Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-01-13
A PROSPEROUS YEAR.
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
COMMENTS ON WASHINGTON.
A Rapid Increase In Population
Railroad Building General Re.
sources-Hop Crop Agricultural

PrOduCts-Lumbcr EntcrpriseS.
The San Francisco Chronicle has
this to say of the State OF Washington
in its annual number:
The State of Washington has had q
prosperous year in railroad build
ing as we'll as in the general develop.
ment of her industries. The census
OF the State in 1890 gave a population
of 1880 and in 1892 it was 395, ,5S9,
an increase OF sc, ,l99 in two years. In
King county the most rapid increase
was made, the population in 1890
being 65,031 and in 1892 1892.
On the first OF the year the Seattle
T. Montana railroad, connecting Sc
aftle with st. Paul, will be completed,
200 miles having been constructed
during the year. This gives the State
three great transcontinental lines
which are steadily extending through
different parts of the State. The
Great Northern also completed
seventy-nine miles of track this year
from Seattle to connection with the
Fairhaven & Southern railroad, max.
ing continuous line to New West
minister and Vancouver; also q con-
nection at Whatcom with the Cana.
dian Pacific.
The Northern Pacific during the
year constructed tifty-four miles of
road from Chehalis to South Bend
and twenty-seven miles from Monte
sanO to Acosta. A line is projected
from Sumas to Vancouver, . distance
Of over fifty miles. The Columbia and
Puget Sound road has constructed
about twenty-six miles to a connec.
tion with its various coal mines. The
construction of 359 miles since the of.
fetal report of last April, which for
the preceding year showed q total con-
struction of 534 miles, made the total
number of miles at that time in the
State 1858.
The shingle and lumber business has
quadrupled, and shipments by rail have
averaged 1000 cars of shingles month.
ly and 400 cars of lumber, making the
total for the year "a COO cars. valued at
81, ,320, 900, calculating 500 per Car for
lumber and 5000 per Car for shingles.
The total export of lumber from Puget
Sound was 5OO,OOO,OOO feet.
There are 100 shingle and lumber
mills in this State, and Al are in What
com county alone, there being an in
crease of % during the last month in
that county. One thousand men or
more are employed, and the value OF
the product is about $2,0O0,O0O annu-
ally, with costs and disbursements OF
about $500 per day. The industry is
in its infancy, with prospects Of assum-
ing gigantic proportions next year.
The call in the Eastern market is large
and taxes the railroads 10 the utmost
to carry the product.
The coal output for the year was
about 900, 900 tons, as follows: From
the Newcastle mines, 10000 tons
Franklin mines, $4,000 tons; Gilman
mines, $4,000 tons; Black Diamond,
60,O0o tons; Roslyn mines, $4,000
tons; Carbonate mines, $4,000 tons
South Prairie mines, 10000 tons; Blue
Canyon mines, 10000 tons; Green
River mines, 10000 tons, and about
10000 tons from smaller mines
throughout tho State. Many mines
have been discovered and vii bc de-
velopcd next year.
Mineral production is In It's infancy,
and hundreds OF valuable claims have
been opened up ready to shin bullion
next year. The Monte Cristo district
was recently sold TO a big syndicate for
u 100000. There is not a county In
the State where gold. silver, copper,
lead and iron have not been found in
quantities, and the field 10 so vast that
1t Is impossible 10 make any estimate.
These properties are being developed,
and will show region richer and
greater than any yet found.
The hop crop OF the State for the
year was $1,000 bales, and the con-
trolling price Was eighteen cents per
pound. About 1900 acres OF new
fields have been put out this year.
The floating debt OF the States gen
eral funds on Oct. 3lst last was $i3i,-
4Oe.75. which, together with the inter.
est due at that date on such debt,
made the total issue Of outstanding
warrants drawn on these funds $JiO,.
1862 over and above cash ON hand,
as against s2CO. .ii2 81. the amount Of
the floating debt on October 81. 1880.
The estimate Of receipts and warrants
TO be drawn In pursuance OF present
appropriations and Of appropriations
to be made by the coming Legislature
to meet deficiencies aud legislative
expenses and issued prior 10 March
81, 1893. promises reduction OF the
warrant debt 10 500. .l67 6s on that
date. The assessed valuation Of the
State for 1892 Was s2ss s7iQst. as fol.
lows: Railroads, tlt,631 ,Bs, per.
sonal property $50 9.i69.f74. real estate
sl97 ,i4s.stl, Improvements $50. .72i..
oil. The railroad increase 10 $2.6l7..
$50. The taxes raised for State use in
1891 we're s993 1863. in 1892 they were
1870. .6s5; . decrease Of st22.6 2.67s. In
1891 there were sixty national hanks
with a capital 81 ". 800 900 and q sur
plus Of 81 .T55. 900, aud twenty private
banks with a capital Of s2.is3.OO0 and
. sa1plus Of easI 900; total. sIO. .659.
900. Al present there are seventy