Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-09

Il ne Dill lOT lDt uilulsSlbu vi w tioii-
ington territory as n state holds the po-
sition of unfinished business on the leg
islative calendar of the senate, and is
therefore likely to be acted upon at any
time. TIE BEE referred Il few days ago
tothe vigorous appeal made in the house
by Delegate Voorhees, in favor OF ad-
mitting Washington territory to state
hood
Although it is not probable that the
people of this territory will have their
desire for self-government gratified at
the present session OF congress, it can
not be without interest to note upon
what facts they base their
claim to the right to govern
the mselves. The area of Wash
ington territory is about equal to all
New England, and is divided by the
Cascade mountains into eastern and
western Washington. The western por-
ton which is the smaller, has Il mild
and moist climate. The mercury rarely
falls much below freezing, and then
only for few days. This portion of
the territory is heavily wooded and has
extensive tracts of rich bottom land.
In the eastern portion the winters are
colder, yet in the southern part and the
river bottoms of the Columbia the
farmer may plow any month in the year.
The population of the territory is
claimed to be two hundred thousand,
and it is doubtless very near this
number. There are about twelve hun
dred miles of railroad. and the ter
ritory is hardly surpassed in the
richnoss of its agricultural resources,
which are rapidly developing. 1t is
estimated that within the last twelve
months quite one hundred thousand
acres of farming lands have been added
to that previously under cultivation.
Eastern Washington, long regarded
as "a cold, dry and desert land, is rapidly
becoming one of the rare garden spots
Of the west. 1t has great variety as
we'll as good quality in it's range of pro-
ducts. Stock raising is leading in
terest, and the best breeds of cattle,
horses and sheep are found there. The
mining lands abound in iron, gold, sill
yer, copper, lead and coal. With the
exception of coal the mining in
| terests have not been developed
| to any great extent. The coal deposits
| cover an area thus far ascertained of
nearly two hundred thousand acres, and
| the product marketed according to the
| latest and most trustworthy statistics
amounted to over three million tons.
The timber supply of the territory is
not surpassed on the continent, or per-
| haps in the world, and finds an extern
sive market. In climate, soil and nat
ural resources, Washington territory is
thus seen to be one OF the most highly
| favored sections of this wonderful
country.
The population of Washington ter
ritory will compare most favorably with
that of any other territory or most Of
the states. it is composed of ofintelligent,
industrious and thrifty people,
who are anxious to progress materially,
morally and socially, and believe this
can be done more rapidly under state
| than territorial government. There
is u good common school system and
some institutions of learning of higher
| grade, while there are not wanting
| other requirements for the intellectual
improvement OF the people. The atten-
tion which this territory has attracted
in the last five years is likely to be
| greatly increased in the immediate fu-
ture, and it is reasonably expected that
population will rapidly increase, and
with it necessarily industrial prosperity.
Having now the population necessary
to admittance to statehood, the people
Of Washington territory are urgently
asking that this great right guaran-
teed by the constitution to American
citizens be accorded them. They ask
congress to regard their request with
out reference to partisan considerations,
which should in justice have no weight.
Unfortunately, how ever, it is such con-
siderations that are most potent at this
time, and in keeping Dakota out of state
hood bar the way for the admission Of
any other eligible territory. 1t it alto
gether probable, therefore, that there
will be no Legislation at the present ses-
sion OF congress to enable the people of
Washington territory to come into the
union OF states, but whatever may be
the result of this years political con-
test, it is reasonably to be expected that
before the close of another year the
number of states will be increased to at
least forty by the admission of Dakota
and Washington.
| The prOhibitiOu Candidates