Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-03-28


Although we invite investment in
our lands, we are not in favor of hav
ing the same held without improve
ment; timber-lands are about the only
kind that would be of benefit to us by
being held five years. On farming
lands this would be detriment, as We
would not have the benefits of produc-
ton. We do not desire the price of
the land; we want it made productive
of revenue. l would not like to see
capital buy farming lands for the pur-
pose Of helping them for speculation.
Money can be made by buying gov
ernment lands and lending to farmers
who desire to rent property, and thus
make it productive not only to the
farmer but to the State.
Right here would like to caution
the people against wildcat specula-
tions in land. The greatest care
should be taken by investors who con-
template buying property in our State.
We do not wish repetition of the
disgraceful schemes floated in the
South and Southern California. We
will not be held responsible for reck-
less speculation. The investor not
only often loses his principal, but the
cfedit of the State is damaged. II
you buy farm in an adjoining State,
you insist upon more than the mere
assertion that such q farm exists.
You want to see title-deeds and in
vestigate the fertility of the land. If
you will not do likewise in the many
propositions made for investment un-
der the garb of respectability, simply
because it is the State of Washington,
the chances are that you will lose
your money. For there are men in
our country just as unprincipled as in
any other. Do not invest dollar un
less you have a guaranty that things
are as represented. There are plenty
of deserving projects in our State.
Any of them will make money. But
beware of reckless booming.
COAL.
AS stated before, Pennsylvania has
coal to assist in her general prosperity; /;
SO has Washington. IN fact, it is
claimed that the coal area of the new
State equals the coal area of Pennsyl-
vania. We have no anthracite, but
then our bituminous is as valuable as
any found on the globe. Our re-
sources are undeveloped. If the
mines had one-third the development
that has been put upon the mines Of
Pennsylvania, feel confident that
our output would be enormous and
We would supply all of the West and
some of the Asiatic countries. As it
is we have done wonders; some of our
mines have been opened, and the pro-
ducts have added leaf after leaf to our
laurel crown of success. For three
years our coal has been warming the
hearthstones Of many happy families,
and employment has been given to
thousands. Most of the miners have
been earning from 80 so to SO 90 per
day; this is quite contrast to the
labor rates OF Pennsylvania. do not
carry in my memory the exact amount
OF the total output OF coal, but it has
been large. In the year that has
just expired this infant industry gave
to Washington about 100000 tons of
coal; it was valued at nearly $4,6OO,-
600. If capitalists are awake to the
many advantages offered, our output
will be ten million tons within three
years. l trust that idle labor will
never interrupt this growing industry
l would dislike to see the supply of
coal miners exceed the demand for
their labor. We do not need miners
until capital investigates and opens
new mines. Then the blue smoke will
curl to the sky from new homes, and
we can employ many from the over
crowded East. We are proud of our
coal resources; still we desire to OBJ
tain all the advantages possible from
the black diamonds which nature has
stored in the bowels Of our earth.
When coal is burned it is productive
of heat or steam andpthere it ends,
unless the virtues discovered by science
are utilized. We are building up a
trade with the East to be successful
in the highest degree; we want to
utilize every one of our natural gifts;
we do not want capital to pass over
our coal, satisfied with the profit in it
az fuel and labor to the miner, but
in its stead we want the labor of one
miner to create labor for ten other
workmen. Aside from iuel, we want
our coal converted into many pro-
ducts. Here is the basis for ammonia,
carbolic acid, paraffine, coke, and
many other products, all of which
give employment to labor and wealth
to the State. To make the country
prosperous as its natural wealth de-
serves, we should have factories es-
tablished that will make aniline colors;
the coal tar should be worked; wax
paper should be sent abroad, the re-
suit of parafline; fertilizers can be
made and shipped to lean lands, for
ammonia makes o rich fertilizer. /
appeal to you to consider the many
opportunities for profitable. industry
where reckless management is satisfied
with the heat-power of coal; science
has shown hundred ways to utilize
it in other channels. Young capital
with but q few thousands can build
itself fortune by converting into q
commercial commodity that which to-
day is lost in flames and smoke. 1t
should be remembered that it is q