The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-31
The Mason County Journal.
J. c. ANGLE. Editor ard Proprietor.
COUNTY OFFICIAL rAPHR.
Washington Grows.

In 1880, Washington territory
had apopulation of IS, 900. It's in
crease prior to this had been mod
crate, but from 1880 to 1883, over
seven years, its growth has been
rapid and large, the population re-
turned in 1887 being 1860, an
increase in seven years $500.
The increase OF population the
present year has been so much
larger than any prior year that it
is safe to say that the population
of Washington territory is not
less than $4,000.
The territory contains thirty.
four counties, including the new
county Of Okanagan, created from
the west part of Stephens county
by the Legislature, and including
the famous Conconully or Salmon
mining regions. Of these thirty
four counties, fifteen are on the
east side Of the Cascade range of
mountains, and the remaining
nineteen on the west side, all OF
which. have resources incident to
their localities, which are being de-
veloped.
The total assessed value of all
the real estate in the various coun-
ties Of the territory for 1887 was
S2S, 205,65S, and this sum upo n
100000 acres only; and the tota Il
assessed value of all personal prop
City the same year was $I9,041,-
663. This is an increase of over
S5,693,O26 in two years. ! OF
course. with the large increase of
population the present year the to-
tails are largely increased. Until
under. the present law enacted at
the last session of tho legislature,
the only revenue derived from the
railroads Of the territory WAS that
assessed upon their gross earnings
and which was paid directly into
the territorial treasury. Under
the present law, the lands, rolling
stock, buildings, etc, are assessed
taxed and collected in each county
where such property exists, the
same as individual property, which
is likely to largely increase the
revenue of the territory hereafter
The hardness with which the
United States government has
caused the public lands to be sur
veyed has been great shindrance
to their appropriation for settle
,ment. In fact, the survey of pub.
Tic lands in Washington territory
has been far behind the tide of inn
migration. Nevertheless there
has been a large increase of settle
mcnt upon the public lands, but
not within the past two years, equaI
to the influx Of people who ..desire
public land for occupancy. The
general government is the cause OF
This inconvenience to immigrants
by not fastening tho public sur
veys; in not alloting to the Indians
of the vast and rich reservations
held by them in the territory, lands
in severalty, and opening the re.
naming portions thereof, for set.
Element and speedily disposing Of
any questions Of uncertainty that
may exist in relation to the title Of
the railroad company to the pub
lie land granted to it. However
there is some unappropriated I'm
surveyed land yet, though some
oft is not as desirable as others
For nearly three years the general
government has thus been derelict
In its regard to thepublic interest
il this territory, and whether il
will, under the present administra-
ton, afford the relief demanded is
aquestion. The total area of Wash
ington territory is 44,796,160 acres
OF which q, l64, 232 acres have
been surveyed leaving %, 1928
acres yet unsurveyed. Deducting
from the last number Of acres
about 100000 acres covered by
the Cascades and Olympic noun
tain ranges, of no agricultural use,
and we have some 1861, 1928 acres
of agricultural land yet to be sur
-veyed. And deduc ting still farth-
er some 4,0S6,14S acres covered by
Indian reservations, and the settler
has 12,545,770 acres of agricultur-
al land left upon which to settle
when surveyed.
l. is only within year that
Washington territory has been IA
vored with complete railroad COM
municatitn through it from the
east to tide water on Puget Sound.
This was the opening of the North
ern Pacific to Tacoma the LIST Of
July year ago. This gave new
life to the commerce Of the terri
tory-opened a market for it with
the outside world. Tacoma now