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.
[Illustration: A FIG TREE AT VANCOUVER.]
=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.
[Illustration: BULL SEAL AND HAREM--PRIBILOF ISLANDS
REINDEER HERD ON LOWER YUKON
EXCURSION STEAMER NEAR TAKU GLACIER
HYDRAULIC MINING
RHUBARB AT SKAGWAY
ALASKA, THE LAND OF THE NORTH.]
[Illustration: ALASKA,--OUR ALLY
"A land of allurement and promise,
Bold venture and strenuous deed."]
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.
[Illustration: MAP OF WASHINGTON]
[Illustration: SEAL-OF-THE-STATE-OF-WASHINGTON]
* * * * *
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".