The National tribune., 1882-08-12

tion-25O,O 100000 feet per year-to hast for
nearly seven centuries. The numbering in
dustry, although still in its infancy, keeps
twenty mammoth saw mills busy, and it is
noteworthy that on account of its superior
quality the timber is in demand abroad az
well as at home. The proximity of the for
ests to navigable waters affords the most
favorable conditions for ship-building, and
already some SIS vessels, of which 80 were
steamers, have been launched at the yards ION
the shores of Puget Sound. This magnif-
cent sheet OF water, which stretches inland
Tor nearly two hundred miles, and is nowhere
over twenty miles wide, is destined at some
future day to be the highway of an immense
commerce, for it is navigable for the largest
ships and bisects region of the most extra
ordinary productive powers. To Washing
ton Territory it must eventually become
what the Erie Canal would be to New York
and the commerce of the great Lakes if
instead of being mere ditch, it were as deem
and wide as the Hudson River at its mouth.
Washington Territory, unlike almost all
her sisters, does not owe her development
to any gold fever" Gold has been dis
covered, it is true, within her borders, and
some OF the lately opened mines are reported
to be very promising, but mining enterprise
has chiefly concerned itself with the work.
ing ofthe coal and irOn-felds which lie in such
close proximity to each other as to admit of
the manufacture of iron at minimum of
expense. The coal is of superior quality.
specially adapted for coking, and deposits of
both bituminous and anthracite abound.
The output up to the first of the wear
amounted to 876,264 tons, and regular line
of steam colliers is now maintained to
San Francisco. The deposits of iron
ore-bOg, hematite and magnetic-are also
rich and extensive and very easily mined.
One deposit of bog-ore, now in process of
being opened, covers an area of 1000
acres, is two feet in thickness and lies but q
few inches below the surface The manu-
facture of pig-iron has only just been begun,
but the product last year-the first
amounted to $4,000 tons. It is beyond
doubt that the furnaces of Puget Sound
will at no distant day supply the iron
market of the entire Pacific coast and
great portion of the territory lying northwest
of the Missouri.
Of the Territory's other industries the
most important is of course her fisheries,
which rival those of Oregon. The Columbia
River and Puget Sound, with their tribu-
taries, abound in salmon, and the catch in
1881 alone was valued at nearly three
millions of dollars. More than seven thou
sand men are employed in this industry and
nearly two thousand boats. The cultiva-
tion of oysters is also becoming large in
terest, and the profits from a single bed
last year are said to have amounted to
100000 stock-raising, as yet, is in its in
fancy, but the Territory is splendidly adapted
for herding, pasturage lasting the year round,
and the ranchmen are stocking their ranges
with the best imported breeds. The wool clip
last year was over 100000 pounds
1t may appear incredible to our read
ers, but it is nevertheless fact, that the
manufacturing interests of the Territory
not only exceed those of any other in the
Union, but are greater than those of some of
the States According to the last census,
the annual value of manufactured products
was S6,129,962. Indeed, with its vast re-
sources Washington Territory could sup
port supposing it to have the same density
of population as New York, fully 100000
people. At present her population is esti-
mated at between 125,OOO and 15O,OOO-the
last census gave her 75,116-and since the
1st of last January over 10000 immigrants
have entered her borders by way of the
Pacific. The moment that the Northern
Pacific Railroad reaches her eastern boun-
airy, she will feel the impetus of immigration
from the East, and her growth is likely to
be greatly accelerated, for there is no por-
tiOn of the national domain that can offer
such tempting inducements to the agricul-
turist, the mechanic and the miner as this.
Settled as the Territory has been by an
industrious and frugal people, its develop
ment possesses all the elements of stability,
and, when admitted to the Union, the State
of Washington is sure to reflect fresh glory
upon the Federation.
Lie Nailed.
THE President has signed the S100,000,000
Pension bill. n fragrant and unwarrantable
waste of the public mOney.-Ne,o York Star.