The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-22

Nine OF the sections deal with all civilized
countries except the United States, ana
are finished. The last part Will be devot-
ed to this nation. and especially 20 Wash
lngton and other paris Of the Northwest.
Mr.. Bancroft is nov in Seattle gathering
material for the tenth volume.
The historian has a high opinion or
Washington, which he declares is even
superior 10 California. where he has lived
the last three decades. said he to Post
lnteiiigencer reporter: You have I'M
mense possibilities. The magnificent Wa
ters In front starting countless ships to
Oriental lands. and backed by resources
that eclipse any other commonwealth on
earth | can see nothing ahead for Wash
ington and Seattle but the most prosper"
Gus condition. California has glorious
climate and scenery, but il lacks moisture
veiopments that will rebound to the pros
perity Of the Northwest is that the
0rientals are discarding rice and taking 10
flour. Last year there were $4,000 barrels
OF -four shipped 10 the Asiatic coast, and
If that keeps up the annual expectation
TO those countries Will amount to 100000
in a few years"
Mr. Bancroft went to San Francisco in
ln0- and started book store. He pros
pered from the start, and during the c.rii
war made a great deaf OF money which
established his business "a one OF the
largest book ana publishing houses in the
West. This enabled him TO pursue writ
ing. tor which he early evinCed a great
passion. He commenced to gather IL
hraTy. buying books best adapted 10 Ms
needs as a historian. and now has 6o,Wo
volumes in a special building. re began
researches as the foundation fer his later
histories on the Pacific coast. constant
~ employing for over twenty years from
twenty 10 thirty clerks. WHOSE sole duty
VAS to index his library and arrange ma
tertal for the subsequent works.
The historian himself writes all the
matter for the printers; using stenograph-
views with authorities on given subjects.
He does not consider il much labor to
write. looking upon that as a slight task.
compared with getting his facts in re2di-
ness. He travels extensively. and in the
compilation Of his present work has visit
ed all the countries OF the earth. His his
tories are remarkable in that they contain
no statements thar are not based on actual
and reliable authorities
Personally Mr.. Bancroft is one OF the
most interesting and uuassumng OF men.
Physically large, with A massive head
firmly set on unusually wide shoulders
cordial and % kindly disposition he is
a man pleasant 10 meet. and impresses one
as being an authority on anything he says
He is dstantly connected with George
bancroft. ne American historian and as
the latter covers the East in p wide range
and present history Of the West from dan
ger OF not being chroriclei. His two sons
are in thetr last year a. Harvard. one OF
them VIII later 20 to berkeley, Cal. To take
a post-Evtiua1e course IN mining engineer
Ing ana metalurgy. and the other to the
Columbia Law school 20 prepare himsnlf
for the bar. AT Bancroft IS making his
first visit "a Seattle since twenty years
age ard IS much Impressed with the ad-
vanCement hat has taken Place. lie is
siVty-sIx years old.
T6a following > A list q his series 81
histories on The Pacific coast; Native
Races # ,he Pacific States" voIumes
History II Central America" three vol
utues: M axico" six volumes; North
Mexican States" two volumes. Arizona
and New Mexico" one volume. "Csiifoy-
air" seven volumes, Northwest Coast"
fyra -
washington Idaho ana Montana" one
volume. british Columbia" one volume;
"Alasks." ore votImc. Utah" one VOL
utue. Nevada Wyoming and Colorado"
aue volume Popular Tribunals" TWO
volumes: California PASTORAL" oae vol
urne, California Inter Poeuia." one vol
LTnc.