THE TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON. 353 



coma; but in time its meaning was made to comprehend all that body of water 

 which penetrates the land in all directions from the eastern end of Fuca's Strait. 



If one were required to make an ideal map of a country which would offer 

 the greatest facilities for water transportation at the least expense of dry land, he 

 could do no better than copy the map of Puget sound. The area of the " Sound 

 Country" is about the same as that of the State of Massachusets, three-quarters 

 of which is land and one-quarter water. About one-third of the land is situated 

 on the slopes of the rivers and streams running into the Sound. In any portion 

 of the remaining part it is difficult to find a point further than six miles from deep 

 water. 



In fact, Puget Sound may be likened unto a broad deep river returning upon 

 itself, intersecting itself, and throwing out branches often and again. One of 

 the peculiarities of this body of water is its great depth and another is the want 

 of anything like a beach, the largest ships being able to run within a few feet of 

 the shore almost everywhere with perfect safety. While this is excellent in meet- 

 ing the important requirement of keeping ships afloat, it works mischief when it 

 is desired to keep them from floating off, for the Sound is so deep in most places 

 and quite near the shore that it is difficult to get anchorage. 



Another peculiarity of this contorted stream which grows out of its peculiar 

 shape, is the motion of the water under tidal action. The tide of course is due 

 entirely to the momentum of the tidal wave which covers up the Strait of Fuca. 

 By reason of the obstructions which it meets and of the distance it has to travel, 

 the tide wave in the Sound is unable to connect with the ebb and flow at the 

 Strait, so that at various points in the Sound it often happens that two or more 

 tide waves meet with great violence, forming a tremendous convulsion of waters, 

 which, while not at all dangerous to the larger craft, makes it hazardous to ven- 

 ture out in some localities in small boats. 



From the above it will be seen that the Sound Country is, perhaps, possessed 

 of the finest natural transportation facilities on the globe. 



Howsoever great may be the natural resources of any region it avails noth- 

 ing unless these resources be accessible and marketable. And since labor is the 

 foundation of all wealth, and since man must be assured of subsistence and safety 

 before he can work, and must be able to barter the product of his labor before he 

 will, it is impossible to develop any country without adequate transportation facil- 

 ities. It is to this principle that the railroad owes that power and importance 

 which has enabled it to extend the bounds of civilization in the interest of enlight- 

 ened society and to the confusion of the naked savage. When therefore a habit- 

 able region is found in which nature has built innumerable highways, requiring 

 no repair and ready for equipment, it is safe to predict prosperity, even if natural 

 wealth is limited. 



The natural wealth of the "Sound Country" is both great and diverse. 

 Though the highlands are rough and broken and not so well adapted to agricul- 

 ture as are the prairies of Illinois, they are covered by a forest, an accurate ac- 

 count of which would appear fabulous, such is the number and size of its deni- 



