^^ ^"^ ^-"" P-" 
year to Montana and ^:^'^ hTrsold'at I^ 1 '^'T ''' ''''"'' ^^-^' 
Valley is distant from the Columbia Ton f ! P'°^*- ^'"^"^^ ^""^e 

Excellent opportunities are^ff^ t Z "^urs^o Tth wlidT'd'^^ T"^" 

only be purchased Lm s:^:: ^tzi izz:::^^^:,;:;:;^ r 

smgle person, consequently they have not uu ■ 7 , '^^^^'''^'''^ '^^O acres to a. 
Tl,e p,ice per aero „f\e SW Ld I .td:":' af Z^T" n T "'"'""■ 
situated without i.nnrovemen... o.„ ,„ , ' 1 !.f':.. f"'" ."."'"■'"'I'' '""'l". "»" 



. - «v.i>io in iiAt-u ai 5^1.^0. More 

situated without improvements, can be bought at from $4 to 



per acre. 



LA CONNEK, AECHIPELAGO DE HAEO, ETC. 

cou«.„„u, „ai„,a„d, a» we,, as .,.o\dJar ^ '^^rOu ^^^S;,:;!;'" '"^ 

and 55 miles from S.le aid w ," " ^ """" *""'='' •»"""".'■ '"» 

theprecinet. '"'■""'=■''"<' h»s a p„p„|a„ou of 300, „.i„, 550 i„l.„w,a,„s iu 

the Sound is on the upper reaehes of .,J C tri.^r „ ,d ,0™^^' '""""."'; 

rdsrz-jL;^ tt:'r::;,er:id:'r''d -^i-" -■«- «-^ - -- -r 



^0 The Pacific J\'orth-west. 

over 4,200 acres, mainly timber lands. They do little farming, although they 
have reclaimed some of the marshes. 

On the Skagit River, and on the tide-lands which form its delta, there are 
about 20,000 acres under cultivation, of which 12,000 acres are tide-lands. The 
soil of the tide-lands is extremely rich, being composed of the alluvium de- 
posited by the river. Mr. Conner, the largest proprietor, plants annually 600 
acres in oats, barley and wheat— principally oats. The yield from oats is from 
75 to 110 bushels per acre, or from 1^ to 2 tons. The standard weight of a bushel 
of oats is 36 pounds, but the La Conner oats often weigh 45 pounds per bushel, 
and the average is probably 40 pounds. The farmers of the La Conner precinct 
liad seven steam-threshers at work in 1881, each machine costing about $2,000. 
It is estimated that these engines threshed during the season 6,840 tons, or over 
342,000 bushels of grain — mainly oats. For oats they received $22 a ton from pro- 
duce dealers on the field, without hauling or any other labor beside threshing and 
sack-filling. This price was nearly 1\ cents per pound, or 40 cents per bushel. In 
addition to oats the La Conner region produces barley and wheat, for which, 
respectively, $23 and |25 per ton were paid on the farms. The yield of timothy 
hay and clover is said to be from 2|^ to 3 tons per acre, and this sells readily in 
British Columbia at .flO per ton. Potatoes grow well on the uplands, and from 
SOO to 500 bushels per acre is a common crop. Apples attain large size and are of 
■excellent flavor. All the hardier vegetables thrive. Considerable live-stock is 
raised, and feeding is only done for a few weeks after the 1st of January. At all 
other times the cattle keep in good condition by grazing. An experiment in hops 
Avas tried last year, by planting a few acres about half a mile from the tide-lands, 
with so satisfactory results that it will be repeated on a larger scale. 

The so-called " Olympian Marshes " are situated about 6 miles from La Con- 
ner. Thes6 marshes are subject to the overflow of the Skagit when the stream is 
swollen, but they may be reclaimed by diking. Their area is at least 20,000 acres, 
and they are called beaver-dam lauds. There is no question that they would 
yield on an average 100 bushels of oats to the acre. 

Situated along the course of the Skagit, and for a distance of 30 miles from its 
mouth, are ten lumber camps, comprising the most active logging interests at 
present on Puget Sound. 

On the Skagit, gold, iron and coal have been discovered. About 30 miles from 
La Conner a valuable coal mine exists, the quality being not unlike that of Cum- 
berland coal. Near the same place rich iron ore has been found, but as yet neither 
industry has been developed, for lack of capital. 

The Saak River, one of the tributaries of the Skagit, flowing into the latter 
about 50 miles from its mouth, is, in -course of time, destined to support a large 
population. There are 20,000 acres of prairie there on which the Indians now pas- 
ture their horses. Already a few whites have gone into this region. East of the 
Saak the land is comparatively unexplored. The climate is mild, the lauds low 
and level, with growths of vine-maple and alder. The Saak valley extends to 
the Cascade Mountains, and the Indians object to settlers entering it. 

On the Samish River, about 15 miles north of La Conner, there is a fine body 
of good timber-land. This stream is small, and navigable only for a short dis- 
tance. Near the mouth there are about 1,500 acres, chiefly tide-lands, under 
cultivation, and there are settlements extending up the stream for about five miles. 



La Conner, Archipelago de Haro, Etc. 41 

The Chuckanut range of mountaing comes abruptly down to the water above 
the Samish River. They offer the finest kind of sandstone known to the coast. 
As yet this stone has not been quarried to a great extent. Some pubhc buildings 
at Seattle and at Port Townsend and at Portland have been built of it, however. 
This stone is easily worked, and the quantity i» inexhaustible. 

JSIorth of the Chuckanut Mountains, about six miles, is Bellingham Bay, into 
^lich flows the Nooksahk River. The county-seat of Whatcom County is at 
Bellingham Bay, which is one of the finest harbors on the coast, capable of float- 
ing and giving secure anchorage to the largest vessels, being sheltered by 
mountains from the prevailing south-west winds. The town of Whatcom is 
.situated near the mouth of the Nooksahk, and was the seat of the coal mines at 
Bellingham Bay. These mines were opened in 1854, but suspended operation 
in 1877. 

The Nooksahk River is navigable for a distance of 30 miles by light draught 
steamers, and for canoes, 30 miles further. At present, log -jams prevent steamers 
from ascending higher. The Nooksahk Valley is one of the most promising 
valleys on the Sound, preferable to the Skagit for poorer settlers, inasmuch as the 
land and river bottoms are above tide-water, and need no diking. The valley 
extends in a level plateau, running north to the Fraser River, B. C. The territory 
between the Nooksahk and the Fraser is about 20 miles wide, and from the Cas- 
cade Mountains to Bellingham Bay about 25 miles wide. Perhaps one-half of 
this region is good arable land, and not one-tenth of it is settled. 

This country is adapted to general farming and fruit-growing. Apples, 
pears and peaches of good quality are raised, as well as vegetables of all 
kinds. 

On the west side of the Nooksahk River there is a reservation of 17 sections of 
land, nearly 11,000 acres, belonging to the Lummi tribe of Indians, who number 
400. This land is considered the best in the country. 

The population in the Nooksahk country, from Bellingham Bay to the bound- 
ary line, is estimated at 1,000. At Whatcom, there is excellent water-power, 
capable of running large factories. 

Semiahmoo Bay, on the Gulf of Georgia, near the boundary line, the terminus 
of the Sound and Port Townsend steam mail route, is settled by about 75 families, 
who are engaged in farming and stock-raising. 

Fidalgo Island, also in Whatcom County, is perhaps second to Whidby Island 
in respect to size, population and production. It is close to the main shore. The 
soil is a good ujiland, producing excellent hay, vegetables and garden produce. 
There are also sheep-farms, and the wool is of a good kind. 

Guemes Island, San Juan County, east of Rosario Straits, is also of large size. 
The soil is good, and crops of about the same character are raised as those on 
Fidalgo Island. There are alwut 50 families settled here. 

Orcas Island, also in San Juan Count)-, lying north-west of Guemes, is 
mountainous. Valuable silver quartz has recently been discovered on it. 
Its settlers, about 100 in number, are engaged in stock-raising and general 
farming. 

Lopez Island, San Juan County, is a better island than Orcas, and is nearly 
as large. There are about 150 settlers engaged in agriculture and sheep 
husbandry. 



42 The Pacific JYorth-west. 

San Juan Island, and numerous smaller islands of the group, have large tracts 
of good prairie land. Attention is given to sheep-raising, the wool being of excel- 
lent quality. There are about 250 inhabitants. 

Whidby Island, with the adjacent island of Cameno, forms Island County. 
Whidby is about 60 miles long, and varies greatly in width, being five or six 
miles at its widest part. It is one of the oldest settlements on Puget Sound. 
The soil is good, and may be described as a fine upland prairie. There are large 
bodies of timber on both the northern and southern portions of the island. 
On Cameno Island, at Utsaladdy, there is a large saw-mill. The population of 
these two islands is about 1,000. 



OTHER REGIONS WORTH LOOKING AFTER. 

Large areas of good farming territory remain unsettled, and for the most part 
unsurveyed, in what is known as the " Colville Country," lying west of the Pend 
d'Oreille Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad and north of Spokane Falls. 
The following outline of this region was made in November, 1881, by Indian 
Agent James O'Neil, and is presented for the information of intending settlers : 

" From Spokane Falls to Colville by the Cottonwood Road, running a little 
west of north, about 45 miles of timbered country is passed through. This timber 
is mostly pine, with some white pine and considerable tamarack. The soil afLer it 
has been cleared is very good. The Colville Valley is entered at Che-we-Uih, or 
Fool's Prairie, where there is a school district and election precinct of 50 voters. 
The farming portion of the valley from this point to the mouth of the Colville 
River is about 40 miles long, and from one to three miles wide. Adjoining are 
other good lands, thinly timbered, which are suitable for grazing, the soil being 
excellent for agricultural purposes also after it is cleared. For this whole distance 
the crops of wheat, oats and vegetables will compare favorably with those raised 
south of the Spokane River. From the mouth of the Colville River to the mouth 
of the Spokane, the distance is from 45 to 50 miles. On the east bank of the Co- 
lumbia River are good farming and grazing lands, with capabilities for one hun- 
dred and fifty more large farms ; the lands immediately upon the Columbia pro- 
ducing excellent corn and other grain, melons, tomatoes, fruit, and vegetables. 
There are here some Indian farms, but as yet only a few faiius occupied by whites, 
the land being still unsurveyed. Many desirable farms may yet be had in the 
Columbia Valley, from five to eight miles from Fort Colville in a southeastwardly 
direction. Towards Pend d'Oreille Lake lies the "White Mud Lake Country," 
which is still unsurveyed. Many good farms may be taken up in this country. 
Hundreds of horses winter in this region without care, sustaining themselves on 
the bunch-grass. Here, too, are numerous fine ledges of marble, white and varie- 
gated. In the Colville Valley, also, from Walker Prairie to Che-we-lah, are to be 
found many ridges of the finest limestone and granite. From Che-we-lah in a 
southeastwardly direction, a trail, extensively traveled, leads to Kalispel and Pend 
d'Oreille Lake, distant 35 miles, where the Indians have a few farms. On the 
west bank of the Columbia, opposite old Fort Colville, and up the Kettle River 
and on the high lands bordering the British Columbia line, are fine and extensiv^e 
farming and grazing lands. The whole country is well watered with the purest 
water in the world, entirely free fiom alkali. A fine gold-bearing quartz country 
is being opened about five miles from Che-v.-e-lah, extending some 30 miles 
towards Spokane Falls, and over toward Lake Pend d'Oreille." 



JVorthern Pacific R. R. and Other Lands. 45 

Respecting the mineral resources of this " Colville Country," the U. S. Sur- 
veyor General of Washington Territory, W. McMicken, Esq., under date of 
November 9, 1881, wrote : 

"The mineral country, which is locally known as the ' Colville and Wenatchee 
countries,' may be described as follows : 

"The Colville country lies east and west of the Colville Guide meridian, which 
is extended north between range 39 and 40 east to the north boundary of town- 
ship 86. This belt extends east across the Clark's Fork of the Columbia and west 
across the Columbia to the Cascade Mountains. South on the west side of the 
Columbia to the upper Yakima or Klee-al-um Lake, is the ' Wenatchee country.' 

" The rock formation is granite, slate and quartz, and the limited examinations 
which have been made show that gold, silver and galena exist, not only in paying 
quantities, but in several localities to great extent and richness. While in the 
Colville country last September I noticed that many of the small streams ran 
over quartz pebbles, and granite and slate were visible on all the hillsides along 
the Colville Valley, also broken fragments of quartz. 

" This portion of the territorj' is unsurveyed and as yet almost unexplored. On 
the tributaries of the Wenatchee several promising gold mines have been found 
which are now being developed, and another year will bring to notice rich lodes 
of silver-bearing rock in the Colville country north of the Spokane Kiver." 

In reference to this same region. Major Truax, who for years has been survey- 
ing Government lands in Washington Territory and is familiar with the country 
generally, said : 

" From Cheney, on the Northern Pacific Railroad, there is a belt of land about 
40 miles wide and over 100 miles in length, bordering the Spokane and Columbia 
Rivers, which I consider the finest grain country of its size in the Columbia basin. 
Four -fifths of this is good agricultural land, and the remainder a fine grazing' 
region. These lands are slightly rolling and are thickly covered with bunch- 
grass, sunflowers and other wild flowers of many varieties, indicating a very rich 
soil. Settlers are now locating there, even so far distant as 75 miles from the 
Northern Pacific Railroad, being confident that a branch railroad must soon be 
built to open up so fine a region, and rather waiting in hope of future advantage 
than locating on poorer land nearer the railroad. Perhaps two or three hundred 
pioneers have settled here in the course of 1881." 



THE NORTHERN" PACIFIC RAILROAD AND OTHER 

LANDS. 

The bulk of the agricultural lands of the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the 
Pacific North-west, now in market, is situated in Yakima, Walla Walla, Colum- 
bia, Garfield, Whitman and Stevens Counties, Washington Territory, and in 
Nez Perce County, Idaho. These lands are, for the most part, accessible, and 
within easy reach of tiansportation facilities, not only by way of the trunk line 
of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Columbia and Snake Rivers, but also by 
the branches of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Comi)any's system, extend- 
ing from Walla Walla over the region south of Snake River, and from a point 
on the line of the Northern Pacific, 48 miles north-east of Ainsworth, through 
the territorv watered bv the Palousi> and its numerous tributaries. Among the 



United States Land Laws. 45 

regions most desirable for settlement may be mentioned those watered by Crab, 
Rock and Hangman Creeks, in Stevens County, and by Tborne, Pine and Cotton- 
wood Creeks, in Whitman County. The soil is exceedingly rich and productive, 
and living water is found on almost every quarter-section. There are also ex- 
tensive tracts of equally desirable railroad land in the Counties of Garfield, 
Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla. 

The lands of the Northern Pacific Railroad, lying west of the Cascade Moun- 
tains, are princiiially timbered. There are, however, large tracts in the valleys 
of the Chehalis, Cowlitz, Lewis and Salmon Rivers as well as on the i)lateau 
north of the Columbia, extending toward the Cascade Mountains, which may be 
easily cleared and brought under cultivation. Here, all kinds of fruit and grain 
thrive equally well. On Puget Sound, too, there is plenty of rich bottom land 
that can be brought under cultivation at but little cost. 

The Northern Pacific Railroad Company sells it lands on easy terms, and at 
low prices, assisting intending settlers in every way to find suitable locations. 

Besides the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and the United States tfovern- 
ment, the Oregon Improvement Company is the largest seller of land in the ter- 
ritory east of the Cascade Mountains. This company owns 145,000 acres of 
carefully selected agricultural land in Whitman County, W^ashington Territory, 
and 20,000 acres in Grande Ronde and Powder River valleys, Baker County, Ore- 
gon. These lands are particularly desirable, owing to their proximity to the 
Palouse branches, and the Grande Ronde branch of the Oregon Railway and 
Navigation Company. They are sold on easy terms, at from $5 to $10 per acre. 



THE UNITED STATES LAND LAWS. 

