, 1878-03-15
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
.1s r>DrcrnE>r> To ENs@R.Nr>'

headed men are kept at the mead o.
husiness matters, in the next ie"
wears growth in its population ana
wealth will be experienced that Wi
he most remarkable. One thing es
pecially, which forms distinguish
ino feature of Washington Territory
commerce. is the fact that in deveI
oniur home industries and enter
priscs there is seldom an lnconslder
ate employment of large amounts OF
money, involving reckless waste
such as has characterized some OF the
Western States and Canada during
the past few years. This conduces
generally to healthy state OF com
merce. We have had no gigantic
failures, and will have none until
such desperate financial chances are
taken.
TIE CLIMATE
OF Western Washington approaches
in its mlldncss and even temperal nre
free from extremes Of moisture o'
drvness. as nearly IA desirable sand
ard AS can he found anywhere. Pu.
gtt Sound, its inland sea, furnishes
it with the most pure and heaIthin.
sea breez S, thus improving vastly
upon the climate OF even the VII
lamette Valley. Portions Of IT are
subject to continuous rains AND
damp weather during the wlntei
months, though never to the driving
storms common to Eastern States oI
the same latitude. Ice rarely form,
of sufficient thickness to afford skat
ing; and the number of pleasant
days in each year has been compute
to average 23S, thus showing large
proportions. Earthquakes neyeI
amount to more than slight tremors.
and those at very rare intervals.
High winds are not uncommon II
the winter season, near the ocean.
though hurricanes are unknown.
Thunder storms and lightning art
very rare, never terrific or damag
ing and frequently occur no oiteneI
than once year. The annual rain
fall averages about 40 inches. The
Summers are rarely destitute of rain
for long periods, and never long
enough to occasion drought. Usu
ally about one year in three the har-
vesting season is damp enough to oc
casion Inconvenience and delay IT,
farmers in curing grain and hay
crops; though farmers never enter
tain fears of having their crops des,
troyed by either droughts, severe
storms or floods, so common and dis
astrous in many countries.
Considered in view of sanitary
a lvantag, s, the climate Of Western
Washington is especially desirable.
Professor Merrick, sent by the u. S.
government to report OH the soil and
climate, says to the department.:
"All reports, both scientific and com
mon, seem to coincide in the state
ment that the North Pacific coast
presents the most desirable climatic
influences upon the earth. The most
active outdoor labors may be per.
formed during all seasons of the
year and all hours Of the day" While
this, if taken as an abstract or literal
statement, is slight exaggeration,
yet on an average it will apply with
full force. One popularity Of this
particular section is that however hot
summer days may be, the nights are
always ccol enough to necessitate
the use of pair of heavy blankets
to sleep in comfort. This is perhaps
occasioned by the cool sea breezes
from the ocean. The summer prop.
er lasts about FIVE months, during
which three are almost free from rain.
In winter there are usually one or
two falls of snow to the depth of
few inches, however 1t is not very
uncommon occurrence to pass win,
ter without any snow at all.
IN EASTERN WASHINGTON
the climate is totally different, and
more varied, so that the Territory
may be divided into two distinct sec.
tions, the climate of each differing
materially from the o,her. Separa.
ted from the Puget Sourd basin by
the Cascade range, which receives
and condenses the clouds as they roll
up from the ocean, Eastern Wash
ington naturally has the drer climate
of the two. Its winters are colder,
usually dry, though Lot nearly as uni,
form. The depth of snow fall
varies from a few inches in mild
winters TO two and three feet in So.