Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-12-28
Territorial Items.


Bradbury Whitaker, a coal miner,
was killed at Renton, last week, by
being run over by the cars, lie being
drunk at the tlhle.
Robert Farling, working on the
Green river railroad, had his leg
crushed by log rolling on it, and
will have to lose it.
Wednesday evening, portion OF
the Harrington & Smith wharf. at
Seattle, was completely wrecked,
owing to the piles being worm eaten
The damage is estimated at $500.
Last Sunday. December 23d, was
the Tooth anniversary of the sur
render by George Washington, of
his commission as genersl-in-chief of
the American Amy, which was the
formal termination of the great war
for independence. President Arthur
issued proclamation recommending
fitting public observance of the day.
Attorney Mcknight, who repre-
sented the railroad company in the
recent settlement of the tax case,
saws that Whitman county was more
ably represented in the recent
Legislature than any other county
IN the Territory. He a so says they
gave him more trouble than all the
9th er counties put together.
This, it must be admitted. is pref
ty rough on the "other counties"
A country friend tells US, says the
Seattle Post, of jumping star he
saw in the southeast heaven a fort
night ago. Three different nights
be looked upon it in amazement and
bewilderment. Each night it was
the same. The star jumped con-
tinually, in every direction, sOme-
times short distance apparently,
and again two or three times as far.
1t was 4 new and unheard of thing
to him, and, after calling a witness
to see what he had seen, he con-
cluded to try again later, wien the
atmosphere was clear and the con-
ditions favorable, meantime making
report of his singular discovery.
Now that the tax-paying time in
Seattle has again rolled around, peo-
are again doubly astounded. They
are surprised to find their property
rated SO low by the assessors, and
also to find the tax levied SO high.
They find lots rated at 1000 to
81 500 each, that would have
brought twice as much ut the time o.
assessment, and would bring three
times IS much now. It is safe
to say that the last assessment
in this city, county and territory
generally, ia not one half as high as
it should be, nor one-third the ask
ing price of the property assessed.
This is not right. The law contem-
plates the assessment of property at
its actual, full value, and officials
are derelict in their duty when they
come short of such results. A prop.
or assessment would show up
value of $40, OOO, 900 in Seattle alone,
SIS, OOO, 900 in Kings county, and
500, OQO,O 900 in Washington Terri
tory. If this were the case, the same
revenue could lie raised on q tax
levy of 3 or 4 mills in the city, 5
mills in the county, and II in the
Territory. How much better this
would be! The people would feel
more honest and be the better for
it, the showing abroad would be
greatly to our credit and the cost
would be 20 more to any one.
Hon. Phillip Ritz who gathers
crop statistics for the department of
agriculture at Washington, writes az
follows to the Walls Walla, w. T.
Journal: During the last nineteen
years 1 have travelled over every por.
ton Of the Pacific coast counties;
have been twenty-eight times over
the Rocky mountains and twice
across the Isthmus-so that I sup
pose I ought to know something
more about the country than those
who have scarcely been out of their
own counties. On account of the
long continued drouth late into the
! fall, our soil has been thoroughly
dried up, 30 that now, with sufficient
rain, it will melt down completely
and be in the best possible condi-
ton for crops next season. ! look
for the largest crops and the most
prosperous year next season, that We
have ever sesn since our country was
irst settled. l shall expect to see,
during 1884, 1O0,O 600 persons come
into the Pacific northwest. / bslievo
that there are to-day $4,000 people
looking toward our new min IS,
which believe will prove to Us tho
richest and most extensive that have
been discovered on this coast with.
in the last twenty-five years. OF
course not every one who goes to
the mines will make . fortune, but
every one who stays at home and
follows some legitimate business,
will strike it rich.