COWLITZ COUNTY

Cowlitz county lies immediately north of Clarke county, bordering
about 40 miles on the Columbia river. It has about 1,100 square
miles of territory, and about 13,000 people. The southwestern portion
is largely composed of level valley lands, while its northeastern
part is occupied by the foothills of Mount St. Helens. The drainage
is all westerly and southerly into the Columbia river. Cowlitz river
is navigable as far as Castle Rock, and is an important factor in
the transportation problem.

RESOURCES.

Timber is the great source of industry at present, the county having
about two-thirds of its area heavily covered and unexploited. About
40 saw and shingle mills are engaged in disposing of its logs.
Agriculture follows close on the heels of the lumberman everywhere
in western Washington, and nowhere are better results in general
farming and dairying obtained than in Cowlitz county.

Cowlitz coal fields have not yet been largely utilized, but will
be extensively developed in time.

TRANSPORTATION.

Aside from the river navigation, this county is well supplied with
transportation facilities by rail. The valley of the Cowlitz river
affords the natural highway for roads between the Columbia river
and Puget sound, and is already traversed by the Northern Pacific,