I entered Washington Territory, by way of the Northern Pacific Railroad, on the morning of October 27, 1887, coming first to the valley of the Spokane River,Great Plain. and spending the entire day in traversing the plains of Eastern Washington, reaching Pasco Junction a little after nightfall. I crossed the Cascade MountainsCascade Mountains. on the Switchback, and arrived at Tacoma about noon of the 28th, at which point I took a Puget Sound steamer, and landed at Seattle about four P.M. the same day. The next morning, accompanied by Mr. F. H. Whitworth, engineer, and Mr. F. M. Guye, I went out on the Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad to the end of the road, near Newcastle, where we took horses, and reached Hop Ranch,Hop Ranch. on the Snoqualmie River, the same night.

October 30.—Proceeded up the south fork of the Snoqualmie River, and reached the engineers' camp near the top of Cascade Mountain, at Snoqualmie Pass. Distances by rail and by wagon road: Seattle to Coal Creek, near Newcastle, twenty miles; Coal Creek to Squak Valley, five miles; Squak to Falls City, ten miles; Falls City to Hop Ranch (or Snoqualmie) six miles; Hop Ranch to Engineers' Camp, twenty-six miles; Camp to Summit, five miles.

The railroad on which I left Seattle is a narrow-gauge coal road. Between its terminus and Squak Valley is a high mountain spur. The proportion of cleared land along this whole line is not large in comparison with the forests of evergreen timber, but there are many farms of great fertility, some of them large. The timber increases in quantity and size nearly to the top of the mountain. On these points I shall speak fully hereafter. My object in thus hastening to the Cascade Mountains was to make my observations first at the point where I was most likely to be interrupted by bad weather. I found the engineers, headed by Mr. Thompson, busily engaged in making the location of the railroad, beginning at Snoqualmie PassSnoqualmie Pass. (the summit), and working westward and downward, so as to connect with their finished work in the neighborhood of Hop Ranch.

Spending the night of October 30 at the camp, I went next morning to the Guye Iron Mines,Guye Mines. which were one mile from the line of the railroad. The outcrops of ore and limestone lie high on a mountain, which I named Mount Logan,Mt. Logan. in honor of General T. M. Logan, who seems to have been among the first of the Eastern men to put faith in the resources of this remarkable region. I returned in the evening to the engineers' camp.

The next day, November 1, I spent visiting the Denny Mine,Denny Mine. two miles from the railroad line, and also high on a mountain, and again returned to camp. The Chair Peak Mine (also called the Kelley Mine), thirteen miles distant from the railroad, and Guye's Mine on Middle Fork Mountain, six miles distant, I did not visit, owing to want of time.

Salal Prairie.November 2.—First rain. We returned down the mountain, and stopped for an hour at Salal Prairie, where we found a large camp occupied by the employees of the Moss Bay Iron and Steel Company,Moss Bay Co. of England, who expected to build iron furnaces on this admirable location.[A] This night we spent at Hop Ranch, a description of which is given hereafter.

November 3.—Spent the most of this day in examining the coking coal beds on Snoqualmie Mountain, three miles from Hop Ranch, and reached Falls City that night, pausing by the way to look upon that wonderful sight, the Snoqualmie River Falls, 267 feet high.November 4.—Left the line of the railroad and went up Raging RiverRaging River. ten miles, where I visited the coal openings, and spent the night at the miners' camp. The Raging River valley and mountain-sides are covered with large timber.

November 5.—Descended Raging River valley six miles to the line of the railroad, which we followed to the Gilman Coal Mines,Gilman Mines. on Squak, passing a bed of ochreous earth, which might have value for paint, and may lead to a bed of iron-ore.

At Camp Gilman I looked at all the openings which were accessible, and observed the preparations making for large mining. Spent the night at Tibbett's in Squak Valley, two miles distant.

November 6.—Returned to Seattle.

November 7.—In Seattle.

November 8.—Crossed Puget Sound to the great Blakeley Lumber Mills,Blakeley Mills. and also examined Mrs. Guye's large collection of the minerals of Washington Territory.

November 9.—Made short excursions in and around Seattle, including a trip on the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, fourteen miles out.

Wilkeson Mines.November 10.—Went to the Wilkeson Coal Mines, where I found the only coke ovens I saw in the Territory.November 11.—Returned to Seattle by way of Tacoma, where I met Mr. Peter Kirke, the partner and agent of the Moss Bay Company, who is preparing to erect a steel plant; but whether he intended to build at Salal Prairie or at Cle-ellum, I could not ascertain. In fact, I am not sure that he had then determined in his own mind.

