The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
Report Of the Governor Of Washington
Territory.

Report Of the Governor Of Warrington
Territory.
In, response to request from the
Secretary of the Interior, Gov. Ferry
in October made report on the pres
sent condition of the Territory,
which we publish entire, with the
exception of some statistics of pop
ulation, assessment, ETC., which we
have before given:
The Territory of Washington is di-
vided by the Cascade range of noun
tains into two nearly equal divisions,
which are popularity known as Eastern
and Western Washington, differing
widely in climate, soil, and, to some
extent, in production.
WESTERN WASHINGTON.
A very large portion Of Western
Washington is covered with dense for
ests Of fir trees of immense height and
girth. The average height of these
trees is more than two hundred feet,
in many cases exceeding three hundred,
with diameters up to twelve feet.
Tested by an experience of more
than twenty years, fir timber has been
found to be material almost unsur-
passed for ship-building. Ships of
more than thousand tons have been
built in this Territory exclusively et.fr
timber and lumber, which rank A No.
with underwriters at San Francisco
and Liverpool.
Spas from Puget Sound have for
many years, in large quantities. been
shipped direct to England, France, and
elsewhere on the continent of Europe.
1t has been estimated that the cost
of building ships here is 35 PER cent.
less than the cost at Bath, Me-, or at
any other Atlantic ship-yard. I'm the
near future, ship-building on Puget
Sound will constitute one of the most
important branches of productive in
dustry in the Territory.
The attention of the Government is
respectfully directed to this subject,
and to the advisability of establishing
a navy-yard at some point on Puget
Sound.
RESOURCES.
The principal resources of Western
Washington are coal and lumber.
Coal has been found in nearly every
county. In factp the entire Puget
Sound Basin, extending over an area
Of more than 10000 square miles, is
supposed to be a vast coal fed.
Mines are now in operation in the
counties of Whatcom, King, Pierce,
and Thurston. The daily production
is about six hundred tons, the larger
portion Of which is exported to San
Francisco.
The lumber interest at present takes
precedence above all others There are
twelve large saw-mills upon Puget
Sound, each having the capacity to
manufacture daily from fifty thousand
to two hundred thousand feet of lum-
Der. The present annual production
il about two hundred and fifty million
feet. More than two hundred million
feet are exported to San Francisco,
South America, the Sandwich Islands,
and to other points
There are also exported from Puget
Sound, barley, oats, potatoes, wool,
hops, hoop-poles, hides, canned and
barreled salmon, oysters, and many
other articles. The aggregate value Of
expectations from Western Washing
is estimated at over five million dollars.
Four-6fths Of Western Washington
has gravelly soil unfit for cultivation.
This is especially the case where the
fir tree grows exclusively. The other
fifth il made up Of rich alluvial land
in the valleys Of the rivers and smaller
streams Of prairies and reclaimed tide
marnh land. On these lands, all tho
cereals except corn, and all the fruits
and vegetables grown in the Northern
States are raised, Of quality and in
Il quantity and aiae only known on the
Paci8o coAst.
White Western Washington - .
wholA cannot b classsd - agricnl-
tusal ~ Il has an aree a mors thnn
|ilvo tkouannd square miles of szosllent
lhrQin9 )onA vhich vail b ultima>,ly
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