Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-03-21
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON: FRIDAY EVENING MARCH 81 1890

They recognized that some day that
country would be beneficial to us
They understood that if efforts were
made the seal could be plucked and
dyed on Puget Sound, instead of being
sent to England, and the day will soon
arrive. So much for commerce. Now
| will speak of the foundation on which
to build industries to support the trade
TIMBER.
With all the boasted natural re.
sources of the keystone State, there is
one that she is most destitute Of
which Washington contains in all its
greatest glory-tbat is, magnificent
timber. The United States have mol
profitcd by the experience of other
nations who have allowed their timber
to be cut away, or we would begin to
take some steps to protect our forests
from the devastating effects of fire and
waste. We should have learned les
son from Spain; and we should take
means, even though they are stringent,
to punish those who devastate the yer-
dure Of nature. We should stop the
promiscuous cutting of timber and en-
deavor to have portion of our estate
reserved for the possibilities of future
needs. 1t would be grand thing for
Washington if Eastern capitalists were
to invest in our timber-lands-inyes
in them with the intention OF holding
for five years. If the proprietorship
OF one quarter of our resources were
vested in such hands, soon the need
of timber in its virgin purity would
make grand fortunes for those who
had this foresight. We recognize that
upon tracts Of timber held by Eastern
people the day would soon come when
they, in their endeavors to obtain the
largest profit possible, would cause
furniture-factories to be erected,
shingle-mills, box-faetories, and many
other industries that would utilize the
timber, and not send it out of the
State us boards, but as fine, manufac-
tured articles, thus giving employ
ment to the logger, the saver, the
seasoner, the palmer, the joiner, the
carpenter, the painter, and the mer-
chant; whereas, if the timber is ship
ped in boards, the State realizes but
little. Our citizens, who have the
welfare of the country at heart, seem
willing to reduce their present large
profits and wait for posterity to reap
some Of the benefits. The men who
are responsible for the present
fame of Washington are desirous
of having the effect of their labors felt
in the future; they recognize that life
is not a passing ray of sunshine, that
serves its destiny and is gone, but to
them it is an edifice in which they Ia
bor to fill the inches and walls with
beautiful acts of kindness and love
that posterity may benefit by their in
dustry. / am sure they want the new
State to be the haven of refuge for de-
serving labor; they want it harbor
where all can fly from the storms oI
adversely; they want it recognized as
an unselish section. The little child
in the shadow of its first grief does not
fly to the cold, though rich and cruel
man, but like the fawn at the first
scent OF danger, it fees to the coverlet
of the bushes, wherein it knows that
love, security, and sympathy lie. In
the future we would like to see our
State the bushes, the home of refuge,
where all honest and industrious peo-
pie can find rest and employment
[ Applause.l The destitution of the
Eastern States OF timber fitted for
ship-building is, in measure, account
able for the stagnation in our ship
building industry. Men who are pa
triotic enough to turn their plough
shares into swords at the bugle's call
who, without murmur of discomfort
lay down their lives in defence OF
their country, in moments of peace
will not be so patriotic as to allow
their pockets to be affected by a con-
dition OF affairs that makes ships built
in America more costly than in Eng
land; will not simply for the purpose
of flying the American flag pay twenty
five per cent. more for American ships,
especially when they are able to buy
the same ship in foreign water twenty
five per cent. less than we can con-
struct it. England cannot build bet
ter ships than America. This has
been practically demonstrated by the
success of our celebrated Dolphin, con-
structed on our native soil. This
achievement has forever set this mat
ter at rest, proving that it is only a
question of cost. 1t does not stand to
reason that, if we were able to build
ships as cheap and as serviceable as
the English, we would buy our bot
toms from them, but the cause is the
difference in price. The principal
parts OF sailing ship are its timber
and spars. They are costly because
the East has to transport them long
distances. If it were not for this, with
American skill and intelligence we
could construct cheaper than England.
(Applause.l The remedy is at hand
the great timber resources OF Wash
ington will enable us to change this
condition of affairs. Puget Sound,
with its magnificent harbors and gentle
slopes-surrounded by the most mag
nificent trees in the world-offers a
solution to this problem. Here can
be found the stately sticks SO essen
tial for masts; here can be found the
body timber and stays; here are the
grandest keels that the eye of man has
ever seen, and in close conjunction