The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-08-08
The Official Paper of San Juan County.
THURSDAY, AUGUST Sst 1925.
BUILDING UP WITHIN.


west says the Portland Oregonian, ''the
foundations are being gradually laid for
resumption of prosperity, or rather for
creation of new prosperity, under
more substantial conditions than we
have ever known. Elimination OF
speculative activity or rather reduction
of it, to its proper limits and proper
tions, has come about through the re-
verses of the past two years. This was
the first necessary step. Ourpeople are
now settling down to the quiet and Or
derby methods of industry and produc-
ton. The prosperity to come from
these conditions will be sure and per-
manent.
"Intelligent energy, working upon a
country so great in natural resources,
will surprise even itself with the re-
suits. Our three Northwestern states,
Oregon, Washington and Idaho, form
a group by themselves, hold close inter-
course with each other and have gen.
eral community of interests. Their en-
tire population is yet below 1000, 900,
yet we doubt whether in the whole
United States another million ofpeople
produce so great a variety of staple
commodities, or find in their commodi-
ties greater exportable value.
"Consider the variety. What is it
Lo Tho honntx- IF =, t,1ra I'M boco ctot foe
does not produce? The products of the
mines include coal and iron, gold, sill
yer and lead, the value of which cam
not fall below $l5, 100000 a year. The
yield of the forests is not easily estima-
ted, but the export by sea and rail of
timber, lumber and shingles yields
many millions of dollars annually, and,
with revival of business, is sure of rapid
increase. The fisheries are very inn
portant industry. Their product
amounts to 100000 or 100000 a
year. The great agricultural interest
gives wheat, flour, barley, hops, and
many other products for export, yield
ing a great aggregate sum; and the fruit
interest is beginning to rise to great
proportions. Annual sales of cattle,
sheep and wool contribute several mill
lions to the total. While it is not easy
to get an accurate estimate of the value
of all commodities produced in and eX-
ported from these three states, includ-
ing the products of the mines, forests,
fisheries, fields, orchards and ranges,
yet it cannot be an exaggeration to put
the whole at SAC, 900, O00a year. Besides,
we are now producing very much of
what is needed for our consumption
we are extending our industries in a
multitude of ways, SO as to cut off inn
pOrtations of an enormous variety of
articles which hitherto we have been
accustomed to buy abroad, and we are
laying the foundation of those innu-
merable small industries that are inds-
pensable always to great and perman-
emf prosperity.
"There is great outlook for the
country as the people settle down to
work with earnestness, calculation and
spirit, yet with contentment and patti
ence, in this scheme of things. Work
pushed on these lines will win. The
period of depression through which we
have been passing has been intellectually
useful in awakening our people to a
sense of their own powers. There are
multitudes whom it pushes to the best
exertions of which they are capable,
with immense advantages to themselves
and to the whole interests of society.
The country will get great push for
ward by the very means that seemed to
have checked its progress and thrown
it back. The fact remains, in spite of
all the discouragements and difficulties
of the past two years, that this country
of the pacific slope is Incompatible in
its productivity, climate, natural oppor-
tunlties and general advantages; and as
these attractions become known it will
make progressive strides exceeding any
it has ever TAKEN"