Chapter 7

HERE AND THERE ALONG SEATTLE'S BOULEVARDS.]

Renton, a busy city just to the south of Lake Washington; go by the Duwamish river route and return by Rainier Valley.

Black Diamond and New Castle coal mines.

See description of other Puget Sound cities, all reached quickly.

=PUYALLUP:= A famous berry center in the rich Puyallup Valley. Over a quarter million dollars worth of berries are shipped annually. All Western Washington railroads serve it, while electric interurbans and auto cars over the Pacific Highway provide several trips per hour to Tacoma. The Western Washington Experiment Station is here and the Western Washington Fair is held yearly. It is the transfer point for Orting, the site of the State Soldiers' Home, and Fairfax, northern entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. For trips, see "Tacoma."

=TACOMA:= Population 105,000. Third city in size and importance in the state. Picturesquely located on Commencement Bay, one of the great harbors of Puget Sound. The Olympics complete the view toward the west while the Cascades on the east are overshadowed by Mt. Rainier (or Mt. Tacoma), which seems to rise from within city limits. A complete system of parks, play grounds and boulevards add to the natural beauty. The residence portion of the city overlooks an extensive manufacturing section which claims the largest meat packing establishment in the west, the largest grain warehouse in the world, and the largest smelter west of Butte City, with one of the tallest cement smokestacks in the world. Tacoma is also the largest flour milling center west of Minneapolis and the fifth city in exports and imports on the coast. Miles of unsurpassed highway lead south through a vast natural park consisting of broad prairies dotted with lakes and covered with groves of oak trees; or southeast into the famous Puyallup Valley fruit and berry district. Its improved parks comprise 1,120 acres, 640 of which constitute Point Defiance park at northern extremity of peninsula, and 30 acres, Wright Park in center of city, having 3,000 trees and shrubs in 350 different varieties.

Other remarkable features are a natural amphitheater or stadium, seating 38,000 people; the highest lift bridge in the world and the only one on a grade; the Northern Pacific shops and a Union passenger depot, model of its kind; and a speedway of 2 1/10 miles where the motor races of the northwest are run. A rose carnival is held annually.

Suggested trips outside of city:

Mt. Rainier-Tacoma in Rainier National Park--see page 49.

Puyallup and Sumner to see large berry and dairy farms.

American Lake, camping headquarters for the National Guard.

Lake Spanaway, Lake Steilacoom and Country Club, summer resorts on southern outskirts of city. Some of the best natural roads in the world.

Olympia, Grays Harbor, Shelton, Hood Canal, Lake Cushman and the Olympic Mountains--excellent roads.

Electron, Le Grande and Dieringer--immense water power plants.

Eatonville, Ohop Lake, Little Marshall Falls, Wild Cat Falls.

Kapowsin Lake, Twin Lake Farm--dozens of lakes in vicinity.

Parkland, Fawcett Lake, Melville Springs, Clover Creek.

Vashon Island Points; Bay Island points on Fox, McNeils, Anderson and other islands.

See also descriptions of other Puget Sound cities.

=OLYMPIA:= "The Pearl of Puget Sound," the "Salem of the Northwest," and seat of state government. Three railroads and four state highways converge here. The waters of Puget Sound reflect the low verdure covered hills protecting the city and extending out along the shores. The mountains are seen on every side. At the edge of city, on the north, is Priest Point Park, of 160 acres. The end of the Oregon trail is marked by a monument in Capitol Park in the heart of the city. Tumwater, a mile away, is the site of the first settlement on Puget Sound. In Olympia the first store was opened for business in the state. The Old New England Inn, formerly the scene of all territorial functions, is marked forever by a brass plate embedded in the sidewalk, and the homes of the first Territorial Governor, Isaac I. Stevens, and General R. H. Milroy are still to be seen.

Trips should include:

Tumwater, Nisqually River, Tumwater Falls--trolley cars, paved road.

Clear Lake, 30 miles; Summit Lake, 13 miles; Black Lake, 5 miles; Long and Patterson Lakes, 5 miles; Talcotts Lake, 8 miles; Bloom's and Hewitt's Lakes, 2 miles.

Tenino Stone Quarry and oil prospects; Bordeaux Logging Camps.

Hartstine, Quaxin, Stretch and many other small islands.

Shelton, Union City, Skokomish River Valley and Lake Cushman, 45 miles distant; Olympic Mountains and Canal always in sight.

Grays Harbor and the beach resorts; also all upper Sound points.

=ABERDEEN AND HOQUIAM:= Two cities on Grays Harbor, connected by electric interurban. The gateway to the Olympics by the southern route. Combined population about 29,000 (over 18,000 in Aberdeen), an increase of nearly 400 per cent in 14 years, due chiefly to lumbering and fishing industries, but farming and dairying are gaining. Near by are some of the largest trees in the state. Splendid highways, including the Olympic, lead in various directions, while the broad, firm ocean beaches a short distance away offer miles of excellent motor race tracks. Three transcontinental trains serve the district.

Suggested trips:

Cosmopolis, a pretty city of 1,200 people, just across the Chehalis River. A trolley line connects it with Aberdeen.

Cohasset, Westport, Pacific, Sunset and Moclips beaches, by auto, train or boat--ideal summer resorts.

Point Grenville and Cape Elizabeth, bold headlands of the Olympics on either side of the Quiniault River; near by are sporting grounds of the sea lions.

Montesano, county seat, at junction of Wynooche with the Chehalis River (boat, train or auto). Land near by produces 125 bushels of oats or 80 tons of rutabagas to the acre.

