EPHRATA, the county seat, is a small village on the Great Northern
railway about midway of the county and the center of a large
wheat-growing section. Its transformation into an important town
is rapidly
[Page 60]
going on, the new county government calling for a variety of new
occupations to center here.
WILSON CREEK, near the eastern border of the county, is a larger
town whose chief industry is marketing grain. It is an important
distributing point, with prospects of larger growth.
QUINCY is a station on the Great Northern and is also an important
wheat-shipping point.
SOAP LAKE, on a lake of the same name, is noted as a resort for
the rheumatic.
BACON, COULEE CITY, and HARTLINE are stations on the Northern Pacific
railway in the northeastern part of the county.
Grant county is new, but has large undeveloped resources, and is
awaiting the newcomer with abundant offerings for his energy and
labor.
ISLAND COUNTY
Island county is entirely composed of a group of islands in Puget
sound, the largest two being Whidby and Camano. It has a land area
of 227 square miles and a population of about 5,000.
RESOURCES.
Lumber, agricultural products and fish make up the county's resources.
Considerable of the timber, particularly from Whidby island, has been
removed, and wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, fruits, poultry, butter,
eggs, etc., are now shipped out to the splendid nearby markets at
the chief seaport towns on Puget Sound.
The soils in the northern part of Whidby island are of remarkable
fertility, some of them producing as much as 100 bushels of wheat
per acre and immense crops of potatoes.
In season the waters of the county abound in salmon and other salt
water fish, and many of the citizens of the county find profitable
employment in connection with the fishing industry.
PRINCIPAL TOWNS.
COUPEVILLE is a town of some 400 people and the county seat, situated
on a beautiful bay in the northern part of Whidby island. It is
chief distributing point for the county, has a sawmill, shingle
mill, fruit-drying establishment, stores, churches, schools, a
newspaper, etc.
OAK HARBOR, further north, is the center of a large farming and
logging district. Two canneries are in successful operation.
UTSALADY, SAN DE FUCA, CAMANO, CLINTON, and LANGLEY are smaller
villages gradually becoming summer resorts for people from the
large cities of the sound. Steamboats furnish good transportation
from all parts
|