The liberal provisions which have been made by the United States Govern- 
ment for acquiring public lands are to be found in the following summary of the 
acts of Congress relating to the subject ; 

Under the provisions of the " Homestead Law," every head of a family, male 
or female, or single man over twenty-one years of age, a citizen of the United 
States, or having declared his intention to become such, can enter, on payment 
of the registry fees, which range from $5.50 to $32, one hundred and sixty acres 
of Government land, excepting lands bearing gold, silver, cinnabar or copper. 
After five years' continuous residence upon and improvement of the land, the 
Government will give the claimant a perfect title. 

Under the Pre-emption Law, persons who are qualified to take up land under 
the conditions applying to the homestead law, and who are not already in pos- 
session of three hundred and twenty acres in any of the States or Territories of 
the United States, may " enter " and establish a pre-emption right, at the Govern- 
ment Land Office of the district, on payment of a fee of $3. In other words, any 
such person has the right to purchase a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, 
either within or without the limits of a railroad grant, at $2.50 per acre in the 
former, and at $1.25 per acre in the latter case. Where the tract is offered for 



46 The Facific J^'orth-west. 



sale by the Government, the land must be paid for within thirteen months from 
the date of settlement, otherwise within thirty-three months. 

Under the Timber Culture Act one hundred and sixty acres is the maximum 
«ntry. This act is liberal in its provisions, but claimants are required to strictly 
comply with the letter and spirit of its terms. During the first year at least five 
.acres must be ploughed. The second year said five ncres must be actually culti- 
vated to crop, and a second five acres ploughed. The third year the first five 
acres must be planted in timber, seeds, or cuttings, and the second five acres 
actually cultivated to crop. The fourth year the second five acres must be planted 
in timber, seeds, or cuttings, making, at the end of the fourth year, ten acres 
thus planted. Perfect good faith must be shown at all times by claimants. The 
timber must not only be planted, but it must each year be protected and culti- 
vated in such a manner as to promote its growth. A patent may be obtained for 
the land at the expiration of eight years from date of entry, upon showing that 
for said eight years the trees have been planted, protected and cultivated as 
aforesaid, and that not less than 3,700 trees icere planted on each acre, and at the 
time of making proof there shall be then growing at least 675 living, thrifty trees 
to each acre. If at any time during the said eight years it shall be shown Ihat 
the party has failed to comply with the terms of the law, the entry will be 
canceled. Only the planting of such trees, seeds, or cuttings as are properly 
denominated timber trees, or which are recognized as forest trees, will be con- 
sidered a compliance with the law. Cottonwood is recognized as timber under 
the act. All entries of less than one quarter section shall be ploughed, planted, 
cultivated and planted to trees, tree seeds, or cuttings, in the same manner and in 
the proportion hereinbefore provided for in the one hundred and sixty acre entry. 
The Land Office fee for an entry of more than eighty acres is $14 ; for one of 
eighty acres or less, $9. 

The United States Land Offices in Oregon are situated at Oregon City, Rose- 
burg, The Dalles, La Grande and Linkville, and those in Washington Territory 
are to be found at Olympia, Vancouver, Yakima City, Walla Walla and Colfax. 
At each of these offices the usual facilities to settlers who wish to take up Govern- 
ment lands are offered. 



TAXATION 



Oregon has earned a good reputation for economy in Government expendi- 
tures, and the rate of taxation is extremely moderate. The legislative appropria- 
tions for all jiurposes connected with the State during the two years ended 
September, 1880, were $395,952. The receipts of the State Treasurer for the 
same period were $432,605, this amount being derived principally from a four 
mill tax. The estimated expenditures of the State for the two years ending 
September, 1882, are put at $354,280. The disbursements include interest on the 
bonded debt of the State, which amounted, on September 1, 1880, to $511,376, a 
large part of which was incurred during the Modoc and Umatilla Indian vrars, 
and for which a claim has been made upon the Government of the United States. 
According to the national census of 188C ^he total assessed value of real and 



Commerce. 47 



personal property in the State was $09,754,113, divided as follows : land and im- 
provements, $53,733,043 ; farm inadiinery and tools, ^2,913,750 ; live stock, 
$13,116,720. It may, however, be taken for granted that the real worth of the 
property exceeded by at least one half the figures here given. Assessors rarely 
comply with the statute which recjuires that taxes shall be levied upon property 
at its full cash value. Complaints of unjust assessment are heard before boards 
of equalization. 

Washington Territory, since 1879, has only imposed a tax of three mills on 
the dollar. The Territory, at the close of September, 1881, was entirely free 
from debt, and had a cash balance in the treasury of $22,715. This favorable 
condition of the finances was due to the steady and healthful increase of property 
valuations during the years 1880 and 1881, and to the economy exercised with 
respect to appropriations and expenditures. The assessed value of all property 
in 1881 was $25,78(5,415, and the territorial tax levy on the same was ^77,351. 
Taking these figures as a basis, and assuming that the rate of increase will not 
diminish, it is estimated that during the ensuing two years the gross amount of 
territorial tax, at the rate of three mills on the dollar, will reach the sum of 
about $150,000 to meet the current expenses of the period ending September 30, 
1883. 



COMMERCE. 

For many years Oregon and Washington Territory were commercially de- 
pendent upon California. Gradually, however (and just in the ratio of increase 
of the productions of the ri-gion), commercial independence has been achieved. 
Exportatious of wheat, flour, salmon and other staples are no longer made so 
largely through the medium of Saii Francisco. Neither are supplies drawn from 
that quarter to the same extent as was formerly the case. Portland now buys 
merchandise not only in all the great cities of the United States, but also directly 
in foreign markets. The same is true of Astoria and other centres of business. 
The commerce of the country has become self-sustaining, because production has 
been stimulated by the opening of lines of transportation. 

From statistics carefully prepared at the Custom Houses at Portland and 
Astoria the following facts are given to show the volume of the foreign trade. 
The direct exports of domestic products from the Columbia River to lorcifj-n 
ports during ihe years 1880 and 1881, were : 

FROM PORTL.\ND. 

1880. Value. 

Wheat, 1,762,515 bushels $1,845,537 

Flour, 180,763 barrels 891 ,872 

Total $2,737 ,409 

1881. Value. 

Wheat, 4,076,508 bushels $3,765,232 

Flour, 337,395 barrels 1,484.311 

Other merchandise 74,900 

Total $5,324,503 



Commerce. 419 



FROM ASTORIA. 

1880. Value. 

Wheat, 479,721 bushels $469,032 

Flour, 17,894 barrels 8G,779 

Salmon, 204,855 cases , 1,022,157 

Other merchandise 3,147 



Total $1,581,115 

1881. Value. 

Wheat, 790,510 bushels '. $739,170 

Flour, 49,652 barrels 248,852 

Salmon, 342,149 cases 1,736,993 

Total 12,724,915 

By comparing the foregoing figures it will be seen that the aggregate value of 
domestic exports from the Columbia River to foreign countries has uearly doubled 
in the short space of one year — the actual increase being $3,730,894, and that the 
grand total of direct foreign shipments during the two years was $12,367,742. 

The bulk of the exports of wheat and flour is shipped to England, Ireland. 
Belgium and France. Salmon goes almost exclusively to England. 

The increase of the business with China is quite marlved. In 1880, the value 
of merchandise imported from Hong-Kong was $84,808, and in 1881 it was 
$137,234. Eventually a large portion of the trade of the Pacific coast with China 
must fall to Portland. The mouth of the Columbia is several days' sailing nearer 
to the chief Chinese ports than is the Golden Gate, and when direct railroad com- 
munication to Eastern ports is open the trade will naturally be diverted to the 
shortest route. 

It must be kept in mind that the foregoing facts and figures apply only to the 
direct foreign trade. Statistics of the coastwise business are not embraced therein. 
Portland alone exports every few days, by steamship, to San Francisco large 
quantities of wheat, flour, wool, cattle, fish, and other commodities. 

Attempts are constantly made to injure the commerce of Portland and Astoria 
by exaggerated reports of the dangers connected with the bar at the entrance to 
the Columbia River. It is, however, a fact, that the passage of vessels over the 
bar is not attended with more danger than that incident to entering the ports of 
San Francisco or New York. This truth has been confirmed at various times by 
official investigations and reports. At high water, ships of the greatest draught, 
and at low water, vessels drawing seventeen feet, can easily enter the river and 
proceed to the well-built wharves of Portland. 

The constant increase of the shipping business at Portland and Astoria affords 
the best evidence that the bar is no obstruction to navigation. For instance, in 
1880, there cleared at the Custom Houses of Portland and Astoria 141 vessels, 
aggregating 213,143 tons measurement. Of these, 93 vessels, measuring 172,532 
tons, were engaged in the coastwise, and the remaining 48, measuring 40,611 tons, 
were employed in the foreign trade. In 1881 the clearances of vessels for foreign 
ports from Portland alone were not less than 140, with a total measurement of 
130,000 tons, and the clearances for coastwise ports, including the steamships of 
the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, for Sau Francisco, were not short 



50 The Pacific JVorth-west. 

of 100, making a total of 240 clearances for the year, or an increase of 100 seagoing 
vessels, as compared with the clearances of 1880. 



MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. 

The navigable water-courses of the country, so numerous and so important to 
Its welfare, have been elsewhere described. Great benefits must always be derived 
from these natural highways. They will not only be an auxiliary to the artificial 
channels of transportation, but in many instances will enter into lively competition 
with them. Upon the latter, however, the region must chiefly depend for opening 
up the great expanses of fertile lands to profitable agriculture and for aflfording 
opportunities to develop the mining and other dormant resources. The fact is 
patent that railway enterprise is wonderfully active at present in Oregon and 
Washington Territory. The locomotive is literally preparing the way for settle- 
ment and civilization, instead of following in their train. Railroads now tap the 
fruitful valleys of the Coltuubia, the Willamette and the Snake Rivers, and are 
rapidly reaching out to other wheat-producing regions. By these means remote 
districts have already been brought into direct connection with Portland and San 
Francisco, and ready transportation Avill soon be given to the largest surplus of 
products. Immigrants, also, may nosv travel continuously by speedy and comfort- 
able conveyances, to the homes and farms which they wish to possess. The long 
and tediotis journey by wagon roads, with its train of hardships and dangers, is 
numbered with past events, and a rich and smiling country, so long hidden in 
solitude, is now revealed to the world and invites to occupation. Within the space 
of a short two years, also, this valuable part of our broad domain will be brought 
into direct intercourse with the Eastern States by means of the Northern Pacific 
Railroad, the construction of which verges rapidly to its close. This great enter- 
prise in successful operation, no element will be lacking to secure the rapid 
advancement of the Pacific North-west to lasting prosperity. 

The names of the several railway and steamship lines are as follows: 

1. The Northern Pacific Railroad, from Wallula Junction, in Washington Ter- 
ritory, to Lake Peud d'Oreille, in Idaho (233 miles). The road traverses for the 
most part a fine agricultural country in Whitman and Stevens Counties, W. T., 
and also richly timbered and mining region in Kootenai County, Idaho, rendering 
them available to settlers and industrial enterprise. 

2. Pacific Division of the same railroad, extending from Kalama, on the 
Columbia River, to Tacoma, on Puget Sound (105 miles), with a branch line (30 
miles) to the coal regions of Wilkeson and Carbonado. This road passes through 
a most interesting part of Washington Territory. 

3. A short narrow-gauge railroad from Olympia to Tenino, on the line of the 
Pacific Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad. 

4. The Oregon and California Railroad (East-side Division), from East Portland 
to Roseburg, in the Umpqua Valley, a distance of two hundred miles. The road 
follows the east side of the Willamette and touches all the principal towns in the 
valley. Its extension to the California line is now in progress. From Roseburg a 
well-managed stage line runs to Redding, in the Sacramento Valley (180 miles), the 
present northern terminus of the California railroad system. 

5. The Oregon and California Railroad (West-side Division), beginning at Port- 
land, within the city limits, and following the west side of the Willamette River, 



Means of Communication. 51 



Passing westwardly through Washington County, it then turns to the south and 
ends at Corvallis (97 miles). This line will he extended to Junction City, some 
miles further, to unite witli the Oregon and California Railroad, and eventually, 
also, in a northwest direction to Astoria, at the n)outh of the Columbia River. 

6. The Oregon Railway Company, limited, a narrow-gauge road, also traverses 
the most fertile lands of the Willamette Valley, on both sides of the river. Tliis 
line flanks the Oregon and California Railroad. It begins at Coburg 120 miles 
from Portland, on the east side of the river and skirts the foot-hills, running north 
until it approaches Ray's Landing. It continues its course on tlie west side of the 
valley, running south to Airlie, a distance of 87 miles, with a branch of 7 miles 
to Sheridan. This hue has been leased to the Oregon Railway and Navigation 
Company. 

7. The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's Railroad. A standard 
gauge line, fully equipped, running from Portland mainly tlirough the valley of 
tlie Columbia River, by way of The Dalles, to Wallula, thence to Walla Walla 
and Dayton, with a branch from Bolles' Junction to Texas Ferry, on the Snake 
River. There is also a narrow-gauge brancli from Whitman, near Walla Walla, 
to Blue Mountain Station, near Weston, in Oregon. 

8. The ocean steamship lines of the same ccmipany, being a fleet of first-class 
passenger and freight steamships, making regular trips every five days between 
San Francisco and Portland, as well as forming a line between San Francisco, 
British Columbia, the ports on Puo^et Sound and Alaska. 

. 9. A fleet of 80 river steamboats and barges, plying daily on the Lower, Middle 
and Upper Columbia and Snake and Willamette Rivers, traversing the last-named 
river to the head of its navigable waters ; together with the steamboats and 
facilities formerly owned by the Willamette Locks and Transportation Company. 
10. The fleet of four new iron steam colliers, comprising the Mismsippi, the 
Umatilla, the Willamette and the Walla Walla, which make frequent trips be- 
tween Seattle and San Francisco. 

Appended are the routes of travel which now radiate from Portland, with the 
mileage in operation : 

Willamette Valley Routes : 

HTLES. 

From Portland to Roseberg, by the Oregon and California Railroad 200 

From Albany to Lebanon, by the Oregon and California Railroad 9 

From Portland to Corvallis, by the Oregon and California Railroad 97 

From Portland to Coburg, by the narrow gauge division of the Oregon Rail- 
way and Navigation Company 120 

From Portland to Airlie, by the narrow gauge division of the Oregon Railway 

and Navigation Company ". 37 

From Airlie to Sheridan, branch of last-named road 7 

From Portland to Dayton, by Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's 

steamboats .'. . 45 

From Portland to Corvallis, by Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's 

steamboats .'. . I15 

Loicer Columbia Bonte : 

From Portland to Astoria, by Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's 

steamboats .' ." ." . 98 

Piiget Sound Route : 

From Portland to Kalamn, by Oregon Railway and Na\ngation Company's 

steamboats 38 

From Kalama to Tacoma, by Northern Pacific Railroad (Pacific Division). . . . 105 
From Tacoma to Carbonado, by Northern Pacific Railroad (Pacific Di\'ision). 30 
From Tacoma to Victoria, B. C., by Oregon Railway and Navigation Compa- 
ny's steamboats 120 



52 The Pacific JVorth-west, 



MILES, 

From Seattle to La Conner, by Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's 

steamboats 55 

From Seattle to Newcastle, by the Columbia and Puget Sound Narrow Gauge 

Railroad 33^ 

Tipper Columbia Route : 

From Portland to The Dalles, by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Com- 
pany's railroad or steamboats 110 

From The Dalles to Wallula Junction, by the Oregon Railway and Naviga- 
tion Company's railway 136 

From Wallula Junction to Walla Walla, by the Oregon Railway and Naviga- 
tion Company's railway 34 

From Walla Walla to Texas Ferry, by the Oregon Railway and Navigation 

Company's railway 56 

From BoUes' Junction to Dayton, by the Oregon Railway and Navigation 

Company's railway 14 

From Whitman to Blue Mountain Station, by the Oregon Railway and Navi- 
gation Company's railway (narrow gauge) 14 

From Texas Ferry to Lewiston, on Snake River, by the Oregon Railway and 

Navigation Company's steamboats 78 

From Wallula Junction to Lake Pend d'Oreille, by the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road (Pend d'Oreille Division) 333 

Ocean Routes : 

From Portland to San Francisco, by the Oregon Railway and Navigation 

Company's steamships 670 

From San Francisco to Victoria, B. C, and Puget Sound ports, by Oregon 
Railway and Navigation Company and Oregon Improvement Company's 
steamships 800 

Total in operation 3,333 

In addition to which are the following projected lines of railroad now in course 
of construction by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company : 

MtLES. 

