The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-13


~ West. and Washington and Sc
attic. Thousands Of men. wo-
men and children have left their
former homes In all parts OF the
East and Europe and come to Washington
IN response to invitations Of their fortunate
friends who came before. and tho kreas
Inducements made by the transcontsnentaa
railroads to increase the population OF thu
state. There has not been train into Se-
attic since tate in the winter that has not
brought its quota Of new inhabitants. and
NJ great has been the rush that the first
and third Tuesdays OF each month. when
special homeseckers excursions were
scheduled to leave the Twin cities for the
West Il was necessary for ell three roads.
the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and
Canadian Pacific to divide their trains into
two and three sections each to accommo-
date the traffic.
These people have come from every state
IN the Union. but principally from the
Middle States. where the winters have been
30 severe that they could no longer bear
them, but, believing the enthusiastic tales
told them about the mild climate OF Wash
!ngton and the wonderful fertility Of It's
soil. they sold their property, packed up
their belongings. and followed the advice
OF thousands Of descendants OF Horace
Greeley These new settlers have not been
paupers. All have had money enough to
support themselves and their families until
they could find government land to suit
them. when they made their locations.
built temporary homes to last until they
had time to do more. broke little ground.
and planted their first seed In the great
West. Some. many. OF them. have not
been satisfied with the land Uncle Sam
offered. but preferred to 1--we nearer the
cities or IN other localities. and to the as
constituent Of real estate agents and own
ers promptly offered to pay cash for their
property.
Ten Thousand Have Come.
How many people came West during this
great immigration is difficult question to
answer. but conservative estimate places
the number OF washington's new citizens
at more than 10000 and they are sim COM
ing. Nearly 1000 of them have come all
the way from Europe. mostly from Nor
way Sweden. Russia. Finland and Dem
mark. which countries furnish some OF the
best citizens in the land. Others have for
saken the bleak hills OF New England.
others have come from the dairy regions OF
New York: New Jersey has contributed
mechanics and artisans, Pennsylvania has
sent some. the barren wastes OF Kansas.
Missouri and Texas have proven unproit-
able for still others: the chills and terrible
SHOWS OF the Wolverine state have driven
out several hundred who are now resting
and getting rich in Washington Illinois
farmers. men from the pineclad hills OF
Wisconsin. the hard wheat plains OF Min
nesosa and the blixzard-swept dome of the
pakosas have given up their cherries and
Improbable habitations for the glorious
inducements OF Washington.
So promising was the travel and the in
dications were so evident that the west
ward travel would continue through the
summer that the railroads extended their
special rate of - to the Coast until Sep
TENDER, even at the risk OF breaking up
many summer excursions that had been
planned on low rates as usual with these
low rates to horneseekers. excursion man
ayers could not hope TO compete The re-
suit has justified the extension Of the Of
fer. for every train that comes from the
East has sSne new settlers. and many are
ha6ed 10 their capacity.
A large percentage o. these people have
chosen Western Washington to be their
homes. realizing that IL has ali the aivan,-
ages of the Eastern part Of the state and
a much better climate without the snowy,
evidences that they forsook when they
LEFT the East The Puyaiiup valley. the
rich districts 81 the Snohomish the Skavt,
and other parts to the north Of here. and
all up and down the Sound are alive with
the evidences OF an accelerated thrift. as
shown in fresh. progressive Eastern sp.r.,
that has been working for years in the
fra:fiess attempt TO make hen,e where
nature had not given the opportunity and
hare found thar the sol needed only TO be
touched 10 bring forth an abundance.
One Man Dixlikes Raia.
There has yet 20 be recorded more than
enc expression OF dissatisfaction with
Washington That single instance was
from grfxxled veteran of Kansas Ha
came from the wtids In shs Southern mart
ot that state. where he had worked for
years 10 keep hfs hak-Sssryea children
from giving up the ghost He read Of
Washington and came with several others
gTcm sae same community. hut. unsor.
tszsatsly fcr his peace ~ nxrs. the day he
left Kansas II was bright. and the sun
saone with cheering insser unknown In
many day before and when he rot 70
his destination somewhere on the line Of
the Seattle 4 International II wss raining.