of wooded hills and valleys with
a few open prairies well watered by mountain streams, chief of
which is the Nisqually, which forms its dividing line from Pierce
county, and the Des Chutes river, which makes a splendid waterfall
of some 85 feet, a few miles south of Olympia. It has an area of
about 700 square miles, 100 miles of salt-water shore, a population
of about 20,000, and a delightful climate and magnificent scenery of
lofty mountains; great expanse of inland salt water, and green-clad
islands and fields in every direction.

RESOURCES.

The county is one of the oldest settled portions of the state,
and has a great variety of natural resources, among which are its
timber areas, its agricultural fields, its coal mines, its fisheries,
including clam and oyster beds, gray sandstone quarries, and a
great variety of clays.

INDUSTRIES.

The sawmills of the county are still a very important industry
and shiploads of lumber are sent out from its wharves. All the
cereals and grasses yield abundant crops; root crops are extensive;
fruit of great variety and fine flavor is very prominent. Dairying
is flourishing, the county having more dairies than any other in
the state. Coal mining is in its infancy, but has progressed far
enough to demonstrate the existence of vast areas of lignite coal,
having some six veins and having a combined thickness of 61 feet
of coal. About 50,000 sacks of oysters are annually marketed.

TRANSPORTATION.

The Northern Pacific railway connects Olympia with all the important
Sound ports and the east, and all the transcontinental roads coming
to the Sound from the south will pass through the county. Together
with its salt-water deep harbors, these give the county splendid
competition and variety of commercial facilities.

PRINCIPAL CITIES.

OLYMPIA, the chief town of the county, at once the county seat,
state capital and county metropolis, is situated on one of the
deep-water inlets of Puget sound. Its population is about 12,000.
While it has a beautiful sandstone structure, now used for capitol
purposes, the state is about to erect a new capitol building, to
cost $1,000,000. The foundation is already built. Olympia has one
of the U. S. land offices and the U. S. surveyor-general's office.
It is lighted and furnished with power for street-car and other
purposes from the power of Tumwater falls. The city is a beautiful
one of fine homes, shaded streets and parks, surrounded by a very
p