Columbia River to Grande Ronde Valley, in process of construction 170 

From a point 148 miles north-east of Ainsworth, on the main line of the 

Northern Pacific Railroad, to Colfax, located, work about to commence. . 64 

Pataha and LewistDn Branch, located, work about to commence 66 

Farmington and Pine Creek Branch, located, work about to commence 45 

Moscow Branch, located, work about to commence 35 

Elk Creek Branch, located, work about to commence 16 

Total projected and to be completed ^ 386 

Add total in operation 3,333 

Total completed and projected — 3,619 

In this connection it should be mentioned that the Oregon Railway and Navi- 
gation Company, and also the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, have adopted 
the policy of fixing a uniform low rate of freight from all points east of Umatilla 
in transporting the products of the country. Thus the farmers and grain-producers 
at remote points on the line of railroad extensions obtain the same prices for their 
shipments as those who are nearer the market. 



APPENDIX. 



DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 

Subjoined will be found, in merest outline, a summary of the leading facts con- 
nected with the several counties, with regard to their area, settlement, population 
in 1880, products, industries, topography, etc., which may serve intended settlers 
in making a choice of location. 

OREGON. 

BAKER COUNTY, 

in Eastern Oregon, lies south of Union and east of Grant. It is nearly 200 miles 
long and 100 broad. Population, 4,615. Area, 10,188,680 acres; surveyed, 
1,702,000 ; unsurveyed, 8,481,680 ; settled, 437,584. Baker City is the county seat. 
In the mountains are rich deposits of gold and silver, and the mines are worked to 
advantage. There are many fertile valleys, among which may be named the Pow- 
der and Burnt River valleys, producing large crops of grain and vegetables. In 
addition are immense bunch-grass and sage-bush tracts, which will eventually be 
brought under the plough, only requiring irrigation in many places to make them 
productive. At present the unoccupied lands are used as grazing grounds. There 
are about 50,000 head of cattle herded in the county. Much attention is paid to 
horse-breeding, and the animals bred here are among the best produced in the 
State. The value of live stock is estimated at $1,000,000, and the farm productions 
last year amounted to over $250,000. Among the products are butter, cheese, wool, 
barley, corn, oats, rye, wheat, potatoes, apples and peaches. The coimty indebtedness 
in 1881 was $30,000, and the taxable property $1,000,000, having increased one-half 
in five years. As soon as the railroad now in course of rapid construction is com- 
pleted, this county will be in direct communication with Portland, and fine oppor- 
tunities will be opened to settlers. 

BEJSTTON COUNTY, 
in Western Oregon, lies south of Polk, and is bounded on the west by the Pacific 
Ocean. Population, 6,403. Area, 1,197,000 acres ; surveyed, 787,000 ; unsurveyed, 
460,000 ; settled, 322,000. It takes in Yaquina Bay, the harbor of which is adapted 
to light-draught vessels. Corvallis, the county seat, is also the terminus of the 
West Side Division of the Oregon and California Railroad, tapping the west side 
of the Willamette Valley. The surface of the country is varied. The valley lands 
produce largely, the wheat crop in 1880 amounting to 486,000 bushels. Estimated 



Description of Counties. 55 



value of all farm products, $638,000. Besides the growing of wheat, much atten- 
tion is paid to dairying, sheep-raising and fruit culture. Monroe and Philomath 
are important towns. The State Agricultural College, established at Corvallis, is 
in a prosperous condition. There is considerable arable land in the county, partic- 
ularly in the western part, which may be taken up or bought cheaply from either 
the railroad or the State University. 

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, 

in Western Oregon, lies south of Multnomah and mainly east of the Willamette 
River. Population, 9,200. Area, 930,000 acres ; surveyed, 460,000 ; unsurveyed, 
460,000 ; settled, 345,000. The surface of the country is chiefly hilly, with only 
occasional open land. The soil of the foot-hills, after it is cleared, is of the best 
quality, and offers great inducements to the settler. This land, when summer 
fallowed, yields 25 bushels of wheat per acre. Sheep-raising ])rospers, and there 
are fine woolen factories, which not only supply the home demand, but export 
their cloths and blankets to California. Oregon City, the county seat, is the largest 
town in the county and the oldest in the State, and has immense water-i>ower 
facilities. 

CLATSOP COUNTY 

lies in the north-west corner of the State. Population, 7,222. Area, 552,000 acres ; 
surveyed, 207,000 ; unsurveyed, 345,000 ; settled, 115,000. Nineteen-twentieths 
of its surface are covered with timber, chiefly cedar, spruce, hemlock, white and 
yellow fir, the latter being most valuable and most plentiful. The lumber busi- 
ness of the county is large and prosperous. One saw-mill at Astoria cuts 6.000,000 
feet annually, much of which is used in making cases for salmon -packing. As- 
toria, the principal to^vn and county seat, is situated twelve miles from the mouth 
of the Columbia River, and possesses great advantages as a shipping and commer- 
cial port. It has in its precinct 3,981 inhabitants, and during the salmon-fishing 
season the number is increased to about 6,000 by the laborers and fishermen. Its 
water-front is good, and its wharves are kept in excellent order. Some idea of the 
trade of the place may be gained from the fact that its shipments of lumber, wheat, 
flour, salmon, etc., in 1881, amounted to nearly $3,000,000. Salmon-canning is 
the principal industry of the county. There are eighteen canning establishments, 
representing a large capital. Fruit is put up during the winter in some of these 
canneries, and this business should increase. A tannery in Upper Astoria has 
been quite successful, and a boot and shoe factory in connection with it is quite 
prosperous. The climate is not adapted to fruit growing, save for certain varieties 
of apples and plums, the quality of which could not be excelled. Near Saddle 
Mountain good coal fields have been found. The county oSers fair advantages 
to the immigrant. Its surface is well watered, and the equable climate makes it 
a great summer resort. 

COLUMBIA COUNTY 
lies east of Clatsop. Population. 2,042. Area, 366,000 acres ; surveyed, 299,000 ; 
unsurveyed, 09,000 ; settled, 115,01)0. There are good farming lands on the banks 
of the Klaskamie River, and some small settlements in the valleys, a considerable 
one being at Oak Point, on the Columbia. At Riverside, on the Xehalem River, 



56 Appendix. 

is a colony of Scandinavians, who prefer the wooded, hilly country to prairie-land. 
These people have cleared off the timber and now have good farms. On the east 
side of the county, nearer Portland, are rich farms and thick settlements. 

COOS COUNTY 

is situated west of Douglas County. Population, 4,834. It has been for thirty-five 
years the seat of a profitable trade in coal and lumber, and it also has a fur busi- 
ness amounting to about $10,000 per year. On the Coos River there is good agri- 
cultural land, and the area might be indefinitely enlarged if the tide-marshes were 
diked. The coal interest is quite important. The yield is large and turns in a 
fine revenue to the county, maintaining a line of steamers between Coos Bay and 
San Francisco. An extensive lumber business is also carried on. At Marshfield 
there is a ship-yard employing 25 men, and the saw-mill at the same place cuts 
1,000,000 feet per month. Another mill at South Bend saws 700,000 feet per 
mouth, and gives occupation to 50 men, inclusive of those employed in a ship-yard 
connected with it. Each year two or three vessels are launched. The county has 
tmoccupied, and mainly unsurveyed, lands enough to support at least 50,000 people. 
There are fine grazing lands in the county, and its annual production of butter and 
cheese alone exceeds 100,000 pounds. It exports wool, and produces corn, wheat, 
oats, potatoes and apples in paying crops. With the exception of peaches, fruits 
thrive excellently. 

CUREY COUNTY 
in the south-west corner of the State, on the California line, is very thinly 
populated, the last census showing only 1,208 inhabitants. Its area is mainly 
mountainous, and only a tithe of it has been surveyed. The people support them- 
selves by sheep -raising, dairying, lumbering, fishing and placer mining. The 
arable land under cultivation produces suflBciently for home consumption, and the 
total value of farm productions is set down at $69,000. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY 

lies in south-western Oregon. Population, 9,596. Area, 3,710,000 acres, only one- 
half of which has begn surveyed, and only 690,000 acres are occupied. The country 
is well watered, and the valleys of the Umpqua Eiver and its tributaries are' 
remarkably fruitful. Every sort of vegetable known in the temjaerate zone, the 
cereals and all the fruits, excepting peaches, yield in abundance. The county is 
noted for its sheep. The wool is of the finest quality. In 1880, Douglas County 
shipped 1,000,000 pounds of wool and drove 27,000 sheep into Nevada. The yield 
of wheat is set down at 441,000 bushels ; of apples, at 257,000 bushels ; of oats, 
at 347,000 bushels, and 280,000 pounds of butter and cheese. About 800 hides are 
annually tanned in the Umpqua Valley. The chief business on the lower Umpqua 
Eiver is lumbering. There is a good harbor at the mouth of the stream for small 
vessels, which transport the lumber to San Francisco. The product per year 
amounts to about 3,000,000 feet, and ,f 300,000 are disbursed during the same period 
for labor and material. Salmon-canning is also an important business. There are 
two establishments on the river which put up about 10,000 cases. In educational 
advantages, Douglas County keeps up to the mark. Each district has at least one 
school term in the year. Umpqua Academy, at Wilbur, is one of the oldest educa- 



Descriptiojz of Counties. 57 

tional establishments in the State, and is a first-class school. There are several 
flourishing towns in the county. Of these, the principal is Roseburg, with a 
population of 823. This place is the southern terminus of the Oregon and 
California Railroad, distant from Portland 200 miles, and is the shipping and 
distributing centre of Southern Oregon. There are churches of almost every 
denomination, and many fine residences and large business establishments. Con- 
siderable gold-mining is carried on in several localities. The climate is mild and 
equable, and admits of out-door work throughout the year. 

GRANT COUNTY 

is in Eastern Oregon, lying east of Wasco and Lake Counties, and extending to 
the Blue Mountain Range. Population, 4,303. Area, 9,640,000 acres ; surveyed, 
1,260,000; unsurveyed, 8,380,000; settled, 191,000. Formerly, the rich placer 
mines of the John Day River and other streams supported an active population, 
and caused a brisk trade, but these placers are now nearly worked out. Quartz- 
mining at present oflers encouragement to enterprise, and will eventually prove a 
source of permanent prosperity. The prominent business of the county is herding 
and horse-breeding, there being extensive pasture ranges for herds and flocks. 
The cultivated lands produce largely, and there will shortly be a great addition to 
the agricultural area of the State by opening the tract known as the Malheur 
Indian Reservation to settlement, the aborigines having been removed. The 
county lies remote from present railway enterprises, but sheep and cattle ranchmen 
find it an excellent region for their purposes. 

JACKSON COUNTY 
is situated in Western Oregon, south of Douglas. Population, 8,154. Its area is 
about 3,000 square miles, or over 3,000,000 acres, one-third of which is fine prairie 
land. Its principal valley is that of the Rogue River, which is 43 miles long, and 
in places 22 miles wide. The climate is as agreeable as that of central and 
northern California. Every garden vegetable thrives. Fruits of all kinds are 
raised quite easily, and peaches of fine quality yield bountifully. Excellent grapes 
are produced. On all the bottom-lands wheat, barley, oats, rye and corn are pro- 
duced in astonishing and unfailing crops, some of the farms yielding as high as 25 
bushels of wheat per acre after a score of years of continued cultivation. Corn is 
the second crop in importance. There are five flour-mills in the county, and at 
Ashland a woolen-mill makes very good cloth. The business of making -nine and 
brandy has been fairly begun, and promises to develop satisfactorily. The stock 
business is also of great importance, as the animals may be easily driven to market. 
Mining, however, is the great industry. All the mines now worked are placers, 
and they yield largely. There are also fine quartz ledges, which await capital to 
develop them. Jacksonville and Ashland are the principal towns, each with about 
850 inhabitants. The former has a public school, a girls' school taught by Sisters 
of Charity, Presbyterian, Methodist and Catholic Churches ; a bank, iilaning-mill 
and two newspapers. Ashland has two churches, a Methodist school, a woolen 
mill, marble works and one newspaper. The timber resources of the county are 
great, but quite undeveloped. Oak, ash, cedar, alder, yellow fir and other varieties 
abound, and the forests and streams are full of game. The extension of the 



58 Appendix, 

Oregon and California Railroad, which is about to take place, will arouse the 
entire region into life and prosperity. 

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, 
lying between Curry and Jackson, in the south-western part of the State, has a 
population of 2,485. This county is quite mountainous, and is only partially sur- 
veyed. The land under cultiva:tion is not more than sufficient to supply the home 
demand for vegetables and fruit, but there are many valleys which would produce 
largely. Mining is the principal occupation, but dairying, cattle and sheep-raising 
receive attention. Its remoteness from transportation lines is a serious drawback 
to the development of the county. The aggregate value of its farm products 
scarcely exceeds $100,000. 

LAKE COUNTY 

lies in the middle of Southern Oregon. Population, 3,804. As its name implies, 
it is a region of lakes, all of which are of considerable size. The soil is generally 
light, composed of volcanic ashes. Although a high and frosty county, it has 
many fine valleys and excellent land. Lake View, on Goose Lake, the county seat, 
is a thriving town, with two newspapers. Sprague River Valley, quite pictur- 
esquely situated, contains 20,000 acres of excellent land, the soil being a rich 
sandy loam. Linkville, on Klamath Lake, is a good trading centre. Stock-raising 
is the most prominent business of the county. Only within a recent period have 
the bunch-grass and sage-bush lands, which here abound, been cultivated, but 
the result of what was simply an experiment was so encouraging that a broad 
acreage of cereals will soon be produced. 

LANE COUNTY 
is situated at the head of the Willamette Valley, and extends from the Cascade 
Mountains to the Ocean. Population, 9,411. Area, 2,875,000 acres ; surveyed, 
1,150,000 ; unsurveyed, 1,725,000 ; settled, 690,000. The surface is quite diversified. 
There is much mountain and foot-hill land, and the prairies are extensive and very 
fertile. In all parts of the county there are large tracts of good land inviting 
settlers, and especially is this the case in the western part. Fine opportunities are 
offered also for the stock-raiser. Long-wooled sheep and Devon cattle are success- 
fully bred. Wheat, oats, barley, hops, fruit and vegetables yield well. With 
ordinary cultivation the wheat crop runs from 25 to 30 bushels per acre. The 
principal town is Eugene City, which, including the precincts of North and South 
Eugene, contains a population of 2,250. This town is finely situated and beauti- 
fully laid out. It is the seat of the State University, and promises to be the 
educational centre of the Pacific North-west. Other important places are Goshen, 
Cresvvell, Junction City and Springfield. 

LINN COUNTY 

lies south of Marion and west of the Cascade Mountains. It is the great prairie 
county of Western Oregon. Population, 12,675. Area, 1,196,000 acres; surveyed, 
483,000 ; unsurveyed, 713,000 : settled, 368,000. The soil is rich, yielding often 35 
bushels of wheat to the acre. Flax grown here is of fine quality, the fibre being 
from four to five feet long. Wool is exported heavily, and oats, hay, vegetables 
and fruit of all kinds are raised. The Oregon and California Railroad and the 



Description of Counties. 59 



narrow-gauge road before described, with the Willamette River in addition, give 
this county excellent transportation facilities. The valleys of the forks of the 
Santiam River oflFer fine lands for cultivation. Albany is the county seat, and it is 
one of the most prosperous towns in the State. Here there is a flax mill for the 
manufacture of linen twine. Other thriving towns are Tangent, Shedd, Halsey, 
Peoria, Harrisburg and Brownsville, at which latter place there is a woolen 
manufactory. 

