The Beauties of the State of Washington Part 11

Skagit Valley, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro Woolley and La Conner.

=SKAGIT VALLEY CITIES:= Mount Vernon, county seat, Burlington, Sedro Woolley and La Conner are important centers in the Skagit Valley, famous both for its beauty and because it has some of the richest farm land in the world, extending for miles and level as a table. d.y.k.es are built to protect the country from being overflowed. Oat yields have been known as high as 175 bushels to the acre; while dairying is nowhere in the state more important, two condenseries being supported in Mount Vernon. Two main railroad lines with branches, besides an interurban, serve the section. The Pacific Highway and Skagit County Highway cross at Burlington. Auto trips are made direct to Bellingham, Anacortes, Everett and east into the mountains, visible from almost every point. Many beautiful lakes in region.

=ANACORTES:= A seaport town on Fidalgo Island at western extremity of Skagit county. Population about 6,000. G. N. railway and Sound steamers supply transportation. The Skagit County Highway starts here. Salmon canneries, lumber and s.h.i.+ngle manufacturing and s.h.i.+p building may be seen to advantage.

Suggested trips:

South to Deception Pa.s.s by auto; cross by ferry and continue to Coupeville and Fort Casey.

Splendid roads; rhododendrons.

East to Skagit Valley points. Mountains and water always in sight.

Cypress, Guemes and San Juan islands, and all Sound points.

=BELLINGHAM:= Population about 30,000. Metropolis of Northwestern Was.h.i.+ngton and fifth in size in state. In vicinity are the largest salmon cannery in world and one of largest lumber and saw mills on coast. The Olympics, Selkirks and Cascades crowned by Mount Maker are visible from its streets. Sehome Hill, where one of the state normal schools is located, permits a view of Bellingham Bay where the s.h.i.+ps of the world anchor. In front of city lie San Juan Islands; fis.h.i.+ng craft may be seen. 150 acres of parking area have been provided. Pretty roads lead through big timber in various directions. At its door stands Mount Baker, one of main tourist objectives of the northwest, and one of the most interesting mountains on the continent. The annual Marathon races, partic.i.p.ated in by the athletes of the world, are made to its summit and back to Bellingham.

Suggested tours:

Mt. Baker, for a two days' trip, or unlimited time.

Olga, East Sound and other points on the San Juan islands; boat leaves every morning. See page 33.

Lummi, Cypress, Guemes and other islands, also Deception Pa.s.s.

U. S. Experiment Farm, via Pacific Highway; Government bulb farm, in full bloom during April and May; Country Club.

Lake Whatcom, a suburban resort, 20 minutes' ride; Nooksack Falls; Lake Samish by Samish road through big timber.

Blaine, most northwesterly city in the United States. Birch Bay and Lincoln Park, visiting also Custer, Lynden and Ferndale.

Chuckanut Hill--view of Sound and surrounding country.

Out in a launch to see a fish trap raised--a rare sight.

Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Victoria, Vancouver and the ocean--splendid water trips.

The famous Skagit Valley by trolley or auto.

Anacortes on Fidalgo Island by water, auto or train.

=PORT ANGELES:= Northern gateway to Olympic Peninsula and nearer the ocean than any other city in the Puget Sound country. Harbor is one of the best. Railroads are just building in. Extensive improvements are taking place. It has one of the largest saw and s.h.i.+ngle mills in the world. No prettier scenery anywhere.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

BRINGING IN A WHALE

INDIAN VILLAGE

BURDEN BEARER

CONTENTMENT

CALLING MOTHER

OUR EARLIEST PIONEERS.]

Suggested trips:

Lake Sutherland, Lake Crescent, and Government Hot Springs.

Sol Duc Hot Springs, the "Karlsbad of America," 45 miles southwest, in the heart of the Olympics.

Hotel cost half a million.

Up the Elwha river into the mountains and on to Mt. Olympus.

Hydro-Electric Power Plant, six miles east, built at cost of $2,000,000.00 to furnish light and power for entire Olympic Peninsula.

Sequim and Dungeness, by Olympic Highway, to see largest irrigation tracts in Western Was.h.i.+ngton.

Mountains and Sound are continually in view. Trip may be continued to Port Townsend or along the Olympic Highway to Olympia and Grays Harbor.

=PORT TOWNSEND:= "Key city" to Puget Sound. Situated on Quimper Peninsula with Port Townsend Bay and Admiralty Inlet, Discovery Bay, and Straits of Juan de Fuca on three sides. From Mountain View Park a broad outlook is obtained, which includes, besides the waters mentioned, the Olympic and the Cascade Mountains and hundreds of minor details. Other beautiful parks are Chetzemoka and Lucinda Hastings. Less rain falls than elsewhere in Western Was.h.i.+ngton. Pretty driveways decorated with rhododendrons, unusual boating possibilities and easy approach to the Olympics, make the region ideal for summer outings. Adjoining the city is Fort Worden, headquarters for the Puget Sound system of defenses, where the 6th Artillery Band, one of the best in the service, renders daily programs. Several of the fastest pa.s.senger steamers on the Sound stop daily.

Suggested trips:

Fort Worden by auto and Fort Flagler by water.

Fort Casey, Coupeville, one of the oldest towns in state, and other points on Whidbey Island.

Deception Pa.s.s by water, very pretty scenery.

Hood Ca.n.a.l and Discovery Bay, by water or auto.

South through the Chimac.u.m Valley past Quilcene, around Mt. Walker to Brinnon and Duckabush on Hood Ca.n.a.l, returning via Discovery Bay and Saints Rest: from Quilcene the Olympic Highway leads clear through to Olympia.

=SEATTLE:= Metropolis of the Northwest, with an estimated population of 325,000. It is a city of hills, occupying the sightly eminences, valleys and plateaus lying between Lake Was.h.i.+ngton and Puget Sound, but sloping gradually to the water's edge in either direction. Its entire area is 94.47 square miles, which includes two large fresh water lakes, Lake Union and Green Lake, and nearly encompa.s.ses the Harbor known as Elliott Bay. It is gridironed with 237 miles of street car lines while an elaborate boulevard system of more than thirty miles connects its thirty-eight parks, which have a total area of 1,428 acres. There are also a number of children's playgrounds. From nearly all points there is visible either the Sound with the snow capped Olympics or Lake Was.h.i.+ngton and the Cascades.

Seattle is a city marvelous both for its enterprise and for its beauty.

Hills have given way to business blocks and thorofares, and at the same time have increased the area of the city by supplying material for filling in the tide flats, now occupied by the most valuable factory sites. The forty-two story Smith Building is the highest in the world outside of New York. At Salmon Bay the Government is constructing its second largest locks in a ca.n.a.l to connect the Sound with Lake Was.h.i.+ngton. Six transcontinental lines have their terminals in this city which is also the gateway to Alaska and the home port of the Great Circle Route.