The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-05-10
TO DEvELoPE NORTHWEST.

TO DEvELoPE NORTHWEST.
Governors Of Seven States Call Biz
Convention.
Seattle, Wash. Seven governors Of
Northwestern states have issued /
joint proclamation calling North
| western Development Congress-" t.
be held in Seattle June to 8. The
remarkable proclamation was made
public by Governor NJ. E. Hay, Of
this state, and for four days Seattle
will be the capital Of the American
Northwest, with seven governors and
hundreds of citizens in attendance al
the conference.
The conference is to plan cam.
paign and suggest legislation which
will assist the Northwestern states in
more rapid development and to stem
the tide of immigration to Canada.
This fact is set forth by the governors
in the proclamation when they say
"not realizing the opportunities in
their own country, thousands of people
from the United States, with hundreds
of thousands of dollars in wealth, have
developed farms and built new homes
under foreign flag"
States which expect to perfect an
organization to work for the Ameri-
can Northwest are Minnesota, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Mon.
tana, Washington and Oregon. The
following is the proclamation issued
by the governors:
"That an era of new and complex
development is opening in the Ameri-
can Northwest there is no doubt, un.
told resources of wealth, not for the
multi-millionaire alone, but chiefly fol
the community at large, are awaiting
the coming of second pioneers.
"The soil and climate are second to
none, there exists within the borders
of these seven states opportunities fol
the development of farms, mines, wa.
ter powers, the utilization of forests,
the construction of good roads and the
extension of rail transportation.
Eighty-five millions of acres of public
lands still await the homeseeker.
Thousands of acres of logged-off
lands, the most productive on which
the sun has ever shone, are offered fol-
sale at the lowest possible price.
| Great ranches are being cut up into
smaller farms. Millions of acres OF
grazing lands are tired of growing
buffalo grass and want to produce
wheat. In short. success still awaits
the willing worker toward the sunset.
"a spirit of unrest exists in the
older sections of the United States
and in Europe. Five millions of peo-
pie have returned to the land during
the last four years. Not realizing the
opportunities Of their own country,
thousands of people from the United
States with hundreds of thousands OF
dollars in wealth, have developed
farms and built new homes under q
foreign flag.
During the present decade mer
/ dIlu WO1Cu Will COAlO ll1tO UAAO ~1AAOA y
can Northwest as never before it we
can but point out to them how radical
are the possibilities of progress in ou1
country; how abundant the opportuni
ties in the Northwest, and that they
will not have to face the hardships en-
dured by the first pioneers.
How to carry this message to hui
man millions and how to assist them
to the advantages enjoyed by the Older
and more highly developed regions, il
the problem which the people wht
know about the American Northwest
must solve.
"To determine by congress Of rep
resentative men and women interest
ed in all lines of business and socia
endeavor, how the rapid and intelli
gent development of our states may
best be assisted will contribute great
ly to the advancement of this Zone o.
plenty The combination Of oul
efforts and the most hearty co-opera
ton between states closely related BY
location, by natural advantages and
similarity of interests, will assist the
seven states to more quickly achieve
their rightful destiny.
"Taking into account, therefore
these vital considerations for the vel
fare of our country, we earnestly
urge the citizens Of our RESPECTIVE
states to participate in the North
western Development Congress to b
held in the city Of Seattle, June 5, 6,
Z and 8, and to cooperate in carrying
out the plans which this congress MAY
adopt for the development OF THU
great principality known as the Amer
lean Northwest.
M. E. HAY, Governor Of Wash
/ ington.
A. o. EBERHART, Governor OF
Minnesota.
JOHN BURKE, Governor OF
North Dakota.
| R. S. VESSEY, Governor Of
South Dakota.
| EDWIN NORRIS, Governor Of
Montana.
/ J. II. HAWLEY Governor Q:
Idaho.
OSWALD WEST Governor OF