The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-12-29
Bright Prospects for Washington.


There can no longer be any doubt
that the coming year VIII be the most
prosperous in the history OF Washing
ton. Evidence is abundant that the
next twelve months will witness the
greatest influx of people and capital
ever known in our state, and one pos
sibly unequaled in the history of any
state in any one year.
These indications are reliable and
come from different sources, but per-
haps the most promising is the un-
usual inquiry concerning farm lands,
which is larger than. ever before The
land departments of the great railways
are filled with inquiries, and the rail-
ways have been obliged TO increase
their capacity to supply transporta-
tipn to homeseekers. The same eon~
dltions obtain ia the esofRces of. the inn
migration commissioners, and these
departments have been. obliged to in
crease their Office force to supply the
demand for literature and reliable IN
formation regarding the state ofWash-
ington and its resources.
immigration Commissioner Mott,
of the Northern Pacific railway, pre-
diets an increase of population in this
state next year of hundred thousand
people. Added to this is the fact that
Washington is getting the cream OF
those coming west. The people com
ing here are o. the better class, with
money with which to provide them
selves. with homes or to. engage in
business. These will prove valuable
citizens to any community The less
valuable ones drop off : in Minnesota
and the Dakotas. leaving only the
best to come through to the coast.
The influx. of the past year, while it
has been large, was but a fraction of
that which will come, next year. AL
ready the effects have been felt in the
remarkable appreciation in the value
OF farm lands in all parts of the state,
the many changes Of property of this
nature, and the large amounts of rail
road aud government lands disposed
of to actual settlers. ~
That those already nere.are satisfied
with the change and their present
condition and opportunities is shown
by the statement of immigration
Agent Ross, OF the Great Northern
Railway company, that
The location Of settlers in the North.
west during the past two years is like
bread cast upon waters. The returns
are coming in hundred fold. fstart-
ed out last summer after. the tide of
prosperity had become manifest, and
in a few short months i accomplished
more than hal been possible IN the
previous five years, and yet 1T was only
the beginning. Where | sought one
family in community / found five
who wero in search OF new homes in
the Northwest. They knew the re-.
sources of Washington as well as / did.
They have had responsible and reliable
agents in that state, and they found
the conditions exactly as we represent
them.
In addition to the immigration of
farmers and their families, the coming
year will see more capital brought TO
this state for investment than ever be-
fore. The business men OF the East
beginning to awaken TO the possible
ties Of our great state and Coast, and
they or their agents are in every city
looking out for opportunities for the
investment oftmoney in business en-
terprise.
Our immense resources of lumber.
grain, fish, minerals, coal, fruit and
other products, with the wonderful
growth of our commercial business
with the Orient and Alaska, are begin
ming to be appreciated, and in addis
ton to hundred thousand increase.
in population, it may be predicted con-
fidently that there will be mo5e than
proportionate increase Of business
capital and new business and manlar
featuring Industries. Ledger. = :