Scandinavians on the Pacific, Puget SoundStine, Thomas Ostenson
History
Scandinavians on the Pacific, Puget Sound
Stine, Thomas Ostenson
Scandinavian Americans; Washington (State) -- Emigration and immigration
Snoqualmie fall is one of nature's masterpieces, and bespeaks grandeur
and sublimity. The water shoots into the air, tumbles down a royal
precipice, whirls, foams and splashes, fills heaven with thunder and the
soul with awe and admiration. The Tumwater fall is likewise grand and
awe-inspiring, stunning in music and bewitching in scenery.
[Illustration: ANOTHER SCENE OF THE WENATCHEE AND THE GREAT NORTHERN
IN TUMWATER CANYON.]
Storms seldom visit the Pacific, and thunder rarely finds a rich medium
in the balmy clouds. But, terror! when a storm is propagated on yonder
deep, and sets the ocean boiling and shivering up shallow bays, and
springs into the forest like an unchained demon, then the whole heaven
shakes and trembles. Firs and cedars tumble like dead giants, knocking
each other to the ground in the fashion of heartless heathens. Blasts
upon blasts swell through the air and roll along the mountain ridges not
dissimilar to Jove's chariot.
Ay, you speak of awe and fright when a prairie fire gets sway on the
Central Plain, but when the guest of good and evil gains access to
the Washington forest in the month of August or September a hell is
witnessed similar to that painted by ranting trumpeters. Flames rise
skyward and with the aid of winds set the trees flaring and howling as
in the clutches of a thousand devils.
The fertility of the Pacific forest is something incredulous, the
quantity and quality of lumber produced are astounding to all not
familiar with this country. Even a conservative estimate would make many
curious speculators drunk with figures.
In the State of Washington forests spread over thirteen million acres of
land. West of the Cascades is a stretch of ten million, clothing hills
and dells from Canada to Columbia river with valuable fir, cedar,
spruce, pine, hemlock and tamarack, while on the east side three million
acres of forest land are scattered along the rivers and mountain slopes.
Saw mills and shingle factories are being kept busy the year round. More
than one billion feet of lumber are turned out annually and shipped to
all parts of the globe. The shingle industry is something phenomenal.
Factories are whistling and piping everywhere throughout the cedar
districts, and thousands of men find lucrative employments.
[Illustration: A SCENE IN THE WASHINGTON WOODS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account