Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-09
In THE new WASHINGTON.
The Splendid Future of the Young
State.
Its Resources and the Character Of
It's PopuIation-A Visit to George
Francis Train.
Washington Correspondent.

washington correspondent
A traveller who comes to Puget Sound
for the first time cannot but be astonished
at the evidences about him of enterprise
and progress, and of the capabilities of
that region for rapid settlement and I'M
provement, but If he repeats his visit he
Will be more than ever convinced Of the
correctness Of his first impressions. When
we came to Tacoma two years ago the
growth OF the place seemed abnormal and
too great to last, but now we were made
to realize from the doubling Of values that
we were mistaken, and although there is
every indication, as then, existing that
! they have reached high water mark. We
are so doubtful of our own sagaclty that
| II we should come again two years hence
we would not be surprised if they had
doubled once more. The same may be
said OF all the other towns. But the
greatest advance may be expected in those
| the lands of the old states of New Eng
lamb and of New York, not a foot of
ground in Washington will be worth less
in the life of this generation than it now
| is. Speculation at present is mainly d.
rected to the seaport towns, but those who
seek permanent investment can find it in
the interior This magnificent domain,
an empire in itself, may be longitudinally
divided-the coast, with its commanding
harbors, It's fisheries and its belt of appar-
entity ineXhaustible timber; the middle
part admirably adapted to farming, and
the eastern side of continually developing
mineral wealth.
No other one of the states or territories
has SO rapidly increased in population
during the last decade. 1t was time that
with It's 800, 900 inhabitants. it should be
admitted into the Union. In less than a
hundred years 1t is destined to have more
people and more wealth than the state of
New York, which stands at the gateway of
eastern commerce, as Washington stands
at the gateway of the commerce of the
Indies. 1t will have a better population.
Wisely or unwisely, Chinese immigration
Is excluded. Wisely Or unwisely, Irish
and Italian is admitted to our shores
Comparatively little of it reaches the west
coast. For the most part these classes do
not get beyond the east, where they domi-
Gle themselves, if possible, In the large
cities. Washington will be the most
thoroughly American state in the Union.
1t is too far from Europe to draw its sup
plies over the sea, and it is too expensive
for them to come overland. have no.
ticed that all the emigrants passing
through Idaho IN wagon trains come from
the middle interior states, and that of them
all Kansas appears to be the best state to
got out Of Although there are some for
eigners seen on the railroad emigrant
trains, they are Of the most provident Glass;
the Scandinavians. But the great major
ity of the passengers are Americans. Many
Of them may be of foreign descent, but
they have become acclimated to our soil
and to our habits of acting and thinking
Before leaving Tacoma | paid a visit to
that great American crank, whose brains
so rattle about in his head. Nevertheless,
they are brains such as many staid, re-
spectacle idiot would be glad to possess if
he could control them, and self control is
about all there is lacking in the organiza-
ton of George Francis Train. Those of
Us who ridicule him should not forget that
the country is indebted to HIM for the first
conception and plan of the transconti
mental railroad that strapped it together
| when secession was at its work of tearing
it apart, The milli0naires of Omaha and
all of its people should remember that to
him they are indebted for their location
and their prosperity. 1T was this crank
too, who built the first street railway in
London, which some Of Its citizens, who
now ride over its great system of tram
ways, tore up in disgust. His familiar
figure is no more seen IN Madison square
of New York, surrounded by the children
who were his pets, as those of Tacoma are
now. He lives five miles out OF town in a
little frame shanty of one story, twenty
feet square To reach it we drove at first
over dusty road. then among half-burned
! e
natural park of frs Then we came to d
small clearing where this extraordinary
man has built his house. 1t is east y rec
oenized by the display of American flags
which fodted above it, and the strips
nailed upon it of cloths On which were
painted various devices and notices com
memorative of his recent journey around
the world. Our knock upon the door was
answered in py0prid persona. Holding
his own hands together and shaking them,
he recognized us at once, although he had
not seen us for many years. We returned
his cordial salute in the same style. 1t is
one Of his theories that his system has a
vast storage Of animal magnetism, and
that the touch of the hand of that Of
another man or woman deprlves him OF a
certain portion of what is bottled up with
in him. But he thinks that the children
are not receptive. and therefore he does
not extend this rule to them.
His curious little establishment is put
together without nails, and consists of
such parlor, BEDROOM and kitchen as its
narrow limits will permit. As a nine by
four-inch kerosene lamp, on which he
boils his cocoa, the only article besides
rice that he cooks, set upon little table,
comprises all his culinary furniture, the
room needed for his department of his
economy is mere closet. His diet Is
chiefly bread, milk and fruit. His expen-
ses are about $50 a month. the greater part
of which he dispenses in hospitality: And
yet he has a splendid physique, with the
appearance of well-fed man of fewer
years. We were witnesses OF his hospital
ity Leading US through the parlor and
kitchen, he came to tiny pagoda WITH a a
little oval table in the middle surrounded
by a low bench, on which were seated halt
dozen little girls feasting On fruit and
nuts. This was the company ne had left
when he heard our knock upon the door
And now, totally forgetful Of our presence,
he began again to talk to them as II he
had been one of them. At last, In reply
to one Of our questions relating to his trip
around the world his whole manner
changed. Not only did his eye, roll In
fine frenzy" but his voice rolled.with
it. His face denoted both thunder and
lightning, and either he was not George
Francis Train before or he was not
George Francis Train now. But the child
ren did not seem to mind change to which
they had been accustomed. With them 1t
was only thunderstorm IN their summer
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