The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-08-30
MY COUNTRY
'TISOF THEE
ByS. J. FULLWOOD
WASHINGTON


the west by the Pacific ocean. The
topography of the state is divided
into two unequal sections by the
Cascade mountains. Divided as it
Is bv this range of mountains and
the coastal range, the country is
very rugged. The valleys between
these mountains are peculiarly
sheltered from severe weather
conditions, however, hence agri-
cultural products are grown in
great abundance. The famous va
kima Valley is only one example
of this. Rainfall exceeds 1875
inches per year in Washington,
although the climate in general is
very mild. The highest peak in
Washington is Mount Olympus
which reaches $3.50 feet above
sea level.
The seal for the state of Wash
ington measures two and one-half
inches in diameter. 1t is solid gold
in color, and has a pronged edge.
Between the outer and inner rims
is inscribed: The Seal the State
of Washington, and at the bot
tom, the figures 1883" appear.
In the center of the seal is fac
smile of George Washington, the
first president of our country, and
for whom this great state was
named.
The state flower of Washing
ton is the "rhododendron', which
we are told lis a native evergreen
shrub, a member of the great lau-
rel family, with gorgeous bios
SONS ranging in color from white
TO rose-purple, and has long been
acknowledged as the state Hover
The state bird, the goldfnch, was
adopted at the insistence of the
school children of the state. The
state song is entitled WASHINGTON
Beloved" We are given no nick
name nor motto for the state. The
population of Washington is l.
$4,000 and the state capitol is
located at Olympia.
Washington has a state flag.
"The official state flag of the
state shall be of dark green SILK
or bunting, bearing in its center
a reproduction of the seal OF the
state of Washington, embroidered
printed, painted or stamped there,
on. When a fringe is used it shall
be gold or fellow, the color the
same shade of the seal. The al,
mansions of the flag may vary
The major crop Of Washington
is wheat. Other crops raised there
include oats, barley, maize, pota-
toes, apples (of which it is SAID:
"Washington far eXcels the other
states in productio nof apples -
loganberries, plums, pears, cher
ries and peaches. Much OF the
fruit is grown under irrigation
Livestock is increasing IN mpor-
tance in the state.
The major mineral of Washing
ton is coal. Washington is the
only Pacific state that has coal IN
workable quantities. The output
runs as high as 100000 tons per
wear. Gold, silver, copper, all are
mined in the state to some extent
Clay products, grants, sandstone,
marble, limestone and cement are
produced. Anthony, arsenic, shr
produced. Arsenic, iron, molyode-
mum, antimony, tungsten and plat
mum are found.
Washington is dotted protuseiy
with national forest lands. 1t is
estimated that there are about
$50, 900, 100000 feet of standing
timber in the state. Great forests
of Douglas fir, yellow pine, white
pine, spruce and cedar are the
predominant types of timber to
be found in the state. Washing
ton shingles are used throughout
the whole northern half OF the
United States.
Salmon fisheries are prevalent
along the banks of the Columbia
river, in Puget Sound, Grays
Harbor and Willapa Bay. Halibut,
cod, mackerel, herring, oysters,
CLANS, shrimp and crab are also
taken in valuable quantities. -.
Washington has 6,443 miles OF
steam and electric railways Four
major railways terminate in Seat
tie, Washington, three OF them
being transcontinental. Electrih-
cation of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul railway from Seattle
to Spokane-in Westinghouse
one of the most splendid pieces
of modern railway engineering
anywhere. On January IL, 1929,
the Great Northern railway COM
pleted a seven and one-half mile
tunnel through the Cascade noun
tains. Seaport towns are Seattle,
Tacoma and Gray's Harbor. The
Columbia river is navigable, and
it. combined with the Snake river,
can be travelled by boat for over
200 miles. The state maintains
more than S,289 miles of high
ways, of which 2,S45 miles are