472 COUNTRY UPON SHOALWATER BAY AND PCGET SOUND. 



during heavy rains, or the melting of snow in the Cascades. Their course is rapid, and none of 

 them can be considered as navigable even for short distances, though vessels can enter some of 

 the larger. They all have deltas of low land at their mouths, and generally several channels. 



As it was a matter of importance to ascertain the most practicable routes for interior land 

 travel from Olympia to Bellingham bay and the Straits of Fuca, such inquiries were made of 

 settlers and Indians as occasion permitted. As regards the country on the upper part of the 

 Sound, no difficulty whatever occurs. The only question respecting the eastern side is the exten 

 sion of a road northward from the emigrant trail. 



It appears that a depression in the countr} 7 exists for at least a portion of the distance near the 

 western base of the Cascade range, and parallel with it, constituting a lateral valley, crossing 

 the smaller tributaries at a right-angle; and it is probable that this will be found to afford a route. 

 The Indians state that they have a short portage for their canoes from the Skywhamish, a branch 

 of the Sinabomish, across to the south fork of the Stoluckwamish, and another from the north 

 fork of the latter to the Sah-kee-me-hu branch of the Skagit. No information was obtained of the 

 country between the Skagit and the Samish; but so far as the apparent disposition of the mount 

 ains is visible from the water, there is reason to believe that the same depression continues north 

 ward, and there is no doubt that from the Samish river, by way of Whatcom lake, and crossing 

 the Nooksahk, a good trail can be carried to Frazer s river. It is even said that the Indians have 

 taken horses through the whole distance. 



The country north of Bellingham bay appears to be level as far as the range beyond the stream. 



I visited the coal-beds on the D Wamish and at Bellingham bay, but had no time for making 

 more than a very superficial examination. That on the outlet of D Wamish lake is situated 

 immediately upon the water, a few rods below Tobin & Co. s mills, and about a mile from the 

 lake. The outcrop is exposed to the eastward or river side, and dips to the water at an angle of 

 about 15, being broken off towards the north by a fault. The total depth of the bed, including 

 shale, is 13 feet, with 6 feet of workable coal, divided by a thin seam of fire-clay. The drift 

 had been carried in only about 75 feet. The coal appears to be of good quality, and to burn 

 well with a strong flame, leaving no slag. It is considerably laminated, and has a tolerably 

 bright fracture. The indications are said to continue westward for a considerable distance. 

 Another bed has been discovered lower down, on the main D Wamish, at Stevenson s claim. It 

 is intended to transport this coal in scows to the town of Seattle, about sixteen miles distant by 

 water. 



Two beds had been opened at Bellingham bay, and the coal was visible in the immediate 

 bank for a long distance. The beds are from 2 to 1C feet thick, and dip to the north at angles 

 ranging from 19 to 37 degrees. The overlying rock is a light-colored yellowish sandstone, con 

 taining pebbles and concretions of clay. No associated fossils were seen. The shales are very 

 thin as far as noticed, and limestones entirely wanting. Some of the outcrops of coal appear to 

 be at the edge of faults, but the thickness of the formation itself was not examined. The seam 

 which had been most worked that known as the Ma-moosie mine was altogether eight feet 

 through, but divided by three feet of clay and slate, leaving only an equal amount of workable 

 coal. A drift had been carried in about 175 feet, the quality improving somewhat. The supe 

 rior seams at this place did not appear to be worth working. About 150 tons only had been got 

 out, which was mostly on board a vessel bound to San Francisco. 



Another bed, a little to the north of this, belonging to Capt. Fauntleroy and others, presented 

 much better indications. Its thickness is sixteen feet four inches, and the coal brighter and freer 

 from impurities than the other. A small quantity got out here sold in San Francisco for $23 per 

 ton. A bed of nearly equal depth is said also to have been since found in the southern part of 

 the bay. Other beds have been found on Samish bay, and Mr. H. A. Goldsborough saw it 

 upon the Stoluckwarnish in workable seams, but not accessible to water transportation. The 