MARION COUNTY 
is situated south of Clackamas and east of the Willamette River, extending to the 
summit of the Cascade Mountains. Population, 14,576. Area, 759,000 acres; 
surveyed, 529,000 ; unsurveycd, 330,000 ; settled, 4:57,000. The section extending 
from the foot-hills to the Willamette River is about twenty miles square. It is a 
good farming district, having been settled years ago. The Waldo Hills are a high 
rolling prairie, having remarkably fertile soil, and south of these hills Santiam 
Prairie is also an excellent farming region. Improved fanns may be bought at 
reasonable prices. The transportation facilities are excellent, the Willamette 
being na\igable nearly all the year, the Oregon and California Railroad traversing 
the valley and the narrow-gauge road skirting the foot-hills. Salem, the capital 
of the State, is a beautiful town of nearly 5,000 inhabitants, having churches, 
schools and all social advantages. Willamette University, one of the best colleges 
on the Pacific Coast, is also situated here. The town has a fine water-power, 
which is already used to some extent by mills and factories. Some of the principal 
places are Slayton, Sublimity, Marion, Nehania, Jefferson and Silvertou, on the 
railroads, and Aurora, Gervais and Hubbard. 

MULTNOMAH COUNTY 

is a narrow stri]) of country extending from Columbia and Washington Counties 
along the southern bank of the Columbia River to the Summit of the Cascade 
Mountains. Population, 3(5,000. Area, 376,000 acres; surveyed, 161,000; unsur- 
veyed, 115,000; settled, 138,000. The chief city is Portland, which has been 
described in another place. The county is covered with forests of fir, wMh. some 
oak, ash and other deciduous trees. Very little farming is done, but market, 
gardening and dairying are carried on extensively. Strawberries and other fruits 
are cultivated largely and find ready sale. The scenery about the Columbia River 
is very grand. The climate is mild, and in summer the nights are always cool. 
There are, on an average, 237 bright, clear days a year, in spite of the rainy 
season, which lasts from the middle of October to the middle of April. 

POLK COUXTY 

lies opposite Marion, on the western bank of the Willamette River, and between 
Yamhill County on the north and Benton on the south. On the west it is bounded 
by Tillamook County. Population, 0,G01. Area, 414,000 acres ; surveyed, 275,000 ; 
unsurveyed, 139,000 ; settled, 330,000. The surface of the coimty is greatly diverei- 
fied, a densely-wooded section of the Coast Range, with rolling hills and rich bottom- 
lands, forming its natural features. It is well watered. The Luckiamute River, 
a tributary of the Willamette, is navigable for small steamers, and there are many 



60 Appendix. 

other streams beside, which would supply an almost unlimited water-power to 
saw and flouring mills. The West Side Division of the Oregon and California 
Eailroad traverses the county. Not' far from half the county is timber land, ash, 
maple, fir, spruce and hemlock being the chief varieties. Dallas, the coimty seat, 
has excellent water power, which is utilized largely by mills and factories. There 
are manufactories of carriages and wagons, household furniture, and doors and 
sashes, as well as a tannery, a machine shop and a flouring mill. A fine school 
building has been put up, in which, during a part of the year, an academic course, 
endowed by a private citizen, is given. Monmouth is also a prosperous town, and 
is the seat of " The Christian College," an excellent educational establishment, 
which was founded twenty years ago. The products of the county are wheat, 
potatoes, oats, hops, cattle, hogs, wool and flour. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, 
and all sorts of berries, yield bounteously. There is still much good land to be 
had at prices, for unimproved, varying from $2.50 to $10 per acre. 

TILLAMOOK COUNTY 

is situated on the coast, lying between Clatsop and Benton Counties. Population, 
1,000. Area, 1,012,000 acres; surveyed, 207,000; unsurveyed, 805,000; settled, 
115,000. The county seat is Tillamook, situated upon the bay of the same name. 
In general features this county is similar to Clatsop. Beside lumbering, a good 
business is done by the people in dairying, for which pursuit the climate and 
country ofEer special advantages. The outlet across the coast mountains being 
difficult, the county is comparatively isolated, its means of communication and 
transportation being supplied by small vessels. The region is well adapted to 
sheep-husbandry and stock-raising. Besides Tillamook, the county seat, the 
principal towns are Nehalem, Garibaldi aud Nestockton. 

UMATILLA COUXTT, 

in Eastern Oregon, lies east of Wasco, on the Columbia Eiver, and is bounded by 
Grant County on the south, Union County on the east, and the Washington Terri- 
tory line on the north. Population, 9,607. Area, 4,170,240 acres ; surveyed, 
1,564,000 ; unsurveyed, 2,606,240 ; settled, 1,056,000. West of the Umatilla Eiver 
stock-raising and sheep husbandry are carried on largely, there being nearly 
300,000 head of sheep in 1880. In the north-east part of the county immense quan- 
tities of wheat are raised. All along the foot of the Blue Mountains is a stretch 
of fine arable country, from twenty-five to thirty miles in width. The great 
productiveness of the soil, and the heavy yield of wheat, have already led to the 
construction of a branch railroad, 12 miles long, from Whitman to Weston station, 
and the Grande Eonde branch of the Oregon Eailway and Navigation Company's 
system will also traverse the region a distance of one hundred miles, opening a 
very fertile part of the county to settlement. The county is well watered, and 
there are enormous tracts of bunch-grass lands, hitherto used as stock ranges, which 
must soon be settled and turned into grain fields and orchards. Among these may 
be mentioned the Cold Spring country, extending along the Columbia Eiver a 
very considerable distance, and in vddth about fifteen miles. This section is now 
attracting attention in view of its deep, rich soil and mild climate, which admits 
of the cultivation of tobacco, sorghum, corn, tomatoes, and the finer fruits, with 



Description of Counties. 61 



little fear of frost. Among the principal places in the county are Pendleton, the 
county seat, Pilot Rock, Umatilla, Milton, Heppner and Centreville. Timber for 
building and fencing is supplied by the Blue Mountains, and at Milton it is cheaply 
brought by a flume from a distance of many miles. 

. UNION" COUNTY 

lies east of Umatilla County, and is a very attractive region. Population, G,6oO. 
Area, 3,456,000 acres ; surveyed, 894,000; unsurveyed, 3,563,000; settled, 577,000. 
Being sheltered by the Blue Mountains on the west, the clin^ate is quite mild and 
healthy. The Grande Ronde Valley, particularly described elsewhere, is traversed 
by the newly-constructed line of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, 
which brings this fertile and delightful region in railroad connection with points 
East and West. The principal industry has been stock-raising, sheep-farming, 
horse-breeding and dairying. A great deal of butter is made, and pork is also 
largely produced for the Idaho mining camps. The estimated value of the live 
stock owned in the county is $1,000,000. Union, the county seat, has a population 
of 800, and other thriving places are La Grande, Island City and Summerville. 

WASCO COUNTY 

lies mainly east of the Cascade Mountains. Population, 11,180. Area, over 
4,000,000 acres. It is divided into districts by nature. The Dalles District has 
Dalles City, the county seat, for its centre, and includes the country watered by the 
streams that rise near Mount Hood, and empty into the Columbia or Des Chutes 
Rivers, reaching from the Cascade Mountains to tbe Des Chutes, and from the 
Columbia, on the north, to the Warm Spring Indian Reservation, on the south. 
Dalles City is situated upon and under a bluff, and is a place of much importance, 
containing 2,300 inhabitants. Back of the town are high hills, upon one of the 
highest of which is a farm of 500 acres, under good cultivation, thus demonstrating 
that the hill lands of Eastern Oregon can be made valuable in producing grain, 
hay, vegetables and fruit. As far back as the Tygh River, all the bottom-lands 
were settled twenty years ago, but lately the high plateaux are being taken up by 
immigrants. There are in this part of the country many wealthy stock-raisers. 
The uplands, bordered by the Columbia, and extending south for fifty miles, 
between the waters of the John Day and Des Chutes Rivers, and east to the 
boundary of Umatilla, form tlie John Day District. The soil is excellent, and it is 
a good grass section, the buncU-grass growing vigorously. The bottom-lands are 
very rich. The Blalock Ranch, the largest farm of the entire region, is situated 
at the junction of the Columbia and the John Day Rivers. It contains over 60,000 
acres, and is under the control of enterprising men, who are trying cooperative 
farming on a great scale. The Middle District of Wasco County reaches from the 
Des Chutes River to the Blue Mountains. It is a well-watered section, suid lias 
thriving villages and trading points. The land is well adapted to agriculture, and, 
as soon as railroads reach this region, settlers will turn it into a rich farming 
district. The Ocheco District lies between the branches of the Crooked River, the 
south-eastern fork of the Des Chutes. Prinesville, the centre of trade, is a busy 
place, with several hundred inhabitants, supporting a newspaper, and doing a brisk 
trade with the mining districts in the south-western spurs of the Blue Mountains. 



62 Appendix. 



WASHINGTON COUNTY, 

situated west of Multnomah, is one of the most attractive portions of the State, 
and was early settled. Population, 7,802. Area, 437,000 acres ; surveyed, 368,000 ; 
unsurveyed, 69,000 ; settled, 276,000. The face of the country is diversified. 
There are prairies broken by forests and streams, and skirted by hills on every 
side. Much care is given to horse-breeding and cattle-raising from pure-blooded 
stock. Hillsboro', the county seat ; Forest Grove, Beaverton, Gaston and Cornelius 
are the principal towns. The Pacific University, at Forest Grove, is a well- 
endowed and successful institution, and with it is connected a Government Indian 
school. The Oregon and California Railroad traverses a portion of the county. 

YAMHILL COUNTY 

lies west of Clackamas, and south of Washington. Population, 7,945. Area, 
483,000 acres; surveyed, 414,000 ; unsurveyed, 69,000; settled, 276,000. The land 
is for the most part prairie, although there are hilly ranges. The soil of the rolling 
uplands is excellent for wheat, and very large crops of the cereals, and of vegetables 
and fruit are produced. The county ranks third, with respect to the value of its' 
farm products. Socially, it is second to none. There are many thriving towns 
and villages, among which may be named Amity, Sheridan, Dayton, Lafayette, 
North Yamhill and McMinnville. The Yamhill and Willamette Rivers are both 
navigable, and there are two railways in the county. 

WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

CHEHALIS COUNTY 

lies on the coast. It has an area of 2,800 square miles. Population, 921. Value 
of assessed property, $341,000 ; assessed acreage, 113,907. About one-third of the 
area is rich bottom land, and there are many beautiful prairie reaches. The 
Chehalis River Valley, which is the largest and most valuable agricultural region 
in Western Washington, varies in breadth from 15 to 50 miles. The soil produces 
very large crops of wheat, oats, barley, vegetables and fruit. The uplands are 
rough and timbered with cedar, fir, maple and ash. The pasture lands throughout 
the county are excellent, and make it eminently a place for dairying and stock- 
raising, as well as for farming. Butter produced is noted for quality and quantity. 
Game is plentiful in the mountains ; all the streams abound in fish. The rivers 
flowing into the ocean are frequented by salmon, and the various fisheries of the 
coast are richer than those of the Atlantic seaboard. Gray's Harbor, an important 
haven, lies in the county. In Chehalis County there is an immense quantity of 
Government and Northern Pacific Railroad land, of good quality, awaiting settlers, 
the line of the railroad passing along the entire eastern section. Montesano is 
the county seat, and other towns are Cedarville, Chehalis City and Satsop. 

CLALLAM COUNTY 

is also on the coast, its northern boundary being the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Its 
area is 2,050 square miles. Value of assessed property, $130,581 ; assessed acreage. 



Description of Counties. 63 

27,978. Population, 638. There is very good land along the strait, and the river 
bottoms have a rich soil. Those latter, in their wild state, are covered with vine- 
maple, alder, and other deciduous jjrowths, with groupings of hemlock, cedar and 
white fir. The ridges between the salt-water and foot-hills have much fir timber. 
There is excellent grazing, and all the cereals, vegetables, roots and fruits flourish. 
The climate is mild and equable. The woods abound in game, the rivers in fish, 
and the salt-water fisheries bid fair to develop into a profitable industry. The 
country is virtually unsettled, and offers no end of opportunity to those Avilling to 
reclaim the land. The principal towns are Port Angelos, New Dungeness and 
Neah Bay. 

CLARKE COUNTY 

is situated west of the Cascade Mountains, extending along the Columbia River a 
distance of 40 miles. Area, 725 square miles. Value of taxable property, 
$1,235,262 ; assessed acreage, 156,785. Population, 5,490. There is a great deal 
of level land, and but little that is too hilly for cultivation. Most of the country 
is hea\nly timbered, with open swales of from five to twenty -five acres, which may 
be easily cultivated and produce abundantly. There is a large quantity of (jovern- 
ment land of tliis sort from ten to twenty miles from market, open to entry. The 
production are wheat, oats, barley, peas, vegetables and fruit, which yield finely. 
Cattle, horses, sheep and swjne thrive on the good pasturage. Toward the moun- 
tains, where the hills are too steep for cultivation, settlers can use the Government 
lands for many years to come as stock ranges. There are several grist and saw 
mills in operation. Vancouver, the county seat, is the largest town. It is situated 
on the Columbia River, at the head of ocean navigation. There are thirty-nine 
school districts in which children are taught from three to ten months every year. 

COLUMBIA COUNTY 

lies in Eastern Washington. It has an area of 2,000 square miles. Value of 
taxable property, $2,454,883 ; assessed acreage, 102,622. Population, 7,103. The 
country is well-watered by the Touchet. Tucannon and Pataha Rivers. Timber is 
only to be found along the water-courses. The whole country is very fertile, 
wheat averaging thirty bushels per acre, and often yielding as much as fifty 
bushels. Sheep and wool-raising form an important industry. Dayton, the county 
seat, has a flourishing woolen mill, the product of which is over $50,000 annually, 
as well as planing mills, a sash and door factory, good schools, two newspapers 
and pleasant houses. Lumber is brought here from the Blue Mountains by means 
of a flume and supplied to the surrounding country. This town and Waitsburg, 
another thriving place on the Touchet River, are large trading centres, being 
distributors of the great wheat crops of the surrounding region, both being in con- 
nection with the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's system. There are 
also several other prosperous towns in the county, among which may be named 
Pomeroy, with a flouring mill, Pataha and Marengo. Huntsville. another town, 
has a good educational establishment, under the charge of the United Brethren. 
It is estimated that there are at least 750,000 acres of good bunch grass land in 
this county yet unsettled, nearly all of which is suitable for wheat-growing. 
This county has now been divided, and Garfield County formed of part of its 
territory. 



64 Appendix, 



COWLITZ COUNTY 

is situated between Clarke and Walikiakum Counties, the Columbia River being 
its southern boundary. Population,, 2,062. Its area is 1,100 square miles. Value 
of assessed property, $816,000; assessed acreage, 174,497. The county is well- 
watered by many streams, and is traversed its entire length by the Cowlitz River, 
which is navigable during the entire year for thirty miles to Cowlitz Landing. 
The Northern Pacific Railroad also runs through it. The valley of the Cowlitz 
contains many fine farms, the soil being very rich. There are 26,000 acres under 
cultivation. The surface of the country is quite diversified, and forests of fir and 
cedar abound. There are, however, fine tracts of prairie still to be taken up, as 
only one-half of the county has been surveyed, and nearly one-third of the land is 
vacant. Numerous coal veins, still undeveloped, are known to exist. The exports 
are cattle, hogs, general farm and dairy produce, shingles and lumber. Kalama is 
the county seat. Freeport, on the Cowlitz, has a population of 300. At Oak Point 
there are a grist and saw-mill, and several salmon canneries along the Columbia 
River. 

GARFIELD COUNTY 

was organized in December, 1881, at which time Columbia County was partitioned 
and this county established. The description of Columbia County includes all that 
may be said of Garfield County at present. 

ISLAND COUNTY 

is composed of Wliidby and Camano Islands, situated at the junction of Juan de 
Faca and Rosario Straits and Admiralty Inlet. Area, 250 square miles. Value of 
taxable property, $349,547 ; assessed acreage, 98,490. Population, 1,087. Whidby 
Island has an area of 115,000 acres, of which the greater part is heavily timbered 
with fir and cedar. Camano Island comprises 30,000 acres, of which 28,000 are 
timber of the same varieties as those on Whidby. The arable lands of both islands 
produce good crops of wheat, hay, oats, barley, garden vegetables and fruit. 
Coupville is the county seat, and other villages are Coveland and Utsalada. At 
the latter place there is a large saw-mill. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY 

lies south of Clallam, on the coast, and has a large frontage on Hood's Canal. 
Area, 2,500 square miles. Value of taxable property, $569,12^ ; assessed acreage, 
87,191. Population, 1,712. There are several thriving farm settlements, but the 
chief industry is lumbering. Good iron ore has been found at Chimacum, near 
Port Townsend. This latter is the county seat, and also the port of entry for Puget 
Soimd. The District Court is likewise held here, and the place is garrisoned by 
United States troops, and has the Marine Hospital among its establishments. At 
Port Ludlow and at Port Discovery are large steam saw-mills. Jefferson County 
offers a fair field for lumbering, dairying and farming, and but a tithe of its 
territory has been explored. 



