Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-02-14
WASHINGTON AS It
LOOKS TO GEORGE
FITCH, HUM0R|S1
Teller of Siwash Stories and Spin
ner of Motor Boat Yarns
Writes About This State.
HANDS PINCHOT HOT SHOT.
The Jokester Has Funny Reminis-
cences of Local Trip-Makes
Light of Political Trips.

Most everybody in the United States
laughed over the Siwash stories and
the later motor boat stories that
George Fitch wrote and now the resi-
dents of Washington are to be given
an opportunity to see themselves
through the eyes of this popular hui
morist, for somewhere in his wander
ings over this mundane sphere George
seems to have butted into Washington
and out again--and as a result has
written vest pocket essay regarding
this state.
George deposes in the following
vein:
"The state of Washington, which
plays left end on the map for this
glorious republic, is large and vocif-
erous commonwealth, which is rapidly
becoming an ex-forest and a future
hotbed for national banks. 1t lies be-
tween Canada, the Columbia river, Ida
no and the Pacific Ocean, and is shap-
ed like magazine page after the
baby has finished playing with 1t.
Thirty years ago Washington had
$4,000 people. including Indians not
washed. Now 1t has 100000 citizens,
and Is growing faster than any state.
except Oklahoma. It was acquired by
the United States in 1903 for about
cents an acre, and was allowed to
grow up wild until the late SOS. when
enough fir trees were cut to allow q
few settlers to edge in and start real
estate oflices. Apple land in Washi
ington now sells for $4,000 an acre and
many a single Ar tree has sold for
enough to board its owner for year.
The Washington fir grows to q height
of 800 feet, but is disappearing as
rapidly as the Nebraska buffalo. thus
occasioning much hard feeling among
the conservationists. Every time q
Washington fir comes crashing to the
ground Clifford Pinchot sheds a large
tear. and Of late years he has had to
hire a STAFF Of emotional artists to
help him in his rush Of business.
Washington clusters around Puget
Sound, which Is vast and wandering
body Of water. too highly seasoned for
drinking purposes, but very beautiful
when not irrigated. Washington is
II days from Japan by four steamship
lines, three days from Chicago by
five transcontinental railroads. and a
half century from Vancouver and Vic
toria, just over the international boun.
dairy line. 1t has climate which is
moist enough to drink In spots, and
Ground Puget Sound the people use
fish nets instead of mosquito bar on
their windows in winter, but the ring
tailed blizzards of Montana are un-
known there, and its farmers 90 to
Europe regularly for their summer va
cations. Washington is one of the
few American states which are heated
by hot water. Though it is far to the
north, the Japan stream keeps it warm
all winter and mitigates the cold shiv-
ers which the Japanese navy gives 1t
every time California messes up the
sacred cause of universal peace with
another Japanese school law.
washington was settled by people
who left all their old fashioned furni.
ture, business ideas and political ma
chinery on the junk pile back in the
old states. For this reason the state
is marvel of enterprise and new
ideas. and the arrival from the old
and experienced state who has come
west to enlighten the natives often
has to pocket his pride and ask the
hired girl how to vote his first ballot.
"Walla Walla and Olympia were
once the greatest cities of Washington,
but have stood pat for many years,
while Seattle. Tacoma and Spokane
have grown into greatness. and are
equipped with all the metropolitan
conveniences, except old families"