, 1878-03-08
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
IT'S INDUCEMENTS TO EMIGRANTs.

fern StateS, TelatluS particularly "
the soil, climate, productions and in
dustres of Washington Territory, we
have concluded that the easiest way
70 answer them is to write up the
country pretty thoroughly and for.
ward copies of the ARGUS to such
persons; not Mat we can in this way
open up or occupy a field which has
hitherto been unexp!ored and un
written, but in view of the fact that
notwithstanding the amount of in
formation concerning this Territory
which has been published heretofore
and the eagerness with which such
productions have been devoured by
IA large class of Eastern people who
are anxious to better their condition
if possible, there are still many who
are destitute Of such information as
they wish to obtain before venturing
to cross the continent in search o!
homes.
One trouble heretofore has been
that many of the published descrip-
tons cf this part of the country have
had their origin in anything but the
proper motive to make them impair.
tial and free from exaggerations. For
instance, few years ago when the
great "silver tongued" Garfelde
went upon his famous lecturing tour
through the Eastern and Middle
States and brought his oratorical
powers to bear upon the task of
painting his peculiarly fascinating
word pictures of the undeveloped
northwest; when he "thanked God''
that his home was within the direct
line of march of the famed "star of
empire and denominated Washing.
ton Territory as the ideal of natural
pei fection in its resources, the fairy
land within whose bounds the EN-
blematic horn OF plenty would al
ways be ashamed of itself, he was
serving the double purpose Of dis,
charging his paid-for duties to the
n. 2. RR. Co., whose interests were
served by Turing emigrants to settle
up its railroad towns, and working
upon the pride and sympathies of his
constituents here with view to re
election as delegate to Congress.
His efforts were stimulated bylthe
most selfish motives instead of being
honestly put forth for the benefit Of
the emigrants themselves, hence a
candid review of his arguments dis,
closes them in the light of exag-
gerated hyperbole, if such an express
sion could be used. These argu-
mcnts were compiled, published in
pamphlet form and circulated broad
cast through Eastern States, and
what was the res.lt? Hundreds of
excited seekers after peace and plen.
ty came out here onl ly to find the
representation so much more highly
colored than the original that their
extreme disgust was called forth and
many returned only to drift over to
the other extreme and speak more
disparagingly of the new country
than it deserved, thus working a
double disadvantage to our interests
in our reputation abroad. Such eff
forts as this, and the mistaken policy
of too many newspapers writer's,
board d-of-immigration agents &C., in
over. estimating the resources of the
Territory, or more properly, telling
of all its good points without speak
ing of any Of its disadvantages, thus
making one sided statement, can
have but one result and that of all
most undesirable.
THE FIsRT INQUIRIES
Of an emigrant, concerning Il new
country, generally refer to its eli.
mate. All members of the Anglo.
Saxon race pine for a climate of as
nearly an even temperature at all
times as possible. Great extremes
of heat and cold do not suit them.
Next in order is the qdality of the
soil. What does a rich soil amount
to mnlsss health can be enjoyed
while tilling it; or, how may mild,
equable and healthy climate be en-
joyable where fertile soil does not
abound to make glad the heart of the
husbandman and reward him for his
toll? Combine the two main requi.
sites and in time will follow a thriv-
! ing, healthy and contented popula-
ton, and in time an after growth of
wealthy cities will spring up. Will
liam Reid, Secretary of the Pos tland
| Rna rd Of nrada has wall sai1 thnt &c