The Beauties of the State of Washington Part 13

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 sh.o.r.es. 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 bra.s.s 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 Ca.n.a.l 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 fis.h.i.+ng 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WRIGHT PARK

A ROSE ARBOR

POINT DEFIANCE PARK AND PUGET SOUND

A SUBURBAN HOME ON AMERICAN LAKE

IN AND ABOUT TACOMA.]

Suggested trips:

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

Coha.s.set, 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HARBOR COUNTRY BEAUTIES.]

=SOUTH BEND AND RAYMOND:= Two progressive cities in southwestern Was.h.i.+ngton on Willapa Bay, one of the best harbors on Coast. Lumbering, farming, sh.e.l.l 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 Newauk.u.m and Skook.u.mchuck rivers. About 44 trains leave Centralia daily. Coal mines, farms and lumber are important. Between cities are Southwest Was.h.i.+ngton 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 Skook.u.mchuck 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 Crus.h.i.+ng 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 const.i.tute 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 fis.h.i.+ng, hunting and camping.

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