Around the harbor visiting Whaling station, Government jetty and light house; see crab fisheries; enjoy ocean swell.

Humptulips Valley and Lake Quiniault in the Indian Reservation; returning by canoe down Quiniault River to Tahola, near the oil prospects; or continue into the Olympics as far as desired.

Read also "Harbor Country" chapter.

=SOUTH BEND AND RAYMOND:= Two progressive cities in southwestern Washington on Willapa Bay, one of the best harbors on Coast. Lumbering, farming, shell and salmon fisheries, and cranberry culture are sustaining industries. Read also "The Harbor Country."

=CENTRALIA AND CHEHALIS:= Important railroad centers four miles apart, connected by trolley and half way between Tacoma and Portland. Combined population about 15,500 (10,000 in Centralia). A rich dairy and farm country surrounds them, formed by the Chehalis, the Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers. About 44 trains leave Centralia daily. Coal mines, farms and lumber are important. Between cities are Southwest Washington Fair Grounds. At Chehalis, county seat, is a large condensery. The Pacific Highway and the Rainier National Park Highway cross near by.

Suggested trips:

The oldest Temple of Justice in the state--built in 1851.

Old Block House at Fort Borst, junction of Skookumchuck and Chehalis Rivers, Territorial Inn where Gen. Grant stopped.

Boy's training school just south of Chehalis. Girl's school just north of Centralia.

Convict Rock Crushing Quarry at Meskill Station.

Coal Mines at Tono and Mendota; oil wells at Tenino.

Mossy Rock, Sulphur Springs, Sulphur Springs Falls, Cowlitz Gorge.

Cowlitz Valley and Columbia River; stopping at Winlock, Napavine, Vader, Castle Rock, Kelso and other pretty towns. See smelt fisheries and ocean-going cigar shaped raft.

Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake via Castle Rock--two weeks' trip.

=VANCOUVER:= Oldest city in state; settled in 1824 by the Hudson Bay Company. It slopes gently towards the Columbia river, visible from all points. To the north are the prune orchards for which Clarke county is noted, and the English walnut seems to have found its ideal habitat. Adjoining city are the Vancouver Barracks, occupying 640 acres of land, 300 of which constitute a natural park with many winding roads. State schools for the deaf and the blind are located near. What is said to be the oldest apple tree in the Northwest still thrives. Electric lines extend to the outlying districts, also to Portland, Oregon, while auto drives may be made along the river, nowhere more picturesque, or through the surrounding prosperous farming districts.

Suggested trips:

Battle Ground Lake, 20 miles (auto or steam cars).

Washougal River, 20 miles east (auto or steam cars).

Camas, 10 miles east, to see Crown Columbia Paper Mills.

Lake Merrill, costing $25.00 for four or five persons.

Portland, Oregon, the second city in the Northwest, soon to be connected by a $1,750,000.00 bridge across the Columbia.

North fork of Lewis River for fishing, hunting and camping.

Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake, 60 miles, via Lewis River.

Mount Adams and Indian Race track in Klickitat county, via White Salmon.

Several hot springs at Stevenson and Carson in Skamania county.

White Salmon Valley (train or boat), a rich picturesque region adapted to orchards and farming.

A river trip to the mouth of the Columbia or up to Celilo Falls.

=GOLDENDALE:= County seat of Klickitat county; reached via S. P. & S. railway. Surrounding country is one immense beauty spot with valleys, mountains, prairie, and timber. Mounts Hood, Adams, and St. Helens, are always visible. Many beautiful trips may be taken. Historical sights are numerous.

When you have seen Washington, the vast territory of Alaska awaits you. Alaska, the last of the undeveloped free empires! This region is so extensive that even the state of Washington would be lost in its midst, for its area is equal to that of the original thirteen colonies, with Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan thrown in, or one-fifth of the entire United States. It has a range of latitude of 1,100 miles, while its extreme longitude would reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

In proportion to its vastness, so are its wonders. Stupendous mountains reach to three and nearly four miles in height, loftier than any others in the United States or its possessions. The Yukon River is 2,300 miles in length and its nearest rival, 1,000 miles. The biggest glaciers in North America are here, which make those of Europe look like mere pygmies, and volcanoes still in eruption may be viewed from a safe point. The scenery produced by the green rock-bound fiords with the snowy peaks beyond is truly magnificent.

It is also a great treasure house. By the end of 1914 there had been produced, $540,000,000, or about 75 times the price paid for its purchase, representing over $15,000.00 for each white person now inhabiting it. Almost half was from gold mining and within the last twenty years. The rest was from fisheries, seals, furs, copper and silver--permanent resources of region.

Alaska is not cold and bleak like Labrador, although its latitude is similar. The Japan current acts as it does on Washington and as the Gulf Stream affects England. Both plant and animal life flourish and about 100,000 square miles of land are available for agricultural purposes.

To partially realize its glories take the inside passage trip from Seattle--a thousand miles of calm sea.

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Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Page 22, "occurences" changed to "occurrences" (occurrences that so often)

Page 32, "stupenduous" changed to "stupendous" (the stupendous sum)

Page 49, repeated word "of" removed from text. Text now reads (waters of Puget Sound)

Page 49, "State" changed to "States" (pinnacle in the United States)

Page 67, "panaroma" changed to "panorama" (unfolds a panorama)

Text uses both historic and current spelling of Whidby/Whidbey Island.

This book spells "throroughfare" as "thorofare".