National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-28
; The Coming State of Washington.

hout Nothing"
CONGREGATIONAL CHuncH-Ltcrory and Musical
Entertainment
The Coming State of Washington.
In the Post of Friday last was an edi-
lorial rejecting seriously upon the
earnest efforts now being made by the
citizens of Washington Territory,
through their upright and faithful Dele
gate, Mr.. Brents, and numerous friends
In both Houses of Congress, for the
passage of an enabling act, with view
10 the early admission of that Territory
as State of the Union. The Posts as
Bumptions were erroneous and its con-
clusons unjust. How are we to under
stand this language? According to the
census of 1880 this latest rotten borough
contained in all 1920 people" Why II
"rotten borough" The phrase is
wholly inapplicable in the English local
sense. Is it true in any literal sense?
Let us see. There is no allega-
tion of any improper conduct in
The management of the finances of
the Territory. She has no public
debt; on the contrary, the auditor re-
ported in October, 1881, cash surplus of
$22,2l794 in the Treasury. Her execu-
tive officers, her Legislature, and her in
telligent and industrious population
stand as fair as those of any State in the
Union or Of any Territory of the United
States. Is taxation excessive and bur-
densome? Surely two and half mills
70 the dollar is not high for territorial
purposes Ofcourse the counties forlocal
purposes exercise their right to build
court-houses, prisons, school-houses,
bridges, public roads, &c, and for these
objects they lay an additional tax, as do
all well-organized communities in all civil
governments. There is no allegation of
failure ON the part of the people of the
Territory TO establish and foster the hui
name institutions, which are the out
growth of Christianity. 1t is fact that
the unfortunate of the human family are
as well cared for there as in most of the
old States.
The Post says that ait is not claimed
there has been any great increase since
the enumeration" That is precisely what
the people of Washington Territory and
their representative do claim. By the
census of 1860 the population, inclusive
of Idaho and part of Montana,
then within her boundaries, was
11,l3S. By that of 1870 the popula-
ton within its present limits was %, l95.
By a local census taken in 1878 it was
50,50l. By another, taken in 1879, it was
b7,77S. BY the national census of 1880 to
the 30th of June it was 75,ll6. Let'it be
remembered that four-ffths of all emil
grants to Washington Territory go by
overland routes and arrive generally
in July, August, and the autumn
months. 1t may be safely and truth
fully asserted that twenty thousand
emigrants arrived there in 1880 after the
closing of the census books on the 30th
of June, The census figures Of 1879 and
1880 show an increase of over thirty per
cent. per annum, and that rate it is con-
fidently claimed has been and will be
surpassed since the census of $780, The
reasons for this are found in the greatly
increased extension of railroads and the
high prices paid for laber in all bra G,iiIcs
of the new, and rapidly Developing indus
tries of the country. Logging, milling,
coaling, fishing, farming, stock raising,
manufacturing, and railroad-building are
carried toward just in proportion to the
number of men who can be obtained TO do
the work. With Il limited supply of men
last year more than three hundred miles
of frst-class railroad was built, and is now
in successful operation.
AS further evidence of what the Terri
tory is capable of, we state few facts
derived from the census reports of 1880
and other reliable sources The grain
crops Of 1881, mainly wheat, barley, anG
oats, exceeded six million bushels, of {
superior quality. The lumber cut wa
3OO,000,000 feet; coal mined and shipped
100000 tons; fish caught, cured, anc
shipped, Sl500,OO0; wool clip, esti
mated at 100000 pounds; manufactured
articles, $6,000,000; entire exports, esti
mated at 100000 tons. The taxable
property by assessment in 1873 was, il
round numbers, $l7O00,000; in 1879, S2l,
100000; in 1880, $23,OO0,OOO; in 1881, S25,
NubbDN'
Having said this much in regard to tho
financial condition Of Washington Terri
tory, her productions and capabilities, We
now call the attention of the intelligen
reader TO some precedents or acts Of Con
gress, passed TO admit other States int
the Union.
Illinois was admitted in 1918. Herpop
ulation according to the preceding censu
was l2,2S2; at the next census she haC
55,l62 inhabitants,
Mississippi was admitted in 1917, lie
population at the preceding census was
including Alabama, 40,352; at the mex
census she had 75448.
Arkansas was admitted in 1896. Sht
had at preceding census 3O,3SS inhabit
ants at the next census she had 1854