Description of Counties. 65 



KING COUNTY 

is situated on the eastern shore of Puget Sound. Area, 1,900 square miles. Value 
of taxable property, $2,454,706 ; assessed acreage 120,649 Population, (i,910. 
The face of the country is diversified by hill, valley, lake and stream. There are 
about 164,000 acres of agricultural land in the county. The remainder is heavily 
timbered with fir, spruce, hemlock, cedar and other trees. The cultivate-d lands 
produce large crops of vegetables, hay, hops, grain and fruit, and for mixed farm- 
ing and dairying the country cannot be surpassed. There are exten.'sive fields of 
excellent coal and large deposits of iron. Seattle, on Elliot Bay, is the county seat, 
with a population of nearly 4,000. This is au enterprising city, well built, delight- 
fully situated, and doing an enormous business, principally in coal and lumber. 
It has a well sheltered harbor, entirely free from obstructions, with good anchorage, 
and water deep enough for the largest vessels alongside the wharves. The Terri- 
torial University, five school houses, many churches, two daily newspapers, several 
well-kept hotels, streets of substantial warehouses and stores, as well as beauti- 
ful residences on tlic heights overlooking the place, are some of the features of 
this busy city. It is connected with the coal fields at Newcastle by railroad, and 
it is the principal port on Puget Sound for the fleet of large passenger steamships 
in the Pacific coast trade and the steam colliers of the Oregon Improvement Com- 
pany's lines. Besides the heavy exports of coal and lumber, there is a large busi- 
ness in salmon packing and in manufactures of wood, iron, flour, etc. The prin- 
cipal towns are Newcastle and Renton,in the coal region, Dwamish, White River, 
Suoqiialmie and Slaughter. The havens are Salmon Bay, Seattle Bay and Quar- 
termaster's Harbor, although safe anchorage may be found at almost any point. 

KITSAP COUNTY 

is a peninsula, with 80 miles of shore line on Admirality Inlet and oO on Hood's 
Canal. It includes also Bainbridge and Blake's Islands. Area, 540 square miles. 
Value of taxable proporty, $933,848 ; assessed acreage, 54,fc91. Population, 1,738. 
Nearly all the surface of the county is heavily wooded, and six saw-mills of 
great capacity give employment to large numbers of men. Two of these mills and 
one gristmill are situated at Port Gamble. The other saw-mills are at Seabeck, 
Port Madison and Port Blakely, and at all these places are flourishing settlements. 

KLIKITAT COUNTY 

is situated on the Columbia River, between Walla Walla and Skamania Counties 
on the east and west, and Yakima County on the north. Area, 2,088 square miles. 
Value of taxable property, $821,837 ; assessed acreage, 28,427. Population, 4,057. 
Of the million and a quarter acres inciiided in the Government surveys, only about 
one-lburth has been entered, and the remainder, including numerous inviting 
valleys, awaits settlement. The Klikitat Valley is 20 miles wide and 30 long. 
Much good land is to be found in the county, and that which has been cultivated 
yields heavy crops of wheat. Klikitat is finely watered, and has always been a 
favorite stock-raising county on account of the abundant bunch-grass. The Simcoe 



^Q Appendix. 

Mountains are covered with forests of fir, pine, and oak. Goldendale, the county- 
seat, has nearly 600 inhabitants and a good trade. Klikitat City and Columbus 
are also thriving places. 

LEWIS COUNTY 

is situated east of Pacific and north of Cowlitz and Clarke counties. Area, 1,800 
square miles. Value of taxable property, $931,815; assessed acreage, 302,832. 
Population, 3,263. The county is well watered, has extensive undeveloped coal 
fields, and its surface is much diversified. There are ridge lands, heavily wooded 
with fir, cedar, maple and alder, and bottom lands covered with wild cherry, vine- 
maple and dogwood. Much of the land is already occupied, yet there is room for 
many new settlers. Wheat, barley and oats are prolific, and all garden vegetables 
yield large crops. The soil generally is a clayey loam. Chehalis is the county- 
seat. Other towns are Algernon, Boistfort, Cowlitz, Clequato, Little Falls and 
Winlock. The county is traversed by the Northern Pacific Railroad from north 
to south, and railroad lands are offered for sale. 

MASON" COUNTY 

lies on the south-western shore of Puget Sound, south of Kitsap County. Area, 
900 square miles. Value of taxable property, $226,565 ; assessed acreage, 61,607. 
Population, 559. Three-fourths of the county is rugged and mountainous, but the 
river valleys of the Skokomish and smaller streams, tributary to Hood's Canal, 
have good agricultural land. Stock-raising is the principal pursuit, there being 
excellent pasturage. Cereals and vegetables thrive, but hay is the chief product. 
The highlands are well covered with spruce, fir, hemlock, cedar and maple, and 
many persons are engaged in logging. Oakland is the county-seat. Other towns 
are Acadia, Skokomish and Union City. 

PACIFIC COUNTY 
is in the south-western part of the Territory, on the coast line. Area, 550 square 
miles. Value of taxable property, $334,000 ; assessed acreage, 53,096. Popula- 
tion, 1,654. The county is well watered by many streams, of which the Willopah 
and Nasul, emptying into Shoalwater Bay, are the largest, the latter being navi- 
gable for 50 miles by light-draught steamers. The bottom lands have deep, rich 
soil, are of an average width of ten miles, and are well adapted to agriculture. 
Vegetables grow to great size, and grain and fruit are produced largely on the cleared 
lands. Oysterville, the county seat, is situated upon a sand peninsula, from one to 
three miles wide and twenty miles long, which forms the breakwater of Shoalwater 
Bay. Owing to lack of transportation facilities, the only exports are lumber, fish and 
oysters, the latter in large quantities. The lumber mills at Centreville and South 
Bend are busy establishments, the latter shipping 1,000,000 feet per month. A 
grist mill is greatly needed, and one well managed would prove quite profitable. 
Other farms and settlements are Willopah, Bruceport, Ilwaco, a watering-place for 
the people of Portland, Chinoak and Pacific City. There are 21 school districts in 
which schools are open. Little more than half the land in the county is sur- 
veyed, and about one-quarter of that is still subject to entry. 

PIERCE COUNTY 
lies on the south-eastern shore of Puget Soimd. Area, 1,800 square miles. Value 



Description of Counties. 67 

of taxable property, $1,663,452 ; assessed acreage, 96,470. Population. 3,319. The 
valleys and plains of the Puyallup, Nisqually, and other streams are well adapted 
to mixed farminfr, dairying and stock-raising. Hop-growing is the principal occu- 
pation in the Puyallup Valley. The crop is very bountiful. There are extensive 
and rich deposits of semi-bituminous and lignite coal at Wilkeson, Carbonado and 
other places in the county, as well as (juarries of building and limestone. There is 
much good limber, and at Old Tacoma there is a saw-mill with a capacity of 90,000 
feet daily. The gravelly plain between Steilacoom and Mount Rainier is a beauti- 
ful natural park, hut worthless for agricultural purposes. The lakes and streams 
abound in fish, and the woods in game of many kinds. Steilacoom is the county- 
seat. The principal town is New Tac<Mua, a port on the Sound, terminus of the 
Pacific division of the Northern Pacific Railroad, as weU as the branch line to the 
coal mines at VVilkesou and Carbonado. This place is, next to Seattle, the busiest 
shipping point on Puget Sound. Other towns are Puyallup, Lake View, Wilke- 
son, Franklin, Nisqually and Sumner. 

SAN" JUAN" COUNTY 

is composed of the islands which form the Archipelago de Haro. These islands 
are San Jium, Waldron, Orcas, Shaw, Guemes, Lopez, Stewart, John's and Decatur. 
Area, 280 square miles. Value of taxable property, !|181,167 ; assessed acreage, 
11,495. Population, 948. The county-seat is on San Juan Island. There is a 
good proportion of agricultural and grazing land on most of the islands, although 
they are mainly mountainous. The inhabitants engage profitably in mixed 
farming, dairying and sheep-husbandry. The latter occupation prospers extra- 
ordinarily, as the animals find excellent pasture throughout the year on the wild 
mountain-grasses, and the wool clip is nearly three pounds per sheep. Vegetation 
is earlier than at the head of Puget Sound, and there is less rainfall than in other 
sections of West Vv ashington Territory. There are valuable limestone deposits, 
and the lime kilns in operation turn out thousands of barrels of excellent lime. 
Silver ore has also recently been found. Much of the territory of these islands is 
unsettled. Game of all kinds, especially deer, is abundant 

SKAMANIA COUNTY 

is situated east of Clarke, and has the Columbia River for its southeni boundary. 
Area, 2,300 square miles. Value of taxable property, $169,618 ; assessed acreage, 
10,073. Population, 809. This county is traversed by the Cascade Mountains, 
and the limited area available for settlement along the Columbia has been for the 
most part taken up. Here are the great falls of the Columbia River, and through 
the mountain gorge the waters of tliis stream and its many tributaries force their 
way to the ocean. The principal occupation of the peojile is making cordwood 
from the fir with which the entire region is densely covered. Lower Cascades is 
the county-seat, and the other town is Upper Cascades. 

SNOHOMISH COUNTY 
is north of King County, and Admiralty Inlet is its western boundary. Area, 
1,000 square miles. Value of taxable projjerty, $3(58,667 ; assessed acreage, 86,232. 
Population, 1,387. There are vast tracts of marsh and tide lands at tlie deltas of 
the Stillaquamish and Snohomish Rivers, mucli of which is cultivated, yielding 



68 Appendix. 

heavy crops, especially of oats and barley. Hop-growing is also successful, and 
there is a great deal of good river-bottom land open to settlement. The country 
is densely wooded with fir, cedar and other forest trees, and lumbering is the 
principal industry. Snohomish City is the county-seat, and at Mukilteo is a large 
salmon-cannery. At Tulalip there is an Indian reservation. On the Skywhamish 
Kiver are quartz and placer gold mines. 

SPOKANE COUNTY 

lies east and south of the Columbia River. Its area is very large, embracing all 
the great fertile plateaux which lie within the Big Bend of the Columbia River, 
and those known as the Spokane Plains in the northeast. Value of taxable pro- 
perty, $1,144,000 ; assessed acreage, 38,818. Population, 4,262. This county is 
traversed a distance of 108 miles by the Northern Pacific Railroad, on either side 
of which, in many places, there are great expanses of bunch-grass lands, with 
deep, rich soil inviting to cultivation. The country is well watered by lakes and 
streams, and much of it is admirably adapted to stock-raising on a large scale. 
Fertile wheat-producing lands are to be found in the Crab Creek region to the 
"west, and in the Hangman, Pine and Rock Creek Valleys to the south and east of 
the railroad, as well as in many other localities. In the CcEur d'Alene Mountains 
there are deposits of the precious and useful minerals, as well as most beautiful 
marble, as yet undeveloped. Spokane Falls, the county-seat, is a bustling, thriv- 
ing town, with great natural advantages. It is destined to become a place of very 
great importance, owing to its situation on the main line of the Northern Pacific 
Railroad, its enormous water power, and the fact of its being at the head of 
the great caiiou of the lower Spokane, which begins at the falls, and which 
is with difficulty crossed below. Through the medium of the S^jokane River, 
Cceur d'Alene Lake, and the streams which enter it, a great area of valuable tim- 
ber land is tributary to the town by water. The town lias already churches, public 
and private schools, newspapers, flouring and other mills, and is growing rapidly. 
Cheney, another flourishing town, situated on the railroad, is the seat of the Dis- 
trict Court, and also of the land office of the Northern Pacific Railroad. 

STEYEKS COUNTY, 

situated in the north-eastern part of the Territory, adjoining British Columbia, is 
one of the largest coimties. Very little of its area has been surveyed, and it i» 
quite sparsely settled, the population in 1880 being only 1,245. Value of taxable 
property, in 1881, $164,719 ; assessed acreage, 2,720. Its surface is that of a great 
rolling plateau, having many deep valleys, called coulees, the channels of former 
water-courses, with soil of the best sort for grain and grass. The country is well 
watered by countless streams, and is free from alkali. There are growths of good 
timber, consisting of spruce, white pine and large tamarack, throughout the region,, 
interspersed with open arable land, which produces good crops of wheat and vege- 
tables, as well as melons and tomatoes, wherever it has been tried. The climate 
is warmer than that of the Walla Walla Valley. Gold is found in the streams 
north of the Spokane River, and the mountainous region toward Lake Pend 
d'Oreille is rich in ledges of fine white and variegated marble, limestone and 
granite, as well as gold-bearing quartz. Horses in large droves are wintered in 



Description of Counties. 69 



tLis county without care, subsisting m the buncli-grass. Colville is the county 
seat. At Kettle Falls (old Fort Colville) there is good salmon fishing, and game 
of all kinds is cverj-where abundant. 

THURSTON COUNTY 

lies at the head of Puget Sound. Area, 750 square miles. Value of taxable prop- 
erty, -ihljSOO.OOO ; assessed acreage, 284,939. Population, 3,270. The surface of 
the county is densely wooded with fir, cedar, oak, ash, maple and alder. Logging 
is one of the chief industries. There is, however, much prairie and bottom land 
adapted to stock-raising and agriculture. The best butter is produced by the 
dairies of the county, and the cereals, garden vegetables and hardy fruits yield 
well. There is unlimited water at Turawater, which is utilized by a saw-mill, 
water-pipe factory, two flouring-mills, a tannery, two door and sash factories, and 
the water-works, which supply the town of Olympia. This latter is a beautiful 
place of about 1,300 inhabitants. It is the county seat, as well as the capital of 
the Territory. Olympia is connected by a short railroad with Tenino, a station on 
the Northern Pacific Line. 

WAKIAKUM COUNTY, 

the smallest county iu the Territory, is situated on the Columbia River, betweeil 
Pacific and Cowlitz Counties. Area, 360 square miles. Value of taxable property, 
$259,728 ; assessed acreage, 22,000. Population, 1,600. The land is rocky and 
mountainous, abounding in dense growths of timber, and there is little agriculture 
carried on, excepting along the river, where garden vegetables and hay are pro- 
duced. The people mainly engage in salmon-canning, and there are several large 
establishments for this purpose. Cathlamet is the county seat. Other towns are 
"Waterford, Eagle Cliff and Skamokawa. 

WALLA WALLA COUNTY 

is bounded south and east by the Blue Mountains, and west and north by the 
Columbia and Snake Rivers. Area, 1,250 square miles. Value of taxable prop- 
erty, $4,421,000; assessed acreage, 134,861. Population, 8,716. The county is a 
liigh rolling prairie, well watered by many rivers and their lateral branches. 
About three-fourths of the land is arable, and exjierience has proved it to be ex- 
tremely fertile, producing wheat, barley and oats to perfection. The average yield 
io the acre of the former is thirty bushels, and of the latter fbrty-five, although 
these figures are often exceeded. A peculiarity of the soil is that the crops grown 
on the top of the hills yield as heavily as those produced in the low-lands. Fruits 
of many varieties may be cultivated Apples, peaches, cherries, pears, grapes, and 
different kinds of berries grow here of fine flavor and perfect in quality. This 
region, in addition to its enormous wheat yiiOd, is well adapted, on account of its 
equable climate, to be the great fruit-prcKiucing area of the entire line of the 
Northern Pacific Railroad, and fruit will eventually form no small part of its 
products for export. Nearly all of the best lands in the county are taken up, and 
only improved farms may be purchased from owners who Avish to sell out. Walla 
Walla, the county seat, finely situated cm Mill Creek, a branch of the Walla Walla 
River, about eight miles from the base of the Blue Mountains, and containing 



W Appendix. 

