The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-09-08
County and City Official Press.
Friday, September 8, 1879.
THE AGRICULTURAL INTER.
EST.

Patronize home industry is trite
maxim of political economy OF the
Poor Richard order that has become
little hackneyed. bat yet is expressive
OF sound policy and the true secret
Of industrial prosperity. Its obvious
expediency is especially applicable
in this Territory to the farming interest.
Wise craftsmanship in former years has
encouraged the national interests that
were backward by means of protective
tariffs established by legal enactment.
Such, locally selfish expedient is not
within the power Of our Territorial
law makers, but the same result is to
lie attained in a measure by means OF
a public sentiment upon the matter.
II bchooves all the several interests in
the community, mercantile, manutactur-
ing, professional aud commercial, not
merely 10 patronize so far as advanta
geous the home agriculture, Is existing,
but further to take an interest in its
development and success.
There is no resource which country
can 81 peculiarly call its own, and which
forms so enduring basis Of prosperity
as agriculture. The farmers are thor.
oughly identified with the institution,
Of the country, and besides adding tc
its stability. they contribute as much
TO Its trade in proportion TO their means
directly or indirectly, IS any other class
The woalthiest commercial and manu-
featuring communities are those which
are backed up by agriculture thriv-
ing around them The commercial po-
sition of Astoria, aud for the matter OF
that, Seattle, hitherto, has been over
whelmed by the agricultural wealth Of
the Willamette. nourishing Portland.
The great obstacle in the way of oul
agriculture is tho want of capital Our
farmers are mostly poor. struggling to
get u start. with slender means 70 be-
gin with. Our lands. when averaged,
rate high for productiveness and are
capable of feeding and employing an
immense population. The con-
quest OF farm from the waste
ia somewhat heavy job-though not
an Improbable ono in itself. and it
requires strong arm to get the lever
ago upon it If individual or collect
i've capital or sagacity can effect the
more general application of machinery
and labor saving appliances to tho inn
provement of lands and cultivation OF
farms, good result will be accom-
plished There is not enough agricul.
raj machinery in this district TO take
care of the present crops to the best ad-
vantage, and tho clearing Of land can
be effected by cooperation and the
power of mechanical contrivances. on a
wholesale scale. much cheaper and
rcre rapidly than by the unaided
strength of the settler alone.
II is time that the slopes and flats
skirting the shore of the Sound in the
vicinity of the towns 10 the distance oi
miles around, were smiling with or.
chards and gardens and grass waving
fields. The lands in the immediate Vi
cinago of the Territorial metropolis are
too valuable 10 bc reserved merely for
timber lot
We are glad TO see the progress tina.
Is making in the planting of fruit trees
hcreabout. aud are confident tNN the
business will increase and thrive in the
future. The proposition which devolves
upon our people to establish in this re-
gard, is, that the shore lands of Puget
Sound may DO made available in agri.
culture at profit after the timber is
removed. When this is demonstrated 70
the coming immigrants. great addi-
ton 10 the resources Of our prosperity
will have been made.