Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-02-06
Washington ut New Orleans.

The following excerpt is from the
Commissioners Journal of Jan. 18th.
1t seems that Mr. Sharpstein and
our two lady Commissioners" are
entirely ignored in the report, and
Fers" bears off all the honors. II
the exhibit from the Northwest Cor
ner does NOT amount to any more
than it has SO far, however, he will
prabably be made welcome to all
laurels which may he worn:
The exhibit of tbi, department is
only partially placed, owing to the
great distance of the Territory from
the Exhibition g 400 miles), and un-
accountable delay in the arrival of
specimens shipped as early as the
middle of November. The spacs
itself is also lacking in many of the
artistic touches, which have be; II
given with lavish hand to other sec
tons of the Government building.
This is due to the fact that no funds,
up to date, have been subscribed by
citizens of Washington for either
such adornment or for The placing
and exhibiting OF the country great
resources; while it is understood
that thousands have been expended
by wealthy citizsns in other Terrific.
ries, in trust that the legislatures
would repay the same, in this mat
ter showing a proper and patriotic
spirit. Thus hampered, the Com.
missioner. Mr.. E. c. Ferguson, has
only been able, by an economic use
of the portion of Government funds
intrusted to him, to make that look
decent and comely. which all would
have liked to see rich and luxurious
as the Territory that he so ably rep
resents.
1t must not, however, be under
stood, by what we have said ADORE,
that there is nothing in the depart
ment of Washington at present to
challenge the eye of the visitor and
compel his admiration. So vast are
the resources of this favored portion
of the far Northwest, and so varied
the products of field, and mill, and
mine, that, bare as the space seems
to her representatives and others
who know her we'll, YET, to one crit
ically examining that part of her
display already at hand, there can
be no question that, both in present
certainties and future possibilities,
Washington can vic with her sister
Territories and not be found want
ing. One exhibit is wanting, a sam
pie of which would not be out of
place, even in the so-called Sunny
South, viz: the equitable climate of
the North Pacific Slope. How iu-
credulously the information is re-.
ceived that, in the same latitude as
Nova Scotia, the thermometer ranges
from fifteen degrees above zero in
winter to eighty-two degrees in sum-
mer, with an average of forty five
degrees or fifty degrees. When.
however, this statement is accepted
as fact, coupled with the great
prOductiveness of the soil. both in
the prairie and timber sections, it is
hardly to be wondered at that many
are found inquiring of the Commits
sioner and his Secretary, what road
to take to reach this land of prom
Use.
The citizens of the Territory can
not appreciate folly the great bene.
fit of this Exposition in that it fur
nishes a bureau of information to
thousands of Eastern visitors among
whom are men of capital, who,
without such means, would continue
to think Washington as q place Of
big trees, water and bears, It ia 10