The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-09
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
OLYMPIA, Oct. 8, 1879.

At 2 o'clock this afternoon. the
House and Council bang in joint con-
vention for the purpose, Gov. E. ?.
Ferry in person delivered the message
following:
Gentlemen Of the Council and House Of
Representdtires:
You have assembled, in compliance
with the requirement OF law. I" devise
and enact such measures as may bs
deemed advisable for the advancement
and promotion Of tha best interests Of
our Territory; and custom has imposed
upon me the duty Of directiug your
attention 10 the condition Of public
affairs, and to such now or amendatory
legislation as the experience Of the past
has proven to be necessary, or which IS
required by the exigencies Of the pres
ent, or by the important changes which
we anticipate in the immediate future.
During the two years which have
elapsed since the Adjournment OF the
last Legislative Assembly. our Territory
has made rapid and gratifying progress
IN wealth aud population. General
health has prevailed; the seasons have
been propitous; our agricultural inter-
ests have prospered; our fisheries have
been productive; our commerce has
been enlarged and extended ; our man
ufacturing industries have been g~ner-
ally successful. and new branches have
been opened; and there has been an
increased Development vi our coal and
other mineral resources.
One Of our principal manufacturing.
interest has, for . shor, time. been
somewhat. oppressed. from cau.esarising
beyond our boundaries, but this has not
seriously retarded the general prosper
ity. and the opinion isalmost universally
entertsined that this depression is Of n
temporary nature. aud that this leading
branch OF industry will soon regain its
former important and paramount pos
tion.
Ono Of the surest indications ot the
prosperity ofa people is. that the labor
ing classes receive steady and remunrr-
a.ive employment. Apply this test to
our own Territ' ~, and then to o:Lei
localities. aud the fayosab,e c;tditiun
OF our tinancin! atiai,s vii, be very ap
parent llore, manual labor has BEEN
in continual demand aud has received
ample and satisfactory improvisation.
while in large portion II our cOuntTy
the demand for labor has been so limit
cd that u class of men. heretofore un
known in our history. has grown up,
composed oi those unable t. obtain
employment, ard others unwilling To
labor, who. IN many cases. resorting TO
lawlessness. vi lcGce and crime, have
necessitated the enactment Of severe
and stringent laws for their repression
aud punishment. We. in this Territory.
have had no personal knowle ige Of .his
class. Our forests. our mines. our fish
cries. our grain fields. our rich agricul-
tural lands awaiting cultivation. and
our other branches Of productive indus
try have furnished 80 many favorable
openings that all who have desired it
have obtained immediate aud constant
employment. No better evidence than
this can be required to show that our
Territory has been. aud is. largely ex-
empt from the terrible financial pres
surs that has, for several years, weighed
80 heavily upon u large portion of our
common country. involving tens OF
thousands in bankruptcy and ruin. and
driving many to desperation and
crime.
1t is not too much to say that our
financial situation. although not so
favorable as in former times. has been
in marked contrast with the distress
existing elsewhere. and that our pco-
pie have enjoyed state of prosperity
not surpassed in any other portion of
the United States. Wise and beneti-
cent laws will tend to increase this
prosperous condition Of our affairs.