The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-28

Tacoma Bureau OF the Pos.-Intelligencer,
liz Pacific Avenue
TACOMA March E.-Aithough the al
vance agent OF prosperity mas lot yeI
reached are state Of Washington with MS
show, there are some people Tho are for
rursate In being able 70 see down TIE tu-
tars far enough 10 discover that the bills
announcing tie return OF good times are
being put on the boards.
One Of these 5 Thomas Cooper. Western
land agent OF me Northern Paclf1c. Mr..
Cooper Is by nature very conservative and
has rot been known 70 prophesy without
abundance OF good reason. and this.
coupled with the fact that he 10 IN posi-
ton TO keep In touch with the development
OF the state in namberless ways. gives any
ahins he may De inclined 20 say peculiar
value.
Mr.. Cooper Is usually shy about express
ing himself In the newspapers, but when
the Post-Intelligencsr correspondent press
ed him for an opinion as 10 what the fu-
ture has IN store for Washington. and ask
ed him what progress his company is max
ing In its efforts 10 induce immigration, he
said today:
In my opinion. the outlook for more
prosperous conditions in this state Is
more encouraging than ii has been since
the period OF depression commenced ms
opinion IS based on the following facts:
An the Indications point 10 q phe-
nomenally large crop OF wheat. with good
prices. The good price realized for last
years crop has caused large areas which
had been lying idle to be put in culti-
walton. and considerable new land VIII
also be titled The extraordinary amount
of moisture In the ground insures a coca
yield. and | would not be surprised IL
the wheat crop OF 1895 proves to be the
largest In the history OF the state. The
worlds surplus Of wheat being pracu-
cally exhausted. IL is safe 10 predict that
prices Will be good. / observe a marked
difference In the tone of our correspond
eHce with the large number OF settlers
holding land contracts with the Northern
Pacific. year ago this correspondence
was generally Of a Respondent character;
now 1t is hopeful and confident.
Beef cattle bring higher price than
crease in the tariff on wool will decidedly
increase the value OF that product. and
afford much needed relief 10 the sheep
men. The stock ranges of Eastern
Washington have run down considerably
on account of overgrazlng and insufn-
Client moisture. The heavy snowfall Of
this winter viii greatly improve their
condition, and the grass viii be better
than IL has been for years. THE long
protracted winter has killed of great
many OF the worthless horses, though
there are doubtless enough Of them left
TO worry the stockmen.
1T Is expected that In the new tariff
bill the duty on coal will be restored to
% cents per ton, the figure IL was under
over the present tariff This will greatly
stimulate the coal mining industry OF
this state. and allow US TO compete on
equal terms with the foreign Goals which
enjoy monopoly OF the California mar
ket. The new tariff proposed on lumber
VIII also stimulate that important in
dustry and increase our lumber product.
Il notice some reports lately that hops
are being contracted this year for 10
cents per pound. While this price is
low h affords a moderate profit. and is
so much better than what has been
paid In recent years that IL Is encourag-
ing.
1.-THE phenomenal development OF the
mining Interests Of the entire North Pa
cine coast. which may be said to have
CITY begun. viii be an important factor
hl improving business conditions Every
mining camp Is a community OF consun-
ers furnishing market for all Of our
products. IL has already put Spokane on
its feet and fits influence Is being felt
throughout the entire state.
This company has lately made thor
ougn investigation AZ the sugar beet in
dnztry IN California and Utah and the re-
suit OF this inyestlga ton, together with
the extensive experiments made by the
state agricultural college, convince US that
certain districts OF Washington are admi-
raDly adapted 10 sugar beet culture, and
efforts vii be made TO enlist capital for
teh establishment of factories. We are
now arranging 10 conduct a series OF ex-
periments in raising sugar beets In the
Yakima valley 10 determine positively. a
fact of which there Is but little doubt,
that this valley Is adapted to sugar beet
culture The amount of sugar consumed
IN this state alone viii support number
OF factories 50 that there IS a market
already provided FOR the product.
the Northern Pacific has sold more
land since January than in any equal
period Of time since 1898. and with the ex-
ceI ton OF a few sales OF timber land, ali
Of Il was agricultu land 20 actual set
tiers. mostly IN Lincoln and Adams ccun-
ties. There IS 8 steady immigration into
the state. rot large in volume. but in
creasing ali the time. as Is the number of
requests for information Ia regard TO our
resources.
'sOther reasons could be given. but I
think enough has been said % warrant
my belief that We may hook forward with
confidence 20 q return o., oar former pros
Yt~3ry