Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-01-21
OUR TERRITORIES.

From the annual report OF tnc occ-
retary of the Interior we take the fol-
lowing information regarding the two
of our Territories mentioned, as fur
nished by their respective Governors :
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
The Governor of Washington Terri
tory reports satisfactory advancement
in the development of the agricultural,
manufacturing, mining, and CONNER
cial resources of the Territory. Its
isolated position and the misconceptlon
existing in relation to its climate and
productions have tended to prevent its
rapid growth. 10
Situated between the 46o and 49,
north latitude, its climate is generally
believed to be cold, and yet the results
of careful observation show that the
climate of Western Washington is
mild. during the winter months the
temperature seldom falling below the
freezing point. A tabular statement
is given, showing the character of the
climate throughout the year, based on
accurate meteorological observations
taken at Port Blakeley, on Puget
Sound, in latitude 47o 36'. 1t would
appear from this statement that the
lowest temperature during period of
twenty-six months was 25o above
zero. The highest in 1877 was $50
in 1878, 94o; and in 1879, So.
The average rainfall is about the
same as in the Eastern and Western
States. The mildness of the climate
is due to the presence of the thermal
current, having its origin at the equa-
tor. near the 1909 east longitude,
Greenwich, and which flows north
wardIy to the Aleutian Islands, where
it separates, one branch flowing east
wardly, along the peninsula of Alaska,
and then southwardly, along the coast
of British Columbia, Washington Ter
ritory, and Oregon. The prevailing
winds during the winter are from the
southwest, and those of the summer
from the northwest.
The temperature of Eastern Wash
ington as compared with the western
division is slightly higher during the
summer and lower during the winter.
The average annual temperature is re-
ported as follows: spring, 52 sum-
mer, 73o; autumn, 530 ; winter, $40
All the cereals, fruits, and vegetables
grown within the temperate zone can
be raised in Washington Territory.
Eastern Washington is the great wheat
field of the Territory, with capacity
for upwards of 100000, 900 of bushels.
The average yield is twenty-five bush
els to the acre.
The expectation of wheat during
the present year will be upwards of
go, 900 tons. Transportation facilities
are inadequate to the demand, and will
so continue until the distractions are
removed at the Dalles, Cascades, and
other points on the Columbia River.
The exports of the Territory have
been the cereals and wool, flour, live
stock, canned salmon, fish, lumber,
coal, potatoes, hops, hides, barrels,
lime, etc. The export of coal during
the year was 10000 tons; lumber,
$50, 900, 900 feet; salmon, l6O, 1000
cases of 4S cans each, or total OF
1850, 900 cans.
The population of the Territory on
the 1st of May last was 81 1874, an
increase of 1913 over last year.
NEW MEXICO.
The three leading interests are min
eral, grazing and agricultural manu-
featuring is confined almost exclusively
to jewelry, of which very exquisite
work in filigree is produced in Santa
Fe, mostly from gold and silver native
to the Territory.
But little advancement has been
made in agriculture. Its present con-
dition is very primitive, the old Mexi-
can wooden plow still holding prefer
ence with the farmers. The little pro-
duced is with q view to satisfy local
consumption. Wheat and oat fields,
as rich as any in Illinois and Mime
sofa, may be seen six or seven thous-
and feet above the level of the sea.
The grape is easily. raised, is free from
disease, and affords good quality OF
wine. The area of agricultural pro-
duction cannot be even approximately
given. All irrigable lands, wherever
found in the Territory, may be classed
as productive or farming land.
The Rio Grande Valley, about four
hundred miles in length by an average
of FIVE in width, has soil light, warm,
and surprisingly rich. Not more than
one-tenth of this land is occupied.
Fruits succeed admirably in this local
ity, although the varieties at present
cultivated, except the grape, are of the
poorest kind The valley of the Pecos
River is almost entirely devoted to
grazing purposes. Like the valley OF
the Rio Grande its soil is rich when
properly irrigated, and its climate
healthy and delightful. The Mesilla
Valley, like the two mentioned, is in
viting both for agricultural and grazing
purposes. The vast tracts of table
lands bordering the valleys are too
high for irrigation, but yield grasses of
/ the richest kind for cattle and sheep
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