A Review of the Resources and Industries of the State of Washington, 1909

A Review of the Resources and Industries of the State of Washington, 1909

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Title: A Review of the Resources and Industries of the State of Washington, 1909
Author: Ithamar Howell
Release Date: March 2, 2005 [EBook #15229]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STATE OF WASHINGTON ***

Produced by Robert J. Hall

[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE.--WASHINGTON'S NEW CAPITOL BUILDING. (Photo Engraved from a Drawing.) CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CAPITOL TO BE ERECTED ON THE FOUNDATION ALREADY LAID AT OLYMPIA WAS AUTHORIZED AT THE 1909 SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.]

[Page 1] A REVIEW OF THE RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES OF WASHINGTON
1909
* * * * *
PUBLISHED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE, FOR GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION BY THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AGRICULTURE AND IMMIGRATION
I. M. HOWELL. Secretary of State _Ex-Officio Commissioner_
GEO. M. ALLEN, _Deputy Commissioner,_
[Page 2] OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AGRICULTURE AND IMMIGRATION, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, JUNE 1, 1909.
_To His Excellency M. E. Hay, Governor of Washington:_
We have the honor to transmit herewith the Biennial Report of the Bureau of Statistics, Agriculture and Immigration for the year 1909, dealing with the various resources and industries of Washington.
Very respectfully,
I. M. HOWELL. Secretary of State, _Ex-Officio Commissioner_.
GEO. M. ALLEN, _Deputy Commissioner,_

[Page 3] INTRODUCTION
OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AGRICULTURE AND IMMIGRATION, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, JUNE 1, 1909.
This publication represents an effort to place before the general public, and particularly the visitors at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, a brief description of the principal resources and industries of the State of Washington.
Its imperfections may be accounted for largely by reason of the fact that funds for the purpose did not become available until the first day of April of the current year. This necessitated unusual haste in securing and preparing the material upon which the pamphlet is based. However, we have endeavored to deal conservatively and fairly with the various subjects under consideration, and to present all the information possible within the limits of the space at our disposal.
Our purpose has been to supply the reader with an outline of the salient facts which account for the marvelous growth and development which the commonwealth is enjoying. To go largely into detail within the scope of a pamphlet of this size would be, manifestly, an impossibility. We might readily exhaust our available space in dealing with one industry or in describing a single county. Details, therefore, have been necessarily and purposely avoided.
We have sought to bring the entire state within the perspective of the reader, leaving him to secure additional facts through personal investigation. Along this line, attention is called to the list of commercial organizations and local officials presented [Page 4] in the statistical portion of this report. Nearly all the larger communities of the state maintain organizations, equipped to supply detailed facts relating to their particular locality. Much valuable information may be obtained on application to these organizations or to local officials.
An expression of appreciation is due those who have assisted us by supplying information and collecting photographs for use in this publication. Without such aid the completion of the pamphlet would have been materially delayed.
[Illustration: Plate No. 1.--Fruit Farm Adjoining Town of Asotin, Asotin County.]
[Illustration: Plate No. 2--Asotin County Views.]

[Page 5] GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES OF WASHINGTON.
The State of Washington as now constituted, was, prior to 1853, a portion of the Territory of Oregon. During the year mentioned, a new territory was carved from the old Oregon boundaries, which the statesmen of that day evidently believed was marked by destiny for the achievement of great things, for they conferred upon it the name of Washington.
That our state, thus highly distinguished, has already demonstrated itself worthy of the exalted name, so happily bestowed upon it, the most carping critic must admit. With a population now reaching up toward a million and a half, and with all the forces that make for industrial, commercial and agricultural supremacy in full swing, and gathering new momentum yearly, Washington is moving onward and upward toward a position among the very elect of our great sisterhood of states.
As briefly as the story may be told, the fundamental facts which underlie the marvelous advancement made by the state during recent years will be set forth in the pages of this pamphlet.
NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE STATE.
By virtue of its varied topography, Washington is naturally divided into a number of districts or sections, each possessing its own particular characteristics.
Olympic Peninsula.
The first of these districts may be described as consisting of that section of the state