4,000 inhabitants, is a substantial city. There are many extensive business estab- 
lishments, banks, fine public buildings, good schools, numerous churches, daily 
and weekly newspapers. The county is traversed by many miles of railroad of 
the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's system, and is brought thereby 
into connection with the Northern Pacific Railroad. 

YfHATCOM COUNTY 

is the north-eastern portion of Washington Territory, adjoining the British Pos- 
sessions. Area, 3,840 square miles. Value of taxable property, $681,434 ; assessed 
acreage, 117,679. Population, 3,137. The county has half a million of acres of 
arable soil, consisting of tide bottom and uplands. The lands at the deltas of the 
Skagit, the Samish and the Nooksahk are extraordinarily rich, producing enor- 
mous harvests of oats, barley and hay, while potatoes and wheat yield heavily on 
the higher grounds. There is abundance of fir, cedar, spruce, maple and other 
timber, and water-power to convert it into lumber. There are large deposits of 
coal and potters' clay, quarries of excellent building stone, and gold placer mines> 
are worked in the Skagit River. Fine opportunities are awaiting settlers at nu- 
merous points in the region. Whatcom is the county seat. Other towns are 
Sehome and La Conner. 

• WHITMAN COUNTY 

is situated east of the Columbia River and north of the Snake. Area, 4,300 square 
miles. Value of taxable property, $681,424 ; assessed acreage, 236,853. Popula- 
tion, 7,014. The surface of the county is rolling prairie-land, interspersed with 
many valleys and water-courses. The soil of the hills is a deep, rich loam, and of 
the valleys somewhat lighter. Toward the Palouse country it is deepest and 
richest. In some sections corn is raised, but wheat, oats and barley yield most 
richly. Flax is also cultivated and produces largely. Fruits also are prolific. 
There is a thick growth of bunch-grass covering the hills and valleys, and cattle, 
sKeep and horses are raised in great numbers, the climate being mild enough to- 
make stock-raising a profitable business. The horses are especially good, particu- 
larly draft-horses, bunch-grass being favorable to the development of muscle. 
There is but little timber in the county, that used being brought by flume from the 
Coeur d'Alene Mountains in Idaho. Colfax is the county seal. The region is trav- 
ersed to a great extent by the system of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Com- 
pany's lines, and there are large tracts of fertile land open to immigrants. 

YAKIMA COUNTY 

lies west of the Columbia River, its northern boundary being the Wenatchee River 
and its southern Klikitat County. Area, 9,224 square miles. Value of taxable prop- 
erty, $1,019,349 ; assessed acreage, 403,072. Population, 2,811. In the county are 
a number of fertile valleys, among which are the Kittitas, 40 miles long and 15 
wide ; the Attaman, 25 miles long and 2 to 7 in width. The Yakima Indian Res- 
ervation is also a large fertile tract, more than 30 miles long, which, if put under 
cultivation, would produce largely. Stock-raising is the principal occupation, and 
large herds and flocks roam over the country. Wheat yields large harvests, hav- 
ing averaged 30 bushels to the acre in 1881, and oats and barley from 40 to 50- 



Suggestions to Emigrants. 71 

Tomatoes, corn, melons, grapes and peaches have also been grown successfully. 
There are 480,000 acres awaiting settlement. In the Cascade Mountains placer 
and quartz gold mining are carried on to some extent, and deposits of cinnabar 
and antimony exist. Yakima City, the c<junty seat, has a population of about 300 
inhabitants, with two churches, a good school, a district court and a hotel. 



SUGGESTIONS TO EMIGRANTS. 

Good health is the first requisite of a person who proposes to emigrate to a new 
country, with a view to improving his condition in life. Although the climate of 
the Pacific North-west is so favorable as to insure exemption from many diseases 
which prevail in other States, and to promise relief in certain ailments, the chances 
are that immigration will prove a mistake in the case of invalids who are com- 
pelled to work for a living. Buoyancy of spirit, enabling one to bear up under 
disappointment and hardships, which, as a rule, only characterizes a sound body, 
is nowhere more needed than in a strange land among strangers. 

Persons beyond the active years of life, and without that adaptability to circum- 
stances belonging to them, will also run considerable risk in emigrating, unless 
possessed of means. To such, old communities usually afford better opportunities 
for self-support than new ones, where the struggle for success in life calls for more 
energy than pertains to mature age. Single men are obviously much safer in tak- 
ing their chances than persons who have to provide for others. Heads of families, 
especially, even if strong in body and not too advanced in life, should carefully 
weigh the possible consequences of emigration, both to themselves and to those 
whose future will be fashioned by their own. 

No one should think of emigrating without sufficient means for self-support for 
at least a short time after reaching his destination ; for suitable employment im- 
mediately after arrival cannot always be relied on, and there is nothing more dis- 
couraging to the new-comer than to become a subject of public or private charity. 
This caution applies particularly to heads of families, who would be cruelly dere- 
lict in their duty to expose those depending on them to the risk of destitution on 
arrival. Families who contemplate settling on lands will require, after providing 
for all traveling expenses, about five hundred dollars with which to meet the cost 
of putting up a house, for live-stock, seed, farming utensils, provisions, etc. 

Success can be promised to energetic farmers. However modest their begin- 
ning, they may be sure of finding themselves in possession of a comi)etency after 
a few laborious years. But there is not only a fine opening for small farmers; 
nowhere else will stock-raising and ordinary farming on a large scale bring more 
satisfactory results. Many farmers who are now rich, at first rented farms on 
shares, and so earned money to buy them. Good men, who wish to begin in this 
way, have no difficulty in finding farms to rent, especially west of the Cascade 
Mountains. Good j)ractical farmers, with slender menn.s, might do well to try this 
plan for a year or two. By renting a farm, the new comer can gain all necessary 
information about the country before settling permanently. He will thus avoid 
the mistakes which often happen from locating in haste. The usual rates of rent 
are one-half the crop to the owner if ho supplies seed, team, etc., and one-third the 



72 Appendix. 

crop if only the land and the permanent improvements thereon are furnished. 
The cost of wheat-farming in average years will not exceed $7.50 per acre for the 
ploughing, harrowing, seeding, harvesting, hauling and tlireshing. The interest 
on the value of the land miglit be placed at $3.50. This would give a total of $10 
an acre at a liberal estimate for all labor expended and cost incurred. 

Land in all stages of improvement and grades of cultivation may be purchased 
in the Willamette Valley, and at almost every other point. Twelve years ago, 
improved farms could be bought readily for $15 to $20 per acre, and the distant 
brush or oak grub lands at from $8 to $4. With the advent of the railroads, 
these prices gradually advanced, until now the best farms, held in tracts of 160 to 
320 acres, sell at the firm price of $30 to $40 per acre. Near Salem and Albany 
the prices range from $50 to $60. Brush and light oak lands cannot now be 
obtained in advantageous situations for less than $12 to $15 per acre. Hill 
cleared lands which, in 1872, were regarded as fit for pasture only, and sold for 
$10 per acre, now command $20 and $25, dependent on location and county. 
There are, however, numbers of farms, less desirably situated as to lines of trans- 
portation, which may be bought at far lower rates. Take the average farming 
land of this class in the Willamette Valley, and prices, perhaps, will range from 
$15 to $35. 

The immigrant who has some money vnW always do better here, as every- 
where else, by investing in land already under cultivation than by purchasing 
wild lands, provided he is careful not to pay too high a price and to secure a good 
title. A small farm, well tilled, will afford a good living at once, obviating the 
loss of time and the hardship incident to a new settlement. The greater number 
of settlers, however, are not in the position to adopt the more advantageous 
course, and must avail themselves of the many openings for settlement on 
government or railroad lands. To them the fact is of great importance thab 
the mild climate greatly mitigates the discomforts of the first few years, and 
that the legitimate rewards of the husbandman's toil are nowhere more certain 
to be reaped. 

Generally speaking, persons accustomed to ordinary and mechanical labor, 
and who unite frugal habits with persevering industry, will run the least risk in 
emigrating; but individuals unwilling to work, or accustomed to live by their 
wits, are not wanted. Idlers will only go from bad to worse ; and adventurers 
will not prosper. 

Farm labor is worth from $25 to $80 per month and board. During winter 
some days will be lost. Harvest work is worth $1.50 per day. Good choppers 
are in demand, and on Puget Sound the lumber mills pay as high as $60 to $90 
per month for first class bands. A good worker can always find emplojTnent. 
Chinamen work for the railroads and board themselves at $1 per day, and in 
winter take contracts for grubbing brush land. New comers can find work with 
the railroads, which pay as follows : Common laborers, $1.75 to $2 a day ; fore- 
men of gangs from $75 to $100 a month ; blacksmiths, $2.50 to $4 a day ; 
carpenters, $3 50, and carpenter's assistants, $1.75 to $2 ; track layers (iron men), 
$2 to $2.50 ; men with their own teams, $4.50 ; assistant engineers (on construc- 
tion), $125 to $150 per month and expenses. In railroad shops machinists get 
$3.50 to $4 per day ; boiler makers, $4 ; helpers, $2.50 to $3 ; blacksmiths, $3 to 
$4; their helpers, $2.50 to $3; carpenters, $3.50; car repairers, $2 to $2.50; 



Wlien and How to Beach the Country, TS 



painters $3.50 : laborers, $2 to $2.50 ; track layers, $1.85 to $2 per day. Harness 
makers in Portland, $2 to .f 4 a day ; saddle makers get $3 to $5 a day for piece 
work Cabinet making is extensively carried on. Good workmen receive steady 
employment and get $2.25 to $2.50 per day ; carpenters average $2.50 to $3 a 
day The Portland wagon and carriage makers earn $2.50 to $3 ; blacksmiths on 
wagon and carriage work, $2.50 to *4 a day ; bricklayers and stonemasons, $4 a 
day The woolen mills at Oregon City pay as follows : Common labor, $i.'.i;) to 
$1 50- Chinese, 90c. to $1 ; weavers average $1.75 ; spinners, $1.25 to $150, being 
generally expert children and youths. House servants are in demand, and, owing 
to the absence of white help, Chinese are freely employed at $3 to $5 a week 
very good ones earning as much as $25 to $30 a month. Servant girls earn good 
waaes, and are preferred when they can be had. , „ , . 

There is not more lack here than in other parts of the United States of 
lawyers, doctors and clergymen. Persons belonging to these professions will find 
it difficult to make their way. But, even in these callings, success may be 
achieved by capable men. . j •* i 

In mercantile pursuits the opening is good for men of enterprise and capital ; 
but the chances for mere clerks are not the best. 



WHEN AND HOW TO KEACH THE COUNTKY. 

Spring is the best season for immigration; next, summer ; then autumn, and 
^int.r the worst. In spring, the chances of finding emplojnnent are better than 
at any other time of the year, and those who take up land, or rent or purchase 

farms, can go at once to work. n^u- •* ;„ 

At present, Portland is the most convenient point for emigrants. This city is 
the gateway and distributing point of the whole country, and from it all trans- 
portation routes diverge. Go to Portland, and thence to final destination. 

Emigrants from Europe may reach Portland either by way of New lork and 
thence by Pacific Mail Steamship Company's line to Panama, or by rail overland ; 
or else thev may go direct by English or German steamers to the Isthmus, taking 
the re-ul- steamers thence to San Francisco and Portland. Emigrants from 
Easter; Canada and the Atlantic States may either take the P-ama route or go 
by rail across the continent to San Francisco and thence to Portland by the 
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's stean.ships. The time from New 
Yorf via Panama is about thirty days, and by the overland railroads the purney 
is made ■ first-class, in ten days, and by emigrant train in fifteen days. 

Bv the Panama route, cooked food and sleeping accommodations are furnished, 
without extra charge; by the overland route, the fare ^^^-^f l^^;^/;;^^Xc^ 
portation only, as far as San Francisco, while on the steamei^ ^™"l '^"" ^rind 
To Portland, foo<l and berths are included. For emigrants from the Middle and 
Western States, the overland route is unquestionably the best^ 

Though it is not practicable to charter cars for colonies, the use of a special 
car. westward, from Omaha, or Kansas City, can be obtained, when the number 
of passengers is sufficient. 



74 Appendix. 

Sleeping-car rates, first-class, overland, are as follows : 

Berths. Sections. 

New York to Chicago or St. Louis |5 00 $10 00 

Chicago or St. Louis to Omaha 3 00 6 00 

Omaha to Ogden 5 00 10 00 

Ogden to Sau Francisco 6 00 12 00 

From Ogden to San Francisco the Central Pacific Railroad Company has now 
third-class sleeping-cars, fitted with upper and lower berths. These cars are a great 
convenience. Heretofore emigrants have been compelled to sit up, or make shift 
to rest as best they could. No additional charge is made for berths in third-class 
sleeping-cars. One hundred pounds free baggage is allowed for each whole ticket, 
and 50 pounds for each half ticket, between Eastern points and San Francisco. 
Excess of this rate costs $10 per 100 pounds from Omaha to San Francisco. From 
San Francisco to Portland, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company allow 
free 150 pounds of baggage with each adult passenger ; half-fare passengers in 
proportion. All baggage above this weight is charged for at the rate of two cents 
per pound. 

The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's steamships, between Portland 
and San Francisco, leave each port every few days. These steamships are large 
new vessels, which rank among the finest afloat. They are fitted up with every 
convenience and luxury known to modern travel. The trip between San Francisco 
and Portland is made in about two days, and affords the traveler full opportunity 
to enjoy the great scenic beauty of the Lower Columbia River. 

There is another route to Oregon, overland, via Sacramento and Redding, which 
involves change of cars at Sacramento and includes 285 miles of staging, over 
high mountains, and still another change to cars at Roseburg, a point 200 miles 
south of Portland. This is frequently traveled in the summer by tourists, but 
involves much greater expense than emigrants are often willing to incur. 

Passengers who go overland will in every case save money by purchasing 
through tickets, which may be obtained at the offices of all the great railroad 
lines. The fares to Portland from Atlantic seaboard and interior cities are con 
stantly changing. At present, the rates for emigrants tickets, via San Francisco, 
and Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, are as follows : 

Austin, Texas, $87.50; Atchison, Kan., $57.50; Bay City, Mich., $76.60 
Baltimore. Md., $73; Boston, Mass., $78.50; Buffalo, N. Y., $79 ; Burlington, 
la., $64.25 ; Cedar Rapids, la., $63.60; Chariton, la., $60.35 ; Chattanooga, Teun 
$80.50; Cheyenne, Wyo., $53; Clinton, la., $04 60; Cincinnati, O., $69.50 
Cleveland, 0., $76 ; Columbus, O., $73.10 ; Chicago, 111., $68 ; Dallas, Tex., $79.30 
Davenport, la., $63.45; Decatur, 111., $67; Denison, Tex., $77; Denver, Col. 
$55 ; Des Moines, la., $59.76; Detroit, Mich., $74 ; Erie, Pa., $77.50; Evausville 
11!., $69.50 ; Florence, Kan., $57 50; Fort Wayne, Ind., $72.45 ; Galveston, Tex. 
!if89.45; Grand Junction, la, $59.30; Grand Rapids, Mich., $73.45 ; Great Bend 
Kan., $57.50 ; Green Bay, Wis., $73.90; Hannibal, Mo., $63.15 ; Harrisburg, Pa. 
$81.75; Houston, Tex., $87.95; Indianapolis, Ind., $70 ; Iowa City, la., $63.39 
Jackson, Mich., $74; Jefferson City, Mo., $62.25 ; Jonesville, Mich., $73.15 ; Kan 
sas City, Mo., $57.50 ; Kalamazoo, Mich., $72.25; Kearney Junction, Neb., $55 
Keokuk, la., $64.25; Lafayette, Ind., $69.50; Lawrence, Kan., $57.50; Las 
Vegas, N. M., $55 ; Leavenworth, Kan., $57.50; Logansport, Ind., $70.50 ; Louis- 



Ruling Prices. 75 



ville, Ky., $69.50 ; Madison, Wis., ^70.75 ; Mansfield, 0., $75.85 ; Memphis, Tenn., 
$73.25 ; Milwaukee, Wis., $70.50 ; Minneapolis, Minn., $69.05 ; Moberly, Mo., $61.55'; 
Montgomery, Ala., $81 ; Montreal, Can., $82 ; Nashville, Tenn., $74.50; Newark, 
O., $73 ; New Orleans, La., $78; New York, N. Y., $69.50 ; Niagara Falls, N. Y., 
$79; Omaha, Neb., $55; Oshkosh, Wis., $71.95; Peoria, 111., $65.25; Phila- 
delphia, Pa., $69 ; Pittsburgh, Pa , $78.50 ; Portland, Me., $85.75 ; Pueblo, Col., 
$55; Quebec, Can., $83; Quincy, 111., $64.40; Russell, Kan., $57.50; St.' 
Joseph, Mo., $57.50; St. Louis, Mo., $66; St. Paul, Minn., $69.05 ; St. Thomas, 
Can., $77.40; Sedalia, Mo., $60.35; Topeka, Kan., $57.50; Vinita, Ind. Ter.[ 
$65.90. 

