The Dillon tribune., 1883-09-08
The Growth Of the West.

Few stories of industrial develop.
ment, saws an exchange, can compare
with that Of the Northwestern States
of America. Fifty years ago only,
Ohio, Michigan and Indiana were COM
paratively unexplored, while such
States and Territori as Wisconsin,
California, Kansas, Oregon, Montana,
Iowa, Nevada and many other had no
existence. From interesting data re-
Gently issued, we find that half CEN
tury ago Chicago had but twenty-nine
voters; the first house was not yet
erected III st. Paul; San Francisco was
but struggling Mexican settlement;
Milwaukee had nj place on the map,
and Buffalo, which hid just been in
eorporated, was scarcely beginning to
fe that commercial impulse, which,
following the completion of the Erie
canal, was destined to make it one of
the most important cities of the union.
The commerce of New York was very
trihing, and there was no railroad be-
tween that city and All any. Now the
progress being made in tine far North.
west is surprising, and Oregon Terri.
tory is, perhaps, advancing more rapid
~ than any other section. It is twice
as large as New York State. having an
area of 95, 274 square miles. In 1870
its lopulation was only 9O,823, but by
1880 the number had Increased to 174.-
600. Within ten years the population
of Portland, It's largest city, had trebled
itself. The State rails d 12,673,OOO
bushels of wheat last year, as compared
with 3,127 900 bushels ten years ago,
thus showing that in the decade the
crop had increased fourfold. The sal
mon fishery is another important source
of revenue in this State. Washington
Territory, which was formerly part Of
Oregon, is also advancing. It has q
good climate and fertile soil. The
lumber traffic promises to be very great.
Fir, pine. oak, and cedar of superior
quality and almost unlimited quantity
are to be had in the Puget sound dis
trict; in fact, it is estimated that this
region of the State alone will yield $780,.
OOO, 100000 feet of valuable timber.
One mill there cuts up 10000 feet
daily; another is preparing for o daily
cut Of $50, 900 feet, while 7,OO),O 900 feet
are shipped monthly to foreign ports
along the coast. Prices of luuber have
ssA' oAoCN3 0ASA wsSS00 oAoo AAN0 AASCA 10-
Gently. Montana is another promising
Territory, with an area of 143,77d
square miles or about three time the
superticies of New York State. The
ca tie trade is being pushed forward
rapidly, and it is expected that dead
beef will be sent through from Montana
to New York in refrigerators. Dakota,
the largest Of all the Territories in the
Northwest, is making great strides in
gan culture. The valley of the Red
river of the North is being opened up
and the use of machinery is so extern.
sive that even persons OF little exper.
fence in agriculture can fluid the cult.
ure profitable. The Yellowstone coun'
try is another region which will shortly
be thrown open to Sc ttlers by increased
railroad facilities. In Nebraska the
yield Of wheat last year was nearly 49,
10000 bushels, or more than fou,
times the quantity raised in 1873. In
deed, the progress of the wheat cult
ure in the West and on the Pacific
slope is one of the most significant
failures of the agricultural develope
ment Of America.