, 1877-09-15

ANY one, who has watched events for the
,,st five wears, cannot fail to comprehend
what is the greatest drawback to gene
raj prosperity throughout Western
Washington,
I, cannot be because cur numbering in
forest is falling for, barring the present
temporary depression, that interest never
was a, extensive or more tlourishlng.
Tborsonds of dollars are annually eZ-
uendcd in developing and prospecting
on, coal fields, building railroads to our
mines and creating an industry that is
adding yearly solid wealth, in the form
of taxable property, to our natural re-
sources. Other interests, such as ship
building, fisheries, etc. contribute their
share towards making us prosperous
people,
WHY then have we hard times! There
are plenty of laboring men in the coun-
try, who are paid good wages. The
amount of steam and sailing vessels that
find constant employment in the freight
and passenger trade, is enongh to con
vince any one that great amount OF
business is transacted, enough to make
our sparce population prosperous.
One reason is, the owners ofou mills
do not reside in the Territory, and they
spend the money earned here, the prot
its of their business located, here as well
as their surplus capital in San Frsncisco
and elsewhere.
Another reason is, we have too few
small manufactures. and as a consequence
we import too much; we actually i'm
.Dort what we consume, instead OF pro-
ducing it here.
Another, is we are not receiving the
right kind of emigration. Too many
men ale coming here destitute OF means,
depending upon laber only for their sup.
port, having no trade, or ifthey have, they
have not the money to set themselves up
in business in small way, and are com-
pelIed to resort to common labor, or seek
some other field. The thousands of un-
occupied mill sites, to be found in every
county, close to the Sound, which affords
splendid opportunities for sending man
,ufactured articles to the markets of the
world, are just the places for mechanics
with small capital, TO start in the man
,ufactufing business, and after supplying
home wants, shipping to foreign msrkets
If only enough was manufactured to
supply the home market, and stop i'm
porting, how much better off we
would be.
Another reason for non prosperity, is
the tkoughllessness and improvidence Of
nearly all our laboring men, in working
for wages during the season when labor
is in demand, and then spending theii
savings, Gf they have been prudent
enough to ssve anytbing) in maintaining
themselves in idleness during the dull
season. Every laboring man in the
Territory, who has not already done so
ought to take up claim; spend his
money and his time during the winter
: in'improying it, and in three or -four
years, they can all have homes OF their
own, on which they can make living
at farming and by continuing to improve
it, in few years more. by diligence ant
economy, they can became independent
wealth producers, ifnot rich. ,.
Too much attention is paid to logging
A majority lose money at it. The mil
companies, by some crooked means o.
other, best known to themselves, aDc
they will be the last to tell how it is done
have, nearly all of them, secured. i'm
mence tracts of timber land; but tbey
know the value of timber too well t
have it cut so long as they can run the,
mills by buying other peoples timber a
present ruling prices. Men who owl
claims would be better off, not to pu
stick of timber in the water, till tin
mil companies commenced on their owl
timber; they would gladly pay $8 or 81
per NJ rather than log themselves off thei
own lands.
But" says boss logger, "wha
would you have us do, stop work an,
starvel And all these workingmer
what will become of them9 We woul,