Parties going to Oregon by way of Chicago will find at the office of the 
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, No. 52 Clark street, full information 
with respect to routes and connections, and locations in Oregon and Washington 
will be freely described and pamphlets furnished. Upon arriving at Portland 
immigrants will find it to their advantage to call at the office of the Oregon Rail- 
way and Navigation Company, corner Front and D streets, where valuable 
information can be obtained. 

But one class of tickets (first-class) is sold over river lines Emigrants' 
movables are car-ied at greatly reduced rates. The steamers and trains of the 
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company leave Portland daily for The Dalles, 
Walla Walla, Eastern Oregon and all Columbia and Snake River points, and 
steamers also connect daily at Kalama with the Northern Pacific Railroad for 
Tacoma, Seattle and Victoria. Trains also leave Portland daily on the Oregon 
and California railroad lines for all points in the Willamette Valley. 



RULING PEICES. 



Taken in the aggregate, the cost of living is less in Oregon and Washington 
Territory than in the Atlantic States, and no greater than in the Western States. 
Some commodities and general merchandise are held at higher prices than east of 
ihe Rocky Mountains; but all the products of the soil are comparatively cheap, 
notwithstanding the higher rates of wages. For the past two years, wheat in 
bulk at Portland has ranged from 80 cents to $1.60 per cental ; oats, 45 to 50 
cents ; potatoes, 40 to 75 cents ; flax seed, $3, and onions, $1 per bushel ; best 
quality flour, $4.50 to $5 per barrel. Good fann horses cost about $100 each ; 
oxen, $125 per yoke ; good average milch cows, $25 ; sheep, $1.25 to $2.50 per 
head ; wool, common graded, 25 cents per pound ; beef on the hoof is worth 3 to 
4 cents ; butchered beef, 5 to 7^ cents ; choice cuts, 10 to 14 cents ; chickens, per 
dozen, $3 to $5 ; tame ducks, per pair, $1.50 ; geese, per pair, $^; turkeys, per 
pair, $3; wild ducks, per pair, 50 to 75 cents; wild geese, per pair, $1.50; 
pheasants, per pair, 62 cents; grouse, per pair, 75 cents ; venison, 10 to 12 cents 
per pound. Subjoined is the list of prices which ruled at Portland in December, 
1881, for the articles named : 



76 



Appendix. 



AGBICtTLTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

rami wagons, $103 to $140. 

Ganj; plough, $100 to *]10. 

Walking plow, $10 to $30. 

Buckeye grain-drill, nine to eighteen hoe, $110 
to $140. 

Buckeye seeder and cultivator, eleven to four- 
teen tooth. $90. 

Fan millB, $3^5 to $40. 

Feed mills (choppers), SG5 to $100. 

Spring wagons, $140 to $260. 

COFFEE. 

Old Government Java, per pound, 20 to 82 

cents. 
Costa Rica, per pound, 15 to 15J4 cents. 
Guatemala, 13 >2 to 14>/2 cents. 

COAL OIL. 

Crystalline, 30 cents. 

Downer's, 40 cents. 

Standard brands, per gallon, 30 to 35 cents. 

Leval oil, 110 degrees, 30 cents. 



Paraftine, per pound, 22(4 to 35 cents. 
Grant's, per pound, 13><f cents. 
Gross & Co., per pound, 15 cents. 
Emery's, 12 cents. 

DAIRY PRODUCTS. 

Butter, fancy, fresh roll, per pound, 32!4 cents ; 

good to fair, 15 to 30 cents ; common, all 

shapes, 10 to 20 cents. 
Oregon cheese, new factory, per pound, 14 to 

16 cents ; good to choice, 15 to 16 cents. 
Eggs, per dozen, 35 cents. 

DRIED FRUITS. 

Apples, machine cured, per pound, 10 cents. 
Apples, sun cured, per pound, 7 cents. 
Pears, sun cured, per pojind, 5 to 6 cents. 
Pears, machine cured, box, 10 cents. 
Peaches, Plummer dried, per pound, 12 to 14 

cents. 
Plums, sun cured, pitlcss, per pound, 10 cents. 
Plums, machine cured, box, 15 to 18 cents. 
Figs, California, twenty-five pound boxes, 7 to 

8 cents. 

DRY GOODS. 

standard sheeting, 4-4, 7'-4 to 8X cents. 

Light sheeting, 4-4, 5 to 7 cents. 

Fine brown shirting, %, 1% to 9X cents. 

Fine brown shirting, 4-4, 9 to 10 cents. 

Brown drilling, 9>^ to lOVi. 

Bleached shirting, %, 6'/i to S,^' cents. 

Bleached shirting, ''g, 7'4 to 914 cents. 

Bleached sheeting. 6-4, 15 to 21 cents. 

Bleached sheeting, 8-4, 19 to 24 cents. 

Bleached sheeting, 9-4, 21 to 26 cents. 

Hickory stripes, 12i4 cents. 



Cheviot stripes, 10 to 15 cents. 

Denims, brown and blue, 10 to 20 cents. 

Checks, blue and bi own, 12(2 lo 17>i cents. 

Canton flannel, 9 to 21) cents. 

Ticks, light, J< , 10 to 12 cents. 

Ticks, heavy, % , 15 to 23 cents. 

Duck, white, 27 inches, 1214 cents. 

Duck, white, 40 inches, 18 cents. 

Duck, brown and blue, 18 cents. 

Kentucky jeans, 18 to 37 cents. 

Glazed cambric, 6 cents. 

Prints: Spragues, per yard, 6 cents; Dnrnell, 
Cocheco, American, Hamilton, Richmond, 
Simson's, Comer, Pacitic, Oriental, Allen's, 
per yard, 7 to 8 cents. Second quality, 554 
cents. 

Fine family E blankets, $8.50 to $9.50. 

Fine family F blankets, .$6 to $9.50. 

54 X 66 inch crib blankets, $3.75 to $4. 

FLOUR, FEED, ETC. 

Flour, fancy extra, per barrel, $5 ; country 

brands, $4 to $4.75. 
Corn meal, per one hundred pounds, $2.75. 
Buckwheat, per one hundred pounds, $4.50 

to $5. 
Oatmeal, per one hundred pounds, $4.25 to 

$4.50. 
Cracked wheat, jser one hundred pounds, $3.50. 
Bran, per ton, $14. 
Shorts, per ton, $22. .50. 
Middlings, per ton, fine, $22 to $25. 
Hay, per ton, $14. 



Wheat, good to choice, per one hundred pounds, 
$1.60 ; fair to good, $1.55 ; Walla Walla, good 
to choice $1.95 to $1.97'2 ; Walla Walla, fair 
.to good, $1.80 to $1.95. 

Oats, per one hundred pounds, choice milling, 
$1.40; good feed, $1.25 ; ordinary feed, $1.15. 

Barley, per one hundred pounds, brewing, $1.35 
to $1.40. 

Rye, per one hundred pounds, nominal, $1.50 
to $2. 

HONEY. 

Honey in comb, per pound, 16 cents ; strained, 
in ,5-ga'.lon tins, per pound, 12'2 cents ; 1-gal- 
lon tins, per dozen, $14.50 ; '4-gallon tins, per 
dozen, $7 to $7.50 ; 5-gallon tins, 12 cents per 
pound. 

HIDES, WOOL AND BAGS. 

Hides, dry, over 16 pounds, per pound, 17'/4 to 

18 cents. 
Murrain hides, wet, 16 pounds, 14 cents. 
Hides, wet salted, over 55 pounds, per pound, 

8 cents. 
Pelts, long wool, per skin, 30 cents ; medium 

to short. 15 cents. 
Shearlings, 5 to 8 cents. 
Deer-skins, per pound, 19 to 22(4 cents. 



Ruling Prices. 



77 



Beavcr-skius, per pound, $1.60 to $1.75. 
Wool, Ea.st.L'ni Orc;;oii, per pound, 19 to 22 

cents ; Valley, 24 to 26 cents ; Umpqua, 26 to 

ST cents. 
Grain-sacks, hacd-sewed, 22 x 36, 9 to 10 cents. 
Wool-sacks, 5t> cents. 
Gunnies, 14 cents. 



Curry powder and paste, cases of three dozen, 

$5. 
Salad oil, cases of one dozen quarts, $9 ; two 

dozen pints, $5 ; and four dozen and one-half 

pints, $3 per dozen. 
Tapioca, sago, per pound, 7)4 cents. 
Fine table salt in jars, $1.T5 ; papers, per 

dozen, 75 cents. 
Best cider vinegar in casks, per gallon, 30 cents. 
Pilot bread, fresh from bakeries, 4 cents per 

pound ; soda crackers, cenis ; butter, sugar 

and other crackers at same rates. 

GREEN FRUITS. 

Apples, per fifty-pound box, choicest, 60 to 80 

«ents. 
Oranges, per one hundred, Los Angeles, $2 to 

•*4. 
Lemons, per one hundred, Los Angeles, $3. 
Limes, per one hundred, California, $3.50. 
Pears, per box, 50 to 75 cents. 
Plums, per box, $1.25. 
Cranberries, per barrel. Eastern, $15. 

HARDWARE, ETC. 

Axes, $10 to 114 per doz. 

Axes, handled add., !M2.50 to $16.50. 

Ausiers, Douglass extra, discount 30 per cent. 

Axles, iron, per pound, 8 cents. 

Anvils, Wright, per pound, 13J4 cents. 

Bits, Auger, Douglass, discoupt 25 per cent. 
New list. 

Bells, cows, discount 50 per cent. 

Brushes, horse, per dozen, $6 to |16. 

Butts, cast, fast, discount 45 i er cent. 

Butts, cast, loose, discount 40 per cent. 

Bolts, carriage, R B & W, discount 45 per 
cent. 

Cartridges, Henry rifle, $10.40. 

Chisels, extra frame and firmer, discount 50 per 
cent. 

Coil chain, per pound, 7 to 9 cents. 

Portland horse nails, No. 7, 25 cents ; No. 8, 24 
cents ; No. 9, 4;3 cents per pound. 

Grindstones, Berca, 2'-.i cents. 

Handles, axe. No. 1, per dozen, $3.25. 

Handles, pick. No. 1, $3. 

Hatchet's, Blood's list, 5 to 10 per cent, dis- 
count. 

Hinges, strap, light, 40 per cent, discount. 

Hinges, strap, heavy, 40 per cent, discount. 

Round iron, 9.£ to 2-iuch, per pound, 4 cents. 

Norway, 7 cents. 



Horse-shoes, per keg, $5.75. 

Ilorse-shoe shapes, per pound, 7 cents 

Lead, bar, per pound, 714 cents. 

Locks, R & E, li.st Jan. 1. 

Mattccks. $13 to $16..'J0. 

Nails, ten to sixty, $4.50. 

Nails, eightpenny, $4.75. 

Nails, sixpenny, $5. 

Nails, fouri)eiiny, $5.25. 

Oil-tempered si)nngs, per pound, 14 cents. 

Powder, agents' rates. 

Planes, Greenfield Tool Co., list 20 per cent. off. 

Rope, Oregon, 12>»; cents. 

Rope, California, 15 cents. 

Saws, Disston, hand and panel, list 10 off. 

Saws, 8 and Jackson, hand 26-inch, per dozen, 

$18. 
Saws, x-cut, jier foot, 40 cents. 
Spikes, $4.75. 
Shot, $2.10. 

Shovels, L H Rd point, light, $8.50 to $13.50. 
Shovels, L H Rd point, Ames, S13.50. 
Steel plough tire, steel spring, 8 cents. 
Steel, cast, 15>(. cents. 
Scales, Fairbanks, 10 per cent, off list. 
Screws, gimlet-point, discount 20 per cent. off. 
Traps, Newhouse, discount 15 per cent, from 

list. 
Vises, solid box, Wright, 16 cents. 
Wrenches, Coe's genuine, discount 40 per cent. 

off. 
Wringers, clothes, per dozen, $55 to $65. 

POTATOES AND VEGETABLES. 

Potatoes, per one hundred pounds, 50 to 75 

cents. 
Cabbage, per pound, % cents. 
Turnips, per pound, 1 cent. 
Carrots, per pound, 1 cent. 
Beets, per j)ound, l^i cents. 
Sweet potatoes, per pound, 1}.^ to l^ cents. 
Onions, red, per pound, 1^4 cents. 

PEASE, SEEDS, ETC. 

Beans, per pound. Pea, A}4 cents ; S. W., i}i ; 

Bayou, 2^^ ; Limas, cents. 
Pease, field, 2 cents ; sweet, $3. 
Timothy seed, 6 to 10 cents. 
Red clover, 16 to 18 cents. 
White clover, 35 cents. 
Alfalfa, 8 to 10 cents. 
Hungarian grass, 8 cents. 



POULTRY. 

Chickens, per dozen, large, $3 to $5. 
Geese, per dozen, nominal, $6 to $9. 
Turkeys, per pound, 18 to 20 cents. 
Ducks, per dozen, wild, $4 to $4.60. 



RICE. 



Japan, table, per pound, 6 cents. 
China, per pound, 5 to (» cents. 



78 



Appendix. 



Liverpool (fine), large sacks, $16 to $20 per ton. 
Liverpool (tine), factory filled, fifTy-pound sacks, 

120 to 125. 
Liverpool (coarse), large sacks, $16 to $20. 
Carmen Island, per ton, $10 to $12. 
Ground rock (stock), per ton, $10 to $11. 



Japan, Oolong, Young Hyson (papers), per 

pound, 30 to 40 cents. 
Japan, Oolong and Young Hyson (lacquered 

boxes), per pound, 40 to 60 cents. 
English breakfast, per pound, 60 to 75 cents. 
Imperial gunpowder, per pound, 60 to 75 cents. 
Common teas, per pound, 25 to 30 cents. 



Crushed sugar, barrels, 131f cents per pound ; 
14 barrels, 1.3X cents per pound. 

Powdered sugar, barrels, 1.3j<;' cents per pound ; 
J4 barrels, 13?^ cents per pound. 

Brown sugar, S. F. Refined Gold, 6, barrels, 
11% cents per pound; Gold C. 14 barrels, 12 
cents per pound. 

Dry granulated, 12^ cents per pound ; Sand- 
wich Island sugar, 8 to 11 cents per pound. 

SMOKBD MEATS. 

Hams, Oregon cured, 15 to 16 cents per pound ; 
Eastern cured, 18 to 19 cents per pound ; Cal- 
ifornia cured, 16 to 17 cents per pound. 

Bacon, sides, 15 to 15X cents per pound ; 
breakfast, 15 to \b}4 cents per pound ; bacon, 
shoulders, 10 to 11 cents per pound. 

CANNED GOODS. 

Tomatoes, per dozen, 2!4 pounds each, $1.25 to 
$1.50. 



Corn, per dozen, 2 pounds each, $2 to $2.25. 
Pease, per dozen, 2 pounds each, $2 to $2.15. 
String Beans, per dozen, 2 pounds each, $1.75 

to $2. 
Peaches, per dozen, 2^ pounds each, $2.50 

to $3. 



California Eefineries, in kegs, 75 cents per gal- 
lon. 

California Refineries, in barrels, 70 cents per 
gallon. 

California Refineries, in 1-gallon cans, 82 cents 
per gallon. 

PAINT MATERIALS AND OILS. 

