A REPORT ON WASHINGTON
TERRITORY
BY
W. H. RUFFNER, LL.D.
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK
SEATTLE, LAKE SHORE AND EASTERN RAILWAY
1889
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Copyright, 1889
By Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
PRESS OF
FLEMING · BREWSTER & ALLEY · NEW YORK
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PREFACE.
The matter of this Report on WashingtonTerritory is so arranged that the reader, by referringto the table of contents, can turn atonce to any particular topic. The report isdivided into six chapters, to wit:
First, Itinerary, which mentions briefly theplaces I visited, and the dates.
Second, A General Account of WashingtonTerritory, which includes something of its History,its Location, and its great Pacific Market.Under the last of these heads is given a largebody of facts which will surprise any onewho has not studied the peculiar commercialadvantages of our Pacific States, and aboveall, of Puget Sound. There is also givensome account of the topography, climate, soilsand natural vegetation, with special stress uponthe great forests of the Puget Sound basin.The lumber industry is next described, followedby a somewhat full account of agricultural products,especially those of the Great Plain ofthe Columbia River. Finally, in this division,[Pg 4]something is said of the available labor of thecountry.
Third, Geology of Washington Territory.In one division I endeavor to give the Historicaland Structural Geology of the Territory, and inanother division I give the Economic Geology.In the latter I describe the beds of coal, ironore, granite, limestone and marble, and also theores of the precious and base metals as theyhave been discovered in all parts of the Territory.
Fourth, the special interests of the Seattle,Lake Shore and Eastern Railway are discussed.I begin with Seattle, to show its advantages asa terminus. I then say something of the terminalproperty owned by this Company, and ofthe suburban interests of many kinds, such asresidences, parks, gardens and industrial workswhich are likely to grow up along the firsttwenty miles of this railway. I then take upthe great timber interest along the line, which,in its magnitude and value, will give this roadpre-eminence over all others. The agriculturalproducts along the line are next spoken of. Ithen take up the great coal interest which willminister so largely to the road—an interestwhose magnitude can be readily inferred fromthe fact that this railway will pass through, or[Pg 5]near, five and perhaps six distinct coal fieldsbetween Puget Sound and the Columbia River.I next show the advantages which this road willhave in the development of the great magneticiron-ore beds on both sides of the Cascade Mountains,and also the remarkable juxtaposition ofore, flux and fuel, which are found in the SnoqualmieValley. Attentio