Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-10-09
In THE new WASHINGTON.
The Splendid Future of the Young
State.
It's Resources and the Character of
Its Population-A Visit to George
Francis Train.
Washington Correspondent


that region for rapid settlement and inn
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 Sagacty that
IT 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
OF more recent origin. Unlike some of
the lands of the old states of New Eng
lamb and of New York, not a foot of
| ground III Washington will be worth less
| IN the life of this generation than it now
Is. Speculation at present is mainly di-
rected to the s3aport towns. but those who
seek permanent investment can find it in
the interior. This magnificent domain,
an empire in itself, may be longitudinally
! dlvlded-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 its $4,000 inhabitants, it should be
admitted into the Union In less than a
hundred years it 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 better population
Wisely or unwisely Chinese immigration
is excluded. Wisely or unwisely, Irish
and Italian is admitted to our shores
Comparatively little of itreaches 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
git out of. Although there are some for
eigners seen ON the railroad emigrant
trains, they are of the most pIoyident class,
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 a staid, re-
spectacle idiot would be glad to possess if
he could control them, and seH-control is
about all there is lacking in the organiza-
ton of George Francis 7 ain. 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 miliionaires 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. dis 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
stumps, and at last through 4 beautiful
natural park of frs. Then we came to a
small clearing where this extraordinary
man has built his house. 1t Is easily rec
oQnized by the display of American flags
which hodted 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 II pr0prjd 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 Ii. 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 deprives 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 nire 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 so a month, the greater part
of which he dispenses in hospitality. And
vet he has splendid physique, with the
appearance of a well-fed man of fewer
years. We we're witnesses of his hospital
ity Leading us through the parlor and
kitchen. he came to tiny pagoda with a
little oval table in the middle surrounded
by low bench, on which were seated half
dozen little girls Tasting on fruit and
nuts. This was the company he had left
when he heard our knock upon the door.
And now, totally forgetful 81 our presence.
he began again TO talk io them as II ne
had been one Of them. At last, IN reply
/ to one Of our questions relating to his trip
around the world, his whole manner