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 of the county.

[Illustration:  Plate No. 53.—­An Okanogan County Orchard in Bloom.]

[Illustration:  Plate No. 54.—­A View of the Country Along the Okanogan River in the Vicinity of the Okanogan Irrigation Project.]