The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-02-25
Resources of Washington.

In studying the resources of the
state of Washington, upon which the
people must depend for permanent
prosperity, one naturally turns to its
agricultural possibilities as that, ac-
cording to the writers upon political
economy, is the foundation of wealth.
The resident of Washington talks of
that portion of the state east of the
Cascade range as the big wheat garden
of the state, but its great area is bett er
comprehended when it is understood
that it would take in the combined
states of Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts,, Rhode Island, Con-
necticut,. New Jersey and Delaware.
To be more exact it embraces 45,377
square miles. 1t is frequently denom-
mated the "Inland Empire" and is
one OF the largest areas of productive
land in the world. Itembraces several
districts, chief among which are the
Palouse, Walla Walla, Big Bend and
Wenatchee.
The wheat crop of the Walla Walla
district for the past six years has aver
aged about 100000 bushels year
Great crops OF barley, oats, flax and
hay are also grown. It's fine farms
are models in their way.
There is no district more famous
for wheat growing than the Palouse
1t embraces the counties of Whitman,
Garfield, Asotin and part OF Spokane
Last years product in the Palouse dis
trict was estimated at 100000
bushels. The average yield for the
Palouse has ranged from % to 80
bushels during several years past.
Ranking third in Importance is the
Big Bend country, which includes
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Frank
lin counties. Wheat, oats, barley and
rye all do we'll here. Wheat averages
% bushels to the acre.
In Western Washington there are
many rich and productive valleys,
among which may be named the Puy-
allup, Cowlitz, Chehalis, Stuck, White,
Snohomisb, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Nook
sack and Nisqually. The soil is q deep
rich alluvium and stands cropping for
years without the use of fertilizers.
Reclaimed marsh lands especially in
Skagit and Snohomlsh counties, have
been found wonderfully productive.
The wheat crop of 1896 was valued at
81 100000; oats, 81 100000.
Dairy interests have made great pro-
gress in the past five years. Washing
ton is the home OF the clover. There
is a. long pasture season, with very
short, mild winters, permitting stock
to run out most of the time. During
the past three years seventy-tive
creameries have been established IN
the state, greatly promoting the live
stock interests and bringing much
money to the farmers. Much of the
butter and cheese finds a market In
Alaska and other mining countries.
The butter product last year was l.
$4,000 pounds valued at $370,OOO.
Washington's big timber is the won
der of the world. AS to the product
of the mills, which are chiefly in West
ern Washington, the lumber cut for
1896 was 5OO,000,O00 feet, valued at
$4,OOO,OOO. The shingle output was
100000.
During 1896 this state produced
over 100000 tons of coal. There
were employed in the coal mines OF
the state 1858 men, and the value OF
the coal mined was about "a ,OOO,OOO
The total product of Washington
placer mines last year was Sl00,OOOs
Washlngton's output OF fish last
year reached value of more thau S3,-
100000.