The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-16

The census figures published in these
polumns Monday morning, showed pop
Walton Of 22b 900 for Western Washington,
with ample assurance that the final and
corrected reports from the census bureau
win show an increase Of several thousand
shove these figures In 1880 the total
population Of the same counties was about
l6,000 This shows an increase for the
decade Of something over five hundred per
can't.
Outside Of the Dakotas no portion of the
country viii approximate this ratio of in
crease. It is more than sixteen times the
average rate ofincrease for the whole of the
United States. The figures are not at hand
to verify the statement. but no person who
Is observant of the character of the inn
provements that have been made through
out this section. and the many branches of
lucrative employments that are absolutely
new creations, can for moment doubt
that the increase in wealth and productive
energy is far in excess of even this marvel
lous increase in population.
tits to be hoped that reliable statistics
wiz be forthcoming upon which may be
based trustworthy comparison between
1850 and 1890, as to banking capital; bust
ness clearances; manufacturing and min
ing output; real estate transactions and
values; character and value of permanent
improvements. Beyond question such
statistics, if complete and reliable, will
show an increase exceeding one thousand
per cent. in the Puget Sound country
within the decade.
On the other side of the continent the
excess over the average increase has been
mainly confined to cities. and this princi
pally in the West and South. Some of the
Northeastern states have barely held their
own, and the cities of that section have
but kept pace with the general average of
the whole country in point of advance
ment. Dallas, Texas, and Birmingham,
Ala. show the highest percentage of adj
vancement among cities east of the Rocky
mountains. The latter heads the list with
an increase of $50 per cent.
As rule. especially in Eastern cities
that have madeexceptionally rapid growth,
the excess of increase has involved retro
gression rather than advance ment in the
line OF productive energy. As a rule the
tendency to crowd into cities has with.
drawn larger bodies of men from avenues
of production and converted them into dis
tribntors of products. In this respect,
however. birmingham may be regarded as
an exception. There coal and iron, and
manufacturing industries based upon the
possession of these. have given profitable
employment to vast and growing army of
producers. This conveys assurance that
the increase Is stable and therefore in
happy contrast with the blooming" char.
acter OF the rapid growth reported in some
other cities.
And herein lies the chief ground of graf
i6cation in respect to the growth of West.
ern Washington. While there is a dispo.
sition to speculative enterprises in plating
and placing upon the market a plethora OF
''termini" and ''emporiumsn and "exten.
sions" in some portions OF this Puget
Sound country, it is happily case Of
"much cry and little wool" great deal OF
noise by very few men, and the general
advance has been substantial.
Taking into sccount the number of mer
engaged in numbering. in coal and iron
mining, IN fisheries. agriculture, manufac
turing and mechanical pursuits, it is doubt
full whether anywhere in the United States
outside Of the strictly factory towns,
there can be found a population embracing
so large a proportion OF actual producer.
As are embraced In the ae5oos population
Of Western Washington.
But while this Is true, Ind iiatserinr