The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-11

-
Above: A Great Northerft
demon Of power in the perf
early nineties. BeloU: James,
J. Hill, founder Of the road,i
and for many years the OUT
standing character IN West1
ern railroad Development. /
the route. being away 30 days id
making the journey Of 70 miles. {
WORK STARTS ON
PACIFIC EXTENSION
Active work on the Pacific extern.
sion was started in August. 1880.
and the s55 miles from Pacific juno
ton 10 Everett was completed
January 6, 1898 Tho frs, annusyl
report after the extension was cona-
plcted showed that the extension
carried 45s.s5o pounds Of wheat.
gs5 73o pounds OF oats. I.3s5. 2l0l
pounds Of flour. 1900 pounds q cat<
tie, 77.ooo.o 900 pounds OF lumber and
logs.
BY 1895 the tonnage Of lumber had
increased 10 a half billion poundss
and by 1900 to almost billion and
a half pounds. with over 5000. oco,~
600 pounds in 1879.
The original financing Of de Pax
clfic extension was covered in bond
issue Of 100000 pounds sterling.
bought solely on faith in the founder
Of the Great Northern. This exten-
sion was made during the years inn
mediately preceding the report Of this
Interstate commerce commission. in
which the following statement was
made: Never in the history OF
transportation in the United states
has such a large percentage OF thc
railway mileage been under the con-
troll OF receiverships as on June 30.
1924. There were on that date /
railroads in the hands of receivel
the mileage OF these default
Ing companies was 4o.s1s. The total
capitalization OF these roads was
about $4,000. 900"
AGRICULTURE
RAPIDLY
The rapid development OF agricul-
ture in the new West can be realized
BY review OF the grain tonnage in
he territory. Figures have already
been given for the first years for
Minnesota In North Dakota farm
development began about 1850. BY
$3.50 her population reached 1si. 900,
md by 1900 had almost doubled, al,
most doubling again In the next de-
'ade, and the farm wealth OF both
Minnesota and North Dakota grow
ng from less than $780, 900 In
1850 to over $500, ooo, 900 by 1890.
In 1880 Montana had about l4s, 900
people and in 1900 about 1000
more. In the succeeding years dur
ng the time farm development be.
anne well established along tho
Great Northern. Transforming the
sntire region to farms and ranches.
he population doubled the 1900 fig.
ire, reaching 646.s72 In 1920. Dur.
ng this time grain shipments in.
creased more than 1000 per cent.
rom 100000 bushels In 1900 to over
100000 in 1922. over the Great
Northern alone. -i
Upon the advent OF the Hin iIne
nto Washington, state settlement
'eceived n stimulus which rapidly
developed the northeastern part q
he state and the Big Bend farmip
'egion, whence in 10 years 5000, ot
bushels OF grain were transported.
Grain shipments continued TO grow
intil tho banner year of 1915, over
100000 bushels were transported.
SEES BIG GROWTH IN a
WASHINGTON FRUIT
During this time the agricultural
wealth Of Washington grew from
'loo,ooo.ooo in 1890 to s637. 900. 900 in
$40, and over $1,000, ooo, 900 in 1890.
The number of farms increased ,frona
5000 in 1890 to over $4,000 in 1890.
The unparalleled development of
ruit growing in Washington III Y in,
his short period Of time placed Che
tate first In the production OF com.
nercial apples. Fruit shipments ON
he Great Northern grew from two
'arloads in 1902 to 500 cars in 1905,
'ver 1000 cars In 1912, 1900 cars
n 1919, and over 1900 cars in 1899.
)nly n small portion OF the fruit
raffic OF tho line originates outside
z Washington state. ~
The large increase of investment
rom the original capitalization of
81 100000 in 1870 to over $500 900.
90 In 1928 was required to meet the
needs Of tho territory
n the six great states OF the North
vest served by the present lines. If
= only necessary to take into con.
liberation the tremendous increase In
grlcultural values In Minnesota.
North Dakota, Montana and Wash.
ngton from less than $500. 900. 900 In
$50 TO a grand total above $1,000.
10000 In 1890 to understand tho Big
Increase In investment by the rail.
Dads Of the Pacific Northwest.