The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-15

n B. Ward. OF the State immigration
Bureau, has returned TO Seattle after
mort trip through the southwestern part
y the state Mr.. Ward expresses him.
ssif as being greatly satisfied with the
rvogress made by that part of the state
rtfhin the last two years. Everywhere
~ found farmers prosperous and happy
,he small towns without a vacant house.
and doing. a rushing business. He pre-
Acts that immigration will easily ado
5000 people to the population OF the
state this year.
.you would hardly recognize the SOUTH
western part of Washington, II you had
nat seer 1t within the last two years''
said Mr.. Ward yesterday. I'VE OF seal-
~ think we are the cream OF society,
hut when we get out among the farms
and country villages we find evidences of
conditions changed, in as marked a man.
mar az our own, This Is true of the whole
state especially of the places l visited.
There IL no line of business or industry
YOU can think of that does not show a vast
Improvement
in the farming districts noticed new
fences where three years ago there were
none, and where the cattle roamed at
win through the pastures. Old barn
doors that used to hang by one hinge
have been repaired, and the barn-roof
painted Where an old hat formerly filled
up broken pane in the window, new
glass has been put in, the fruit trees
which two years ago were going to vast
have been trimmed, and the prospects
for the crop are good. In Thurston coun-
" saw some of the finest prune or
chards In the state.
IN the small towns, where one-fourth
Of the houses were vacant two years
ago, all are filled today. and in some
places new ones going up. t.ima, in
Chehals county, Is a regular beehive, its
activity and prosperity being in pleasant
contrast to conditions two years ago.
,"Montesano, likewise. is going ahead
rapidly. They have a new shingle-mil
there which / went through. and with
which I was very much pleased The
merchants are all doing well, the farmers
are getting good prices for their produce.
n . man has a young steer, a pound Of
butter or a dozen of eggs and so forth,
he can get ready cash at a satisfactory
price. At Grays harbor ! found the same
general progress.
THE people everywhere are better
dressed, with brighter prospects for the
future and much more cheerful than they
were a couple of years ago. | met one
man who asked me what the immigra-
ton bureau was doing for the state.
pointed out to him the changed condi-
tons, anc he was satisfied.
Washington this year. are delighted with
the country, They say II is perfect
haven of rest 1t is a curious fact that
most OF those from Nebraska are set
ting around Elma. while lower down
around Montesapo. Miss5urians and
Tsnnesseeans are congregating. The set
tiers from Town. Minnesota and that
belt Of statss, believe they have struck
q veritable bonanza In Washington. I did
not hear u single dissatisfied expression
from them.
II talked with q very bright and pretty
young woman from Iowa, who said that
Southwestern Washington was a sur
prise to her. When she left Iowa In
March. everything was frozen, the stock
was In harms the country bleak and bare.
but when sh, arrived here. the green
grass was growing and the shrubs We're
budding. The grass at this time Of year
seems wonderful to many OF the immi-
grants. and they hardly ever tire OF talk
Ing about II. The new settlers who have
siready spent winter here. and seen
the rain, say they prefer IL to the cold
OF thsir native states
while Southwestern Washington Is
thus developing, the rest of the state Is
by no means failing TO share In the gen
erh prosperity. From all over Washing
ton come reports of good crops new
houses and better conditions. | ran across
a man from Sprague few days since,
who told me he had made 5000 from his
wheat crop last season. One thing that
axreeably troubles our new settlers Is the
volunteer crop which springs mp of its
own accord, They don't seem to under
stand H."
Mr. Ward was busy all day yesterday
Seing through a pile OF mail on his desk.
Most OF the letters were from intend
Inc settlers, and desired general informa
nhf4N l.as4s Al.