The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-03-23
che Official Paper Of San Juan Count
THURSDAY, MARCH %, 1899.
THE TIDE OF IMMIGRATION.

The Post.Intelligencerr recently stated
that "ln addition to the hundreds OF
whom no record can be kept, 4,5OC
people have moved to Washington
from the far Eastern states since Feb
ruary, 1898. The prospects are that
this number will be doubled in the
present year. The outlook is mag
nificent. These 4 800 people came from
the New England states, New York
aud southern New Jersey, and were
attracted by the advertising sent out
by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce,
the railways and others interested in
fostering the development of this state.
They represented nearly every occu-
patton, but were principally mechanics
and farmers. They have been dis
tributed all over the western part OF
the state. These immigrants, particu-
larly, were $50 farmers, who settled
near Everett, Puyallup, and along the
railways this side of the Cascade
mountains. Three thousand of them
were mechanics and tradesmen from
New England. and 1000 were fruit
growers from the southern part OF
New Jersey. Europe contributed the
remaining $50 of the immigrants.
They were farmers from some of the
leading agricultural centers of the con-
tinent.n
The Northern Pacific and Great
Northern railroads are running "home-
seekers excursions" periodically, and
have made specially low rates upon
tourist tickets to all points on their
lines west Of Minnesota. They will of
course endeavor to induce settlers to
locate upon lands contiguous to their
roads or in the towns and cities through
or adjacent to which the roads pass.
Most people, however, in search of
new homes in Western Washington
will come direct to the Sound cities
without definitely formed plans as to
just where they will locate. They
will visit the localities most easily ac-
cessib.e and concerning which wide
awake people have taken care that
they should first be Informed. The
Chambers Of commerce of Seattle ard
Tacoma and the commercial organic, &.
tons of the smaller cities are con-
stantly endeavoring to promote settle
ment and development in their re-
spective localities, and it is a rather
conspicuous fact that the towns and
counties that do nothing to induce ST =
Element very little more than "hold
their own" in population and assessed
valuation of property. 1t is in this
latter class this county has hitherto
been numbered, and it will continue
to be so classed just so long as our rep
resentative business men, farmers and
orchardists are content to leave to in
didual efforts task which other and
larger counties have accomplished only
through the mediums of chambers of
commerce and kindred organizations.
A neat little pamphlet, descriptive
of the resources, industries, topo.
graphy, climatic advantages and scenic
attractions of the county, is very much
needed. 1t should tell the truth, and
nothing but the truth, and it ought to
be issued by authority of some public
organization prepared to answer intel.
ligently the numerous inquiries which
would be likely to follow its proper
circulation. This is by no means a
great undertaking, nor does it neces
sarily involve much expense. THE
ISLANDER will most cheerfully share
both the labor and the expense if the
business men and others of the county
who should be active in such work will
take hold of the matter in the spirit
necessary to insure reasonable degree
OF success. We are glad to do anything
we can to increase the trade of oul
local merchants, and we feel that i,
would be to their advantage to co
operate heartily in the organization o.
county board of trade, representing
every section and every industrial in
terest. There are scores of farmer.
and land owners in the county who
would be glad to sell portion of theil
holdings to real home-makers. We
have room for many more people. w,
want them. They are coming to tn,
state by scores from all parts of tn,
East. Very likely not one in hun
dred of them has ever heard of Sar
Juan county and it cannot REASONABLE,
be expected that even that small per
centage will locate here if we do moth
ing to acquaint them with the advan
tages which the county offers. Ar
we to go on indefinitely content will
or tolerant of policy of isolation, hid
ing our light under a bushel. or sha]
we wake up and let our light shin
out upon the paths of men in such
way as to attract them to our shores?