The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01
Observation-Disclosures.

The Divine injunction, Go ye and possess the the
Country and soiemniy declaring that possession is
tansute That land only possessed
which brought to its highest sta.e and
e eiyilHation anu '"'S NAMES p'9'''s
Judged by this standard let the thoughtfu patriot
inquire what ground exists for satisfaction In TINS
The native production of centuries has been re-
and the land thus denHded is ally as
spot of land has been taken and the world shown
thousands Of acres that not touched by reason
of what has % on to be an
There is printed on page IL in this issue of The
Ranch contribution kindly presented to our
department of LoggedOff Lands which we have
entitled "The Next Empire by Mr.. George Var
mum, of Denver, Colorado
| feel that so splendid contribution as this
splendid not alone for the thought that it pre-
sents, but equally splendid for the thought that
it provokes, should not be hastily passed over IN
the reading of this beautiful special issue.
Mr. Varnum truly says that when these trees
shall have been felled and their prone trunks
into the myriad classes of lumber and this
again built into cottages which shall dot the agr
cultural districts of the Mississippi Valley the
lamp light shining from their windows at even
tide, thousand beacon lights on what few
years ago arid and barren land; when
these trees shall no longer rear their lofty height;
when their verdant bOughs, when their arboreal
beauty when the GOODNESS in their outrageous
depths, shall have passed into history; when
their places shall have been taken by the burnt
backened ridges of hundred hillsides,-then,
indeed, will the West Coast have been prepared
for it's final reclamation, for it's ultimate posses
sion by the people
Then we shall be at that point which was faced
by the brave, hardy pioneers of the Mississippi
Valley century and more ago.
1t was my advantage to take, during the past
summer an automobile journey through the
waste places of Western Washington. And as
| recoect it now, in the writing of this editorial
the regretful Impressions the Borrowing thoughts
that were forced upon me as faced and regarded
the thousand aye, the untold thousands or acres
of land, upon each one of which, even now, there
might be produced food and sustenance for
happy family; when the realization that these
acres are blank and barren, was forced upon me,
I think even with little satisfaction and with
sadness and regret.
shall quote one comparison:
Ten years ago | knew the city OF Buckley.
with three mills, surrounded by large body of
merchantable timber its stores crowded with
eager and anxious buyers. Each Northern PACING
train that passed through the little village saw
many going but more coming to search for OPP
portunity AS everyone knows, during the past
year and a half or two years. many OF the mills
of Western Washington have SUSPENDED opera
ton. And Buckley is not alone, although quote
Buckley in the general depression which fell ike
black cloud at MONDAY, over all OF that area
which depends upon the numbering industry for
it's growth and activity.
And when I knew Enumclaw, it was village
of four or five shacks, tributary to Buckley and
of but little worth; deserving little consideration.
In and around the town of Enumclaw for the past
ten years the Danish farmers have been at work
with the skill and industry which only those far
Northern people to know and comprehend,
tearing away the prone and rotting trunks; blast
ing the roots and stumps from the ground;
building fences and homes and clearing the land
and planting crops. Enumcaw is no longer a
lumber town, tributary to Buckley, but thriv-
ing active little city, eager with its new life and
palpitating with it's hope for the future.
The town of Buckley to-day faces that point
at which pioneering must renew itself Enum-
cav has passed beyond that stage and rests
upon the foundations of it's agricultural prosperity,
proud of the past and secure of the future.
Our contributor Mr. Va1num. has said that to
be possessed, the land must be occupied.
At Buckley it is possessed without occupation.
At Enumclaw it is occupied in few cases,
without possession.