Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-03-11
THE STATE OF WARRINGTON

In recommending the passage of the
bill to admit the Territory of Washington
10 Statehood, Senator Platt from the
Committee en- Territories reports a. toll
lows:
The State of Washington thus consti-
tuted will be about $50 miles from east
to west and about 200 miles from north
to south, and contains, inclusive of Its in
land waters, about $4,000 square miles
excluding said waters about $4,000
square miles an area larger than oil of
the nix New England States; within
one.teuth as much as the combined areas
Of New York and p nnsylvania. 1t will
only be exceeded in size by Texas, Cali
fornia, Colorado, Oregon and Nevada.
Washington Territory contains A.
796, l6O acres Of land, Of which about
100000 are mountainous and largely
unsurveyable. SURVEYS have ben " IN
pletnd Of 2,,164,232 acres, leaving Of
good agricultural aud timber lands yet to
be surveyed in Washington Territory 49,
631 1920 acres. This includes venteen
Indian reservations, containing 6.332 :
885 acres, partly surveyed.
Its natural resources are probably
more varied than those Of any state, un-
less it be Pennsylvania. A large portion
consists Of very rich agricultural lands
adapted to the production Of all the cere-
al y well as other products. Another
large portion is heavily timbered, probab-
y tho largest and finest body Of timber
within the limits Of the United States
and territories. Il is estimated that on
amount Of lumber equal to that now cut
annually in the United States, if cut in
Washington Territory, would exhaust it,
timber in about thirty FIVE yaars. It has
large and valuable deposits Of c,.al and
iron, AMI is fairly rich in the precious
minerals. It's location on the Pacif,
ocean and its vast inland sna, known al
Puget Sound, insures importance as ;
maritime state. Its resources are such
q must inevitably invite and support
an intelligent, industrious and prosperous
people.
Washington Territory was organized
in 1854. Its growth has until recent,
been gradual, and not rapid. Its remote
ness and di,Hcul,y of access accoun
therefor. With h lands nearer tn
centers Of immigration, and more easil
accessible, it Was but natural 'hat thu
Territory should wait development
The building Of the Northern Paciti
and other railroads, and the building u
OF Port Townsend and ether poi
towns, have given it q mighty impetu
within the past decade, and every indic'
ton points to IN certainty that in tn
near future it is TO become ono Of tn
richest and strongest states Of the Unior
The population within tie boundarit
Of the proposed state is certainly equa!
the present ratio Of representation in tn
House Of Representatives, and from Ii
best information the committee can Of
tAiu Is probably as much as 10000, an
rapidly increasing.
All the essential characteristics Of
stable aud well regulated state are pre-
cit. Citizens If other states who ha,
gone their to stay, make up the large.
portion Of its people. 1t has in 9th,
words = fixed population composed I
people WIN, prior to their settlement
this territory, were accustomed to tai
part In nil tho duties and su.t,ia the r
probabilities incident to q residence
organized states.
Not to dwell too infinitely upon II
the character and extent Of it's bushes
educational and moral development,
few leading cites may be cited to show i
claims to the privilege of statehood.
Its population has already been state'
There are thirty-threc organized count,
IN Washington Territory proper, an
four in the north portion Of Idaho whic
b to be embraced within the state. tn
assessed valuation of Washington Terr
eoy Is over $4,000, 900, and no deb
It has in operation over 500 miles &
railroad, with nearly 100 miles more sui
stantiaily completed. Its commerce en-
ploys 2840 vessels with a tonnage q
l,240, 499 tons. Its foreign aud dome.
tic exports are over SlO,000,OO0 fror
Is own ports, while very large portio
d IL surplus products are now shippe
from Portland, Astoria and eastern ports
To indicate the extent Of this com
ncrce not registered in its own custom
Aouses. it - estimated that at least $50
600 tons Of wheat, -four aud barley, tn
surplus product Of the southeastern Dol
tion. Of the territory alone, is bein;
ahmed during the current wear IN h.