November 12.—Excursions around Seattle, especially around the borders of the lakes.

November 13.—The first Sunday I have been able to observe like a Christian.

November 14 and 15.—Collecting information and constructing maps.

November 16.—Out on the line of the S. L. S. & E. Railway eighteen miles.

November 17.—To Kirke's Coal MinesKirke's Coal Mines. on Green River. By rail as far as the Franklin Coal Mines, passing the Renton, Cedar Mountain and Black Diamond mines. At Franklin Mines, took horses to the Green River Mines, seven miles, where we spent the night at Mr. Kirke's camp.

November 18.—Last evening and to-day, examined all the openings on Mr. Kirke's property, and one opening on Section 34, Sugar-Loaf Mountain, owned by Mr. Whitworth and others; and took the Northern Pacific Railroad cars at the Common Point, and got back to Seattle the same night.

November 19.—In Seattle working on maps.

November 20.—Sunday.

November 21.—Remained in Seattle.

November 22.—Went to Portland, Oregon. I will here say that Mr. F. H. Whitworth accompanied me on all my trips away from Seattle, and superintended the construction of my large maps, which were made in his own office. I found him a most obliging gentleman, and exceedingly well informed about the country. He was untiring also in collecting for me such information as he did not already possess. Judge Burke, Mr. Leary, Mr. Mackintosh, Governor Squire, Judge Lewis, Dr. Minor (the Mayor), etc., were exceedingly attentive, Judge Burke especially so. Other citizens, such as Chancellor Jones, ex-Governor Ferry, Mr. Arthur A. Denny (the oldest citizen on Puget Sound), Mr. F. M. Guye, Dr. Cumming, Mr. Haller, etc., were cordial, and ready to do me any service. Indeed, the citizens of Seattle, so far as I became acquainted with them, showed themselves in enthusiastic sympathy with the new railroad enterprise.November 23.—Portland.Spent the day in visiting the Oswego Iron Works, six miles from Portland, in company with Mr. S. G. Reed, president of the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. The only point of special interest connected with these unfinished iron-works, is that Mr. Reed is looking forward impatiently to the progress of the S. L. S. & E. road, expecting to receive from it magnetic ore for mixture, also limestone and coke.

November 24.—Ascended the Columbia River by steamer, with six miles of portage, to the Dalles, where I took the Northern Pacific train for Spokane Falls, having daylight from Pasco Junction.

November 25.—Nothing could be more unjust to the country than the location of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which runs most of the way to Spokane Falls in a coulÉe (or dry river bed), which completely hides most of the farming land from the traveler.

November 26.—In Spokane Falls,Spokane Falls. which I found to be a rapidly growing city of 7,000 to 8,000 people, who are pressing the interests of the town with amazing energy. Mr. Routhe, president of the Board of Trade; Mr. Cannon, president of the Bank of Spokane Falls; Mr. Paul F. Mohr, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Nash, and quite a number of other prominent citizens, called upon me, and showed the liveliest interest in the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway. I collected here a mass of valuable information concerning the agricultural and mineral resources of Eastern Washington; this being an important centre of trade for farmers and miners.

November 27.—Sunday.

November 28, 29 and 30.—Went out on the Spokane Falls and Palouse Railroad to the Palouse River country. At Garfield I took the train to Colfax, which I found to be also a flourishing place, and wide awake in reference to the Seattle road. The citizens here were also ready to do all in their power to aid the enterprise.

December 1.—Arrived at Walla Walla, another of the great wheat centres, where I found leading citizens well informed as to the new railroad, but not indulging much hope of its coming within striking distance, except in the remote contingency of Snake River Valley being selected as the route of the Manitoba Railroad.

December 2.—In the afternoon came south fifty miles, to Pendleton, in Oregon, and on the morning of the 3d started for home by way of the Oregon Short Line and Union Pacific. By this time the earth was covered with a light snow; but upon the whole, the weather during my trip was pleasant—Good weather.certainly not so much falling weather as I had a right to expect, and no severe cold.

Thus I was five weeks and two days in Washington Territory. The entire trip, from the time I left Lexington until my return, was seven weeks and two days. Miles traveled, 8,500.