White lead, best quality, in kegs, 8)4 to 9 cents 

per pound. 
Linseed oil, boiled, pure, per gallon, 72 cents. 
Linseed oil, raw, pure, per gallon, 70 cents. 
Litharge, per pound, 9 cents. 
Prince's metallic paint, per pound, 2>4^ cents. 
Yellow Ochre, per pound, 3 cents. 
Whiting, English, per pound, 3 cents. 
Pari.s White, per pound, 3 to 3>j cents. 
Lampblack. Eddy's, per pound, 35 to 40 cents. 
Turpentine, per g.Tllon, 80 cents. 
Lard oil, standard brands, pure, in barrels, 

$1.10 to $1.15 per gallon ; in cans, $1.15 to 

$1.20 per gallon. 
Lard oil. No. 1, barrels, $1.00 to $1.05 per gallon. 
Lard oil. No. 1, cases, $1.05 to $1.10. 
Dogfish oil, refined, in cases, per gallon, 60 

cents. 
Dogfish oil, common, in cases, per gallon, 47'/i 

cents. 
Salmon oil, in cases, per gallon, 40 cents. 
Sperm oil, in cases, $1.00. 
Mineral Sperm, in cases, per gallon, 52)^ to 55 

cents. 



Temperature and Rainfall. 



79 



TEMPEEATURE AND RAINFALL. 

Statement showing the Maximum and Minimum Temperatures, the Mean Tempera- 
ture and Rainfall, in inches and hundredths, at the places named, for tlie years 
1879, ISSO, and ISSl to date; also the Annual Mean Temperature and Total 
Rainfall for the same years. Compiled from the Records on file at the Office of 
the Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. 



PORTLAND, OREGON. 

Latitude, 45° aCK N. Longitude west from, Greenwich, 122' 27' 36". 

sea level, 66.50/ee^ 



Elevation of Barometer aixme 



Month. 



January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Auifust 

September 

October 

November . . 
December. . 



1879. 


Temperature. 


1 


Max. 


Min. 


Mean. 


53 


20 


37.8 


5.28 


tJO 


25 


44.0 


13. 2J 


7a 5 


33 


48.8 


11.70 


77 


35.5 


52.3 


2.19 


81.7 


41 


.54.6 


6.60 


HI. 7 


43.5 


60.5 


2.18 


91.7 


47.5 


66.1 


1.75 


86.7 


50 68.0 


.97 


85.3 


43.7 63.7 


2.18 


67.5 


37 2 .51.9 


4 23 


61.3 


25.3 43.6 


4.56 


58 


3.0 


38.9 


7.36 



1880. 



Temperature. 



Max. Min. Mean, 



57 
52 

58 

85 

76 

89.5 

92 

87.5 

79.5 

74 

64 

63 



26.5 
26.5 
25.5 
33 
55 
42 
46 
46.5 
41.5 
34 
3.25 
19 



41.9 
38.1 
41.4 
50.3 
53.9 
60.4 
6(i.l 
63.8 
59.8 
52.7 
42.2 
39.7 



12.27 
5.67 
4.48 
2.92 
3.13 
1..59 
.59 
1.31 
1.34 
1.47 
3.17 

13.93 



1881. 



Temperature. 



Max. Min. Mean.l (§ 



57 
63 

76.5 
79.5 

81.9 
a5.4 
90.5 
85.7 
80 8 
(i3.8 
.58.0 
58.2 



24 

26 

31 

49 

39.9 

45.4 

46.3 

46.1 

40.4 

33.0 

29.0 

29.2 



39 

45.5 

49.2 

55.1 

58.1 

60.8 

68.4 

65.4 

60.6 

47.4 

4;^.0 

43.2 



8.57 
13.:J6 
2.33 
3.51 
1.38 
2.34 
1.16 
2.11 
2.64 
6.60 
6.91 
6.67 



Total rainfall 



...51.87 



58.08 



OLYMPIA, VVASHIN^GTON TERRITORY. 




19 
24 
29 
32 
35 
38 
41 
43 
39 
27 
26 



36.2 
40.2 
44.8 
48.6 
52.4 
57.8 
60.7 
63.7 

sr.o 

47.9 
42.0 
.37.6 



5.96 
15 59 
14.44 
2.10 
4.72 
.44 
2.62 
2.11 
2. ,38 
6.17 
5.49 
11.42 



50 

49 

58 

82 

75 

88 

93.5 

83 

73 

73 

58 

59 



11 

26 

23 

28 

.33.5 

36 

42 

41 



36.6 
36.7 
39.7 
46.9 
50.7 
57.9 
62.3 
60.8 
54.5 
49 3 
.39.2 
.39.8 



19.69 

5.16 

5.. 57 

2.47 

4.10 

1.44 

.52 

.22 

1.05 

2.a3 

3.0(i 

16.66 



.'■3 

58 
71 
74 

78 

a3 

87 
84 
78 
61 
57 



23 
24 
29 

32 

a3 

40 
41 
42 
39 
22 
32 



8.90 
16.28 
4.03 
4.93 
1.54 
1.93 
98 
0.71 
2.47 
8.18 
6.75 



Total rainfall 73.44. 



63.77 



Eleven mos 56.70 



January. . . . 
February.. . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Au^.st 

September . 

October 

November . 
December. . 



DAYTON, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

Observations commenced Dec. 1, 1879. 



4.55 



61 


13 


54 


8 


75 


8 


91 


21 


90 


34 


97 


.39 


102 


42 


98 


42 


88 


.34 


!»2 


27 


63 


« 


55 






3.37 
2.19 
1.80 
3.81 
2.78 
1.00 
l.fhS 
1.29 
.19 
1.65 
2.00 
7.93 



47 

64 

^3 

83 

85.6 

86.9 

99.0 

iW.O 

91.3 

71.0 

57 



2 

6 
25 
28 
30 
:».5 
37.4 

as. 4 

29 
19.0 
5.0 



5.03 

5.04 

l.M 

3.51 

.45 

l.«l 

.66 

.22 

1.47 

3.04 

8.47 



Total rainfall 29.78 Eleven mos 25.33 

* No observations of mean temperature deduced. 



80 



Appendix. 



LEWISTON, IDAHO. 

Observations commenced Nov. 23, 1879. 



Month. 



January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June , 

July 

Angiist 

September . 
October ... 
Novembert. 
December. . 



1879. 



Temperature. 



Max. Min. Mean. 



48 





1880. 


1 


Temperature. 


3 
a 

1 


Max. 


Min. ■ 


Mean. 


59 


18 


* 


.38 


48 


14 




.20 


63 


12 




.29 


86 


30 




.59 


86 


36 




1.59 


9.3 


43 




1.07 


100 


48 




1.87 


94 


46 




1.09 


92 


38 




.20 


&4 


29 




1.54 


63 


13 




2.33 


54 


6 




6.31 



1881. 



Temperature. 



Max. Min. Mean 



49 
63 
77 
77 
88 
93 
103 
100 
87 
67 
61 



72.3 
68.9 
59.9 
48.0 
39.1 



4.46 
4.33 

.49 
2.60 

.33 
2.30 

.89 

.31 
1.37 
1.52 
1.19 



Total rainfaU 17.41 

* No observations of mean temperature taken. 



Eleven mos 19.74 

t 8 days. 



ALMOTA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
Observations commenced April 1, 1881. 
April 75 Max. 34 Min. 



May. 
June. 

July. 



. 87 
. 90 
.103 



1.65 Kainf all. 
.60 
.70 

.79 " 



August 99 Max. 

September 90 " 

October 72 " 

November 62 " 



42 Min. .14 Kainfall. 

36 " 2.17 

26 " 1.95 

18 " 1.20 " 



COLFAX, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

Observations commenced Feb. 1, 1881. 



February. 51 Max. 2 Min. 

March 85 " 26 " 

April 77 " 22 " 

May 23 " 25 " 

June 91 " 40 " 



July 99 Max. 37 Min. 

August 74 " 35 " 

September 87 " 27 " 

October 62 " 17 " 

November 55 " 05 " 



Astoria, Oregon, latitude, 46° 17' N. ; longitude, 123'' 50' W. Mean tempera- 
ture for ten years : Spring, 51' 16' ; summer, 61° 30' ; autumn, 53° 55' ; winter, 
42° 43' ; for the year, 52° 13'. Annual rainfall, 60 to 67 inches. 

Corvallis, Oregon, latitude, 44° 35' N. ; longitude, 123° 8' W. Mean tempera- 
ture for ten years : Spring, 52° 17' ; summer, 67° 13' ; autumn, 52° 41' ; winter, 
39° 27' ; for the year, 53°. Annual rainfall, 38.47 to 42.08 inches. 



For the purpose of comparing the aggregate ann ual rainfall at Portland and 
other places in Oregon and Washington Territory with that of many jjoints in 
various parts of the United States, the following statement from the office of the 
Chief Signal Officer of the Army is presented. It will be observed that the rainfall 
at Boston, on the Atlantic seaboard, is only two or three inches lower than that of 
Portland in the course of the year, and that many other cities east of the Rocky 
Mountains are so close to the Portland figures, that the difference is not material. 



Average Annual Rainfall. 



^ 






^ 




c:5 


w 




f^' 


§ w 




o 


< Q 
1— 1 




^ 


^ > 












Q CK 




^ 


"d 




5?^ 


•< 

5 ^ 




5^ 


^ o 




^ 


.^_^ •— < 






^ CQ 




^ 


2p^ 


^ 


^ 


H W 


O 




<: H 


h-; 


c 


H r 


w 


§^ 




Q 
Eq 


^ 

o* 






^ 


s 

.^ 


AL P 
RVAT 






P H 


^ 


O 




Ph 

<1 


^ 
^ 


02 
P>q 




<3 CO 


<J 


O^ 


W ^ 


H 


^ 


<1 <{ 


CO 


1^ 


.. H 


H 


r^ 




1— ( 


^ 




P 




gn 




i 


^ <^ 




•^ 


CO ^ 










C) 


s ^ 




'^ 


y « 






&^ 




SSh 


H - 






<1 




a 


ui 







•TTViINITJI 
TVaNKV 

aovaaAv 



CD K 



aovaaAV 






•'nVLiKTITJI 

aovaaAV 



O 

« 

w 



« "-; o T> o o: irj o o — - rf ^ cj m 5i ib 
31 22 S2 SK 3 iS t" ° =^ «^ ■-• o c-^ t-' ^ i-i 



^ - =s >. ■= 



.^ 5 5 5 -g S •§ :5 .S :5 .2 S g ^ 

ts;z;^QSotiooooo^Qeu>- 



n S 5 



-M E • s 



03 3 s a *o5 
.5 ►;! g is .2 "^ 






CO ri 



— mX ^' ^' ^ •■ -*- i-- ^r vju vj 
*-t©ii-tTHT-(r-4CO'?ICOCC 



00 CO O i— 



a S 5 5 

■M O -^ -fcJ 



c3 : o 5 2P 

^ ?3 y i- ^ 



^ ,2 "3 £ ,2 2 "3 ~ = g ;- r -a 



00 C 



fc o i: 

d = - p — -" =^ 

5 = C =— rrj O ;j 

j; i; h; « 



« 2 



SSxOOCOOOOt-Oii-j 



sa 






3 t^ ° 



3 5 to 

•^ ® .s 

e) 0; S 



5 5 



;z;sa«SSS^GOO,2«o 



5S J3 

Is 



•3 -^ 
g §.§ 1^ s^ s Sf^a g| gg-i 

^ g.:^ 3.2 ^ g g'.H > B Si's =* H 
<-<mpqM««OUUOPQ£i«Q 



81 



« 




CzJ 


o 


o 


r1 




te 


a) 


fe 


u 


o 


Q 


J 


^ 


<3 


O 


;? 




o 


a 






V2 


2; 


fc. 


g 


w 


o 


K 


g 


C; 


a 




O) 


O 


< 


H 




v^ 








l^ 




ta 




O 




H 




^ 




W 




S 




H 




M 




<1 




d. 




W 




Q 












<} 




^ 





Northern Pacific Railroad, 

MINNESOTA, DAKOTA and MONTANA DIVISIONS. 

The Best Line to the Golden Norih-west, 

MINNESOTA, DAKOTA, MONTANA, 
And all Points in the North-west. 

Two Through Express Trains Daily each way 

BETWEEN 

ST. PArii and DUL.UTH, BRAI1\£RD, FARGO, 
BISHARCK, MILES €1T1% BIL.Lli\OS, 

A-lVD lIVT3i:itM:Er>IA.TI3 I?LA.CES, 

CONNECTING AT 

BIS3IARCK and GLENDIVE with Steamers on the 

Missouri and Yellowstone Itivers, and at 

BILLINGS tvith Star/es for Points 

in the Yellowstone Park, 

PULLMAN SLEEPING CARS ON NIG-HT TRAINS. 



THE LAND DEPARTMENT HAS FOE SALE 
4,000,000 Acres 

OF 

PRAIRIE, TIMBER AND MEADOW LAND, 

East of the Missouri River, that can be purchased at ,$4 per acre with 
Preferred Stock of the Company, at par. 
Also tracts of Agricultural and Grazing Lands in Dakota and Montana, 

at $2.60 per acre. 

; EXCXJRSIOISr TICKETS 

Good on every train, to land hunters, and reduced rates of fare and 

freight to all settlers. 

The most promising: field in tiie United States for profitable 
investment in land is on the line of the 

NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. 

B®"- Maps and other information furnished free on application. 

HERMAN TROTT, Land Agent, H. HAUPT, General Manager, 

J. M. HANNAFORD, General Freight Agent, 

GEOBGE K. BARNES, General Passenger and Ticket Agent, 

C. B. LAMBORN, Land Commissioner, 

ST. P^UL, Minnesota. 



r 



GO TO THE PACIFIC 



,f 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

illiiliillll 



M 



Which Offers Rich Lands, Healthy Cli 

And PROSPERITY ■■Y''H7"l88''725''2"« 

The Northern Pacific Railroad Company, 
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, 

AND 

Oregon and California Railroad Company 

Operate over 4,000 Miles of Transportation by 
OCEAN, RIVER and RAIL, 

Furnishing Unequaled Facilities in their magnificent fleet of Ocean and 

River Palace Steamboats and Cars to reach all points along the 

famous Willamette, picturesque Columbia and Snake 

Rivers, and the rich agricultural lands of 

Oregon, Washington and Idaho, 

now being rapidly settled. 

Every few days one of their Steamships — either the "Queen of the Pacific," 

"Columbia," "Oregon," " State of California," " George 'W. 

Elder," or "City of Chester," leaves at lo A. M. 

-From SAN FRAITCISCO to PORTLAND, Oregon,- 

And returning leaves Portland for San Francisco at 12.05 ^' ■^• 

Cars and Steambocits leave Portland for The Dalles, Umatilla, Walla 
Walla, Ainswokth, Cheney, Spokane Falls, Lake Pen!) d'Okeille and points 
in Westekn Montana, at 7 A. M., every day (Sundays excepted). 

AstOEiA, Kalama, Tacoma and Seattle, at 6 A. M., every day (Sundays 
excepted). 

Victoria and New Westminster, 6 A. M., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Cathlamet, Bay View, Skamockaway, Brookfield, 6 A. M., Mondays, 
Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Westport, Clifton and Knappa, 6 A.M., Tuesdays, Thursdays <fe Saturdays. 

Oregon City, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Oakland, Koseburg, Jacksonville, 
HiLLSBORo, Forest Grove, Yamhill, Independence and Corvallis, every day 
(Sundays excepted). 

J8@»- THROUGH TICKETS at reduced rates over our lines from Portland 
to All Poinds in the East. 

General Offlces—cor. Front and " D" Streets. 

C. H. PRESCOTT, Manager 0. R. & N. Co. 

J. -W. SPRAGUE, Ge7i. Supt. Pacific Div. N. F. R. R., New Tacoma, W. T. 

R. KOEHLER, Manage}- 0. & C. R. R. Co., Portland, Oregon. 

JOHN MUIR, Superintendent of Traffic, Portland, Oregon. 

P. SCHULZE, General Immigration Agent, Portkmd, Oregon. 

A. L. STOKES, General Easteim- Passenger Agent, 52 Clark Street, Chicago. 

A. ROEDELHEIMER, General European Agent, 20 Water St., Live?-pool, England,