The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

pensions for the fiscal year ending
June, 1897, shows that there are 5,14
pensioners residing in the state of
Washington, and that the payments
to them during the year aggregated
1927 ,5OO.34.
KERRY's sawmill, at Seattle, was en-
tirely destroyed by fire last Saturday,
entailing a loss of about $4,000, and
throwing nearly 225 men out of en-
ployment. 1t will be rebuilt, but will
be quite u loss nevertheless to the
laborers for the winter.
THE movement of grain along this
Pacific coast is very heavy at present,
which keeps large number of cars in
service. 1t is stated that APO west
bound freight cars passed through the
Cascade mountains on October %,
loaded with grain and merchandise !;
this on the Northern Pacific only.
RECENT recommendation for river
and harbor appropriations for Wash
ingtCn have been made as follows
Grays harbor, $4,000; Puget Sound,
$4,000; Everett harbor, $4,000
Swinomish slough, $47 600; Olympia
harbor, 10000; upper Columbia river,
$4,000; Cowlitz river, $4,000.
SENATOR Wilson estimates the
amount of money to be paid for Wash
ington products this year at fifty mil
lions of dollars, which is none too
high. He mi ght add to this few
millions brought by Alaskan prospec-
tors, which is the only direct return
so far OF the great results which Mr..
Bryan attributes to the discovery of
gold on the Observation-Disclosures
The Tacoma Ledger issued a splen-
did special edition on Admission Day,
November 18th, which covered Taco
mas specialties in the way of Klon-
dixie Outfitting and included general
write-up of Washington's advantages
contributed by prominent men who
are especially qualified to handle their
respective subjects 1t was a valuable
contribution to our advertising.
THE government has in this state
about eighteen million acres of land
one-third of which has been surveyed.
This will furnish homes for a great
many people, and that which is not
fitted for agriculture is valuable for its
timber or mineral deposits. In the
latter direction Washington is rapidly
coming to the front, and ere long will
be counted among the foremost in
mineral wealth.
The Oregon supreme court has
handed down a decision that marriage
of persons within six months after d.
vorce in that state shall be declared
invalid. 1t makes no difference where
the wedding has been solemnized.
The decision is OF interest in Washing
ton where the divorce laws are much
the same as in our neighboring state.
The effect of the decision will be to
embarrass some divorces who have
welded in haste.
So FAR over 60 per cent of the shin
gle manufacturers of the State of
Washington have signifed their in
tention of shutting down during the
winter. 1t is thought that fully 80
per cent OF the mills will come into
line inside OF 10 days. The dropping
off of the demand necessitates this &C.
ton in order to maintain prices next
year. At present there is very little
call for shingles, and the mill men, it
is conceded, are acting sensibly.
What little demand exists is principal
ly for clears, the *A* season being
practically over.
UNDOUBTEDLY Western Washington,
and especially its smaller towns, will
derive great benefits from the immense
immigration of people from all parts
of the world to the Alaskan gold fields
next spring. All this vast body must
have something to eat, and this must
be their main source of supply. Thou
sands will come West who will lie able
to see that it will be Klondike to
settle on farm in. this section and go
to raising such stuff as Alaska will
call for. Everything will feel this
stimulus, whether directly supplying
this trade, or not, and the smaller
cities and towns will begin to thrive
and grow with renewed vigor.
JUDGING from the numerous Alaskan
trading and transportation companies
being formed, and the several big
steamers which are to be brought
around from the Atlantic coast for
that traffic next year, there will be an
unprecedented rush in that direction
and Alaska will be pretty well dug
over in the next few years. Millions
of money will be expended to handle
the droyes of gold-seckers, and Wash
ington will reap the greatest benefit.
1t appears that our own people do not
fully appreciate the magnitude of the
stampede in prospect, or they Wonld