Year: 1878

Prom the San Francisco Bulletinl


It becomes interesting to consider
the chances for the admlssion of the
new state. According TO a census
made last spring by the assessors of
the several counties of the territory,
Washington then contained popula-
tiOn of 5l.333. which has probably
been increased by immigration to 55.-
900. This. though . moiety of pop
ulstion requsite for the representative
in congress- in the larger states from
which several representatives. are chos.
en-. is rs great as was the population
of Nebraska or Colorado at the time
these states were admitted. by which
acts congress established the precedent
that is not necessary Tor new state to
contain the full number of lnhabitah,s
fixed as the basis Of representation
under existing apportionment laws.


But the new states which have been
orginiz-dand adn.t ed iDto the Union in
tue pa,tQuart OF injury have bee,so
organized aud admitted more for poiiti-
cal consideration than those based up
on their population. Aud considering
the present status nf the proposed new
state. which has Just elected q Repub-
lican delegate to congress, and has
shown Republican pr-ponderance in
the choice of cuunty officers. the pros
poets are not aattering Tor its admission
into the Uriun by Democratic con.
gress. The result OF its admission
would undoubtedly be to add Que Re
publican member to the alo,ost doubt.
iul minority in the lower house, and
two Republican senators to the upper
house. in which the Democrats will
boast very meagre majority after the
4th of Msrch next. The Democrats
now controlling the house of represent.
atives will be enabled to keep the new
state out during the life of the forty
fifth congress. and control the senate
Of the forty-sixtb, can control the ex-
clusion for at least two years longer, or
until after the next presidential elec-
tion.


But whether immediately admitted
into the Union as q state or held in
suspense for several years. there can be
no doubt that the action of the people
OF the territory in framing and adopt
ing a state constitution, and iE asking
admission, will be greatly beneficial
to them. There will most likely be q
contest of the question of admission in
congress, aud much discussion Of the
subject throughout the country. all OF
which will serve to direct attention to
the territory and familiarize the public
at large with its resources aud Its gen.
ersl attractions, thus operating to in
vite immigration thitherward. Among
tue masses east of the mountains and
in Europe but little is known of the
fertility Of the soil. the geniality oi
the climate, and the varied resources OF
the region hitheto supposed to be wild
erness inhabited only by savages and
wild beasts. When it shall appear
that the territoy already contains q
white population Of upwards OF 10000,
which is increasing at the rate of 1O.-
900 year; when the reports of its vast
products Of timber and lumber, OF
grain and cattle, of furs and fish. be-
comes generally known, as they will
through the medium of discussion in.
vited by the application for admission
as u state. and when the world shall be
advised that the climate. so far from
being hyrerborean. is less trying than
that Of the middle states. while the
soil is equally fertile. and admirably
adapted either to grazing or grain
growing. it is safe to predict that there
will be = rapid influx of population
which will verv SION place the embryo
state 10 point Of population. much
above the requirements OF the most ex-
acting siickler for precise quotas foi
representation, and beyond the rightful
power Of congress to refuse its ad
mission IS state on merely political
grounds.