The State of Washington; A Brief History of the Discovery, Settlement and Organization of Washington, the Evergreen State (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...varies in breadth from fifteen to fifty miles, of excellent agricultural land, the streams being skirted with the best of timber. Prairies to the extent of 50,000 acres, adapted for grazing, lie north of Gray's Harbor. The bay so named was discovered May 7, 1792, by Captain Robert Gray, in the ship Columbia. It is of triangular shape, with base toward the ocean. At its a"pex, twelve miles inland, it receives the Chehalis river. At low water the harbor is surrounded by mud flats; its greatest width north and south is fifteen miles; its area is about 150 6quare miles. The excellent and extensive timber, with easy outlet to the sea, the facilities to transport saw logs, afforded by the many water-ways leading into the harbor and Chehalis river, destine this county to become a most valuable lumber district. Around and near Gray's Harbor are several prosperous towns, noted chiefly for their large lumber, shingle and planing mills and ship yards. Number of acres, timber 1,230,080 Average feet per acre 31,846 Feet standing timber 39,173,440,000 Stumpage value $29,080,080 There are sixteen sawmills located respectively at Aberdeen, Cosmopolis, Montesano, Hoquiam, Elma, Ocosta, Markham, Oakville and Porter, whose combined output for 1892 was 124,990,000 feet of lumber. There are also eleven shingle manufactories in the county with an aggregate cut in 1892 of 90,100,000, the value being $156,325; capital invested, $362,500; men employed, 407; wages paid, 1891, $142,180.80. The county abounds in fertile valleys, extensive table lands, upon which thrive all vegetable and garden products, apples, pears, prunes plums, cherries, and all the small fruits. Fish, shellfish and game abound; and its rivers abound with the Quinault salmon, the most delicious of the family ...