The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-01
DEVELOPMENT.
Land Of Big Trees, Farms
and HaTb0Ts,
4 Fertile Soil Blessed BY a
Benign Climate.
Wheat Farms. SaVmllls, Cattle
Ranges and Mines.
The Commerce Of The Pacific Must
Center on Puget Sound.
Homes for the Homeless, and Re-
sources Inviting Capital.
The Rapid Rising Of a Young and
Mighty State.
Homes for the Homeless, and Re.
sources Inviting Capital.
The Rapid Rising Of a Young and
Mighty State.

The splendid advance made by the
territory OF Washington from year to
year during the past was in nowise
Iessened in 1883. On the contrary
greater and grander progress can be
placed TO the credit Of the twelve
months just gone than TO any of the
years preceding.
Washington Territory has been a
long way from the great centers OF
trade and population. Until OF late il
cost weeks and months OF hard travel,
and hundreds and thousands OF dol
lars OF money, 10 get here from those
centers. Vast areas OF desirable lands
interycned in the region now covered
by the great states OF Kansas, Ne
braska, Minnesota and Colorado, Da-
kota and other territories. Their de-
yelopment necessarily preceded ours,
as had Missouri, Illinois and other
Eastern States preceded them.
Even California and Oregon to
certain extent interfered with
our growth. II was easier
and cheaper to get into those states
than II was to get into this territory,
and they presented prospects SO allur-
ing that thousands OF home-seekers
were stopped who otherwise would
have come among us Our markets
were few and far away, and We were
known In them chiefly as producers Of
lumber. The country was not adver-
tised. No railroads entered our do
main. no ocean steamers entered our
ports. In fact. 20 years ago Washing
ton Territory was less known, was
more inaccessible, and was generally
considered less desirable than is Alaska
to-day. When to these disadvantages
are added the fears OF trouble from
Indians. the absence OF roads and
communications within our own Dor
ders, necessitating long, roundabout
journeys to overcome short di tAuces,
and the lack OF help Of any kind from
abroad, il Is little short OF marvellous
Il At any visible growth whatever was
made,
EAs1IER PROGRESS.
Despite these and ten thousand
other obstacles. however, the territory
did grow. Little by little it was opened
up 10 the world. A settler here and
there took quarter section of land; a
sawmil was built and logging camps
est .blished the opening OF coal
mines was begun; new steamer was
occasionally put into trade; talk Of
railroads, both local aud national. was
heard more frequently, and their talk
wonld once ia while lead to the or
ganRation OF a company. Every year
few hundred thousand dollars were
added 10 the territorial assessment
increase Of voters at every election.
This progress. though infantile in the
beginning. gained As the wears went
by, and gained not only in actual
numbers and amounts. but in proper
ton also. This is illustrated by the
census returns, and in various other
ways The FIRST census. that Of 1850.
gave evidence of II .59i inhabitants in
the territory; the second census, than
Of 1870, Of $3.50; the third census.
that Of lsSo. of 7i,753 The gain in
the number Of inhabitants of the first
decade was II l,s56. or aboHt 100 per
cent the gain O. the second decade
was 81 29s inhabitants. or 21o rsr cent.
What the cxSct gain of the third de
eade will be llS,0 20 ls9ol it is Yet inl-
possible 10 say. but there Is abundant
reason Tor believing that g will be fully
800 per cent, and a probahi ity o.
~, carrying the population in NAM
eer 10 500 900 or S75 ooa
GIANT STRIDES.
The greatest development OF The ter
Htofy has been since iSS1. TO the pio-
heer, the man who came IN the earlier
hities, the changes Of the last eight
years have been almost hcEilJeTiue.
he had become accustomed TO small
ialngs, and though he thought and
Aked Of great ones ho was but little
prepared fer them. and now that they
ease come 8, unable Ia fully realige
saem \ sort oi vague idea hauuts
alm that they have not come 20 stay
mat the town are overgroWiug them
-'s tn&A I & Aaa&lNAaH ANt lti Ata-
vance of the re, nj rcmcuts ~ the coan-
ny and that a ;l4t,enins ont, accom-
panied hy partial retfosression, is
about to some upon as. That
hAs not already come aston
Snes him and beats his calculations
y hosiow. During this time the ter
tlsoty has made gi isaatic >tfides. The
s0fid has been forced TO take notice Of
- II has secured q place among the
SteN business communities Of the
oAloa. IL speaks and trades ioy ITSELF
40 no iougcr through and BY the help
VFeson OF California. The people
se their Own railroads, their own
.Ae'oFie', their ewn banks. their own
papers, their own ships, their own
ues' IN fact. everything tha; goes
make up 4 great commercial
'e' The chief thing lacking. and
zoe thing next to come. Is
Asehood Itself. With political
ssesiity, voice viii in the affairs OF
- nation, wish all the advantages
a state government viii give,