ational Park of 2,225,000
acres, and Mount Rainier (Tacoma) 14,526 feet above sea level and
less than 60 miles from salt water, covered with eternal snow, an
endless scene of majestic grandeur, giving the county a greater
variety of elevations and more beautiful and startling scenery than
any other county in the United States. Its northeastern boundary
is the White river, its southwestern boundary the Nisqually river.
It has about 125 miles of salt-water shore lands, with innumerable
bays and inlets and several important islands. Originally one vast
forest, much of it now is covered with fruitful fields of grain,
grass and orchards.

Its climate is mild and salubrious, its soils of great variety
and fertility, and its mountains and foothills full of coal and
precious metals.

RESOURCES.

The resources of Pierce county are varied and of great value. Its
central part is one great coal field, covered with forests, producing
annually about 1,000,000 tons of coal. Gold, silver and copper are
among its precious metals, but not extensively mined as yet.

Its rivers possess almost immeasurable water power. One plant on
the Puyallup river at Electron has an ultimate capacity of 40,000
horse-power, 20,000 horse-power of which is now in use. The city of
Tacoma is engaged in the construction of a plant on the Nisqually
for municipal use, the capacity of which will be 20,000 horse-power.
The 12,000 horse-power plant at Snoqualmie Falls also furnishes
current for city lighting, street railway and manufacturing purposes
in Tacoma.

All the cereals are successfully raised; dairying is one of the
most important industries; fruit-growing, particularly in small
fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries,
etc., is very profitable and is engaging a great deal of attention.
Fish are caught in quantities and shipped to eastern markets, but
Pierce county's greatest natural wealth is in its vast forests.
An idea of the value can be had when it is said that $6,000,000
worth of lumber was cut in 1908 in Tacoma alone. In addition to
these great natural resources, Pierce county's commercial industries
are so great as to place it in the front rank of counties of the
Northwest. The great sawmills, woodworking plants and factories of
various kinds in the city of Tacoma alone employ 11,800 people, and
the value of their output last year amounted to over $43,000,000.00.

TRANSPORTATION.

Pierce county is fast becoming a