Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-22

great elements of a nations prosperity
arc on Il firm basis, and the POSSIBLE !
tiles OF their future development are
luunGless.
Young and comparatively undcvel-
oped rs it is, Washington enters the
Union the peer of any State and the
superior OF many. Only few years of
this century remain, but before they
are gone Washington will be univer-
sally recognized as one Of the greatest
OF the American States.
Itattains its majority and enters the
Union well endowed Owing to the
generosity of its sister States, through
their representatives in Congress, it
has received more than half million
acres of land of the present value of
more than $5,OlO,OOO, in addition to
the magnificent grant for the support
OF common schools.
Washington is, therefore, not only
wealthy in its resources and capabili-
ties, but in fact.
FUTURE PROSPECTS.
The present, indeed, gives promise
OF glorious future, and the past, too,
adds its evidence to strengthen our
hopes. The recent progress of Wash
ingtOn has been truly marvellous.
Less than decade since its popula-
ton was 10000; now it is more than
10000 The assessed value of its
property was then $22,OOOOOO; now
it is 1925, 100000. Then only a few
miles of railroad had been constructed
within its borders; now they penetrate
to nearly every part of the State, and
one transcontinental road extends from
its eastern almost to its western bound
airy. Then, its largest city had less
less than $3.50 inhabitants; now, it
contains threefcities, each of which
has more than $4,000. Truly, the re-
cent past gives promise of a future
which will realize our most sanguine
anticipatiOns. The State is now,
practically, connected with the south
and east by three transcontinenta
railroads, and there is every reason to
hope that this number will be in
creased, perhaps doubled, within few
years. With this increase will come
manifest advantages. Freight and
passengers rates between Washington
and the east will be materially de-
creased. New markets for our pro-
ducts will thus be opened and the
price of necessities N eastern manu-
facture will be reduced. With this
increase Of commercial advantages will
come an increase in manufactures and
an increased remuneration for indus
try in the line of agriculture which
always follows the growth of manu-
features. Truly, the prospect is en-
couraging. 1t is such that the citi-
zen of Washington can look upon his
State with pride and anticipation
which cannot be too great.
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
But a forecast of the future of
Washington which did not take into
consideration the possibilities of its
foreign commerce would be superficial
and very incomplete. Already this is
a source of revenue to its citizens, the
importance of which cannot be over
estimated. Exports from Puget Sound
are now carried to ports of all CONT
nents, North America, South America.
Asia, Europe and Australia, and to
many OF the islands of the Pacific.
The trade of Europe with the Orient,
a trade which enriched every country
that has engaged in it, is now insig-
niticant in comparison with what it
will become in the near future. The
uncounted millions of China and
North Asia arc beginning to awaken
to the advantages of our civilization.
Year by year they accept more and
more OF the manufactured products of
Europe and America. Wheat is sup
planting rice as a staple article of food.
The Occident is looking to the Orient
for its supplies. Here will spring up
trade which will vastly outmeasure
the old Oriental trade, and it is fair to
suppose that reasonable proportion
of this mighty stream of commerce.
will flow through Puget Sound, which
is nearer by many thousand miles to
the commercial cities of Asia than are
the competing ports of Europe. The
manufactured products of Eastern
America and the products of our own
State flow through Puget Sonnd, which
is nearer by many Thousand miles to
the commercial cities OF Asia than are
the competing ports of Europe. The
manufactured products Of eastern
America and the products of our own
State will exchange here for the pro-
ducts of Asia. As a consequence of
this trade, there will arise upon the
waters OF Puget Sound several COM
mercial cities, one of the least of which
will rank with the great commercial
cities of the world. Is
The eastern portion of our State is
unrivalled in the production of all core
ais, and the fruits indigenous to the
temperate zones, and its productive
capacity is almost incalculable.
Are not these considerations suffi-
Gent to Justify the citizens of WASH
ington in th6f. firmly rooted belief
that their State will ultimately be one
OF the foremost in the Union?
THE CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT.
The substitution of State govern
ment for that Of the Territory imposes
upon the citizens of Washington more
solemn duties and graver responsible
ties than those to which they have
been accustomed. Hitherto the power
OF our legislature to enact laws has
been limited and restricted by the or
ganic act and amendments thereto.
and by the various laws that have
been passed by Congress relating to
the Territories. Further than this,
Congress reserved the right to annul
any law passed by the Territorial Leg
islature which seemed to be unwise
and injuaicious. We had no voice in
the selecting of our executive and Judi
cial officers, and none in directing the
course OF the National Government.
Hereafter all will be changed. The
powers Of our legislature will be limit
ed only by the Constitution of the
United States and the State of Wash
ington. Our citizens will he on an
Equality with those Of any other State
of the Union, and their wishes will
have due weight in determining the
policy of the National Government.
We should therefore exercise a con-
scientiOus endeavOr to bear well these
new responsibilities and discharge