"Washington Territory contains an approximate area of sixty-eight thousand square miles, or 43,520,000 acres; of this area, about 20,000,000 acres are prairie, and about the same quantity of timber, the remainder mountains. It is estimated that about 5,000,000 acres of the timbered lands are susceptible of cultivation, the remainder comparatively worthless after the timber is removed. A little over one-third of the entire area is adapted to the pursuits of grazing and agriculture.
"The Cascade Range divides the Territory into two unequal parts—eastern and western—differing widely in topography, soil, climate, and productions: the western portion being densely timbered with fir, cedar, oak, etc., with an occasional small prairie, soil varied, river-bottoms sandy mold, with clay sub-soil; high prairies are gravelly or light sand. There are exceptions, however, of rich soil prairies, particularly in Lewis County, which ranks as the best agricultural county in western Washington Territory. Other counties, however, have excellent agricultural land, but they are mostly timbered.
"The principal productions of grain are wheat, oats, barley, and rye; of fruits, apples, pears, peaches, and plums. Small fruits excel. Strawberries, blackberries, huckleberries, and numerous other berries, indigenous. Salmon and other fish of commercial value are found in the Columbia River and Puget Sound; while the mountain streams abound in trout, and the woods in game. The climate of the western portion of the Territory is mild, humid, and remarkably healthy. The mean temperature of the mouth of the Columbia and of Puget Sound varies but two degrees; though the climate of the Sound is much more agreeable, by reason of the absence of the strong winds which in summer prevail along the coast.
"Eastern Washington may be described as a vast rolling plain, traversed in all directions by rivers and creeks, the principal of which is the Columbia, having for its tributaries in this Territory the Snake, Spokane, Walla Walla, Winachee, Okinakane, Yakima, and Klickitat, with many of minor importance. Into the principal of these—Snake River—empties the Pélouze, Clearwater, Tucanon, and other minor streams. The soil is uniform, and a change is the exception and not the rule; being a rich, sandy loam, producing a thick, heavy mat of bunch-grass. On all the streams there is more or less timber; but the mountains have to supply lumber, and rails for fencing."
Prolific in all her productions, her principal grains are wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, and buckwheat. Her fruits are apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, grapes, and small fruits of all kinds. Cattle remain fat the year round on the bunch-grass. The streams abound in fish. The climate is one which for salubrity may challenge the world; with a dry air and clear sky the greater portion of the year; the mean temperature varying from that of the Sound but three degrees, the greatest difference being in summer, when it is eleven degrees warmer in Walla Walla than at Steilacoom, on the Sound. The comparative temperature of Eastern and Western Washington is as follows:
Manufactures—except of lumber, flour, a few woolen goods, and a small amount of leather—are almost entirely undeveloped.
Ship-building on the Sound is carried on to a considerable extent; but has not increased in the last two years, owing to a dullness in the lumber trade in San Francisco, and consequent cheapening of freights by sailing-vessels. In the year 1869, eighteen vessels, of all descriptions, including five steamers, were built on the Sound; but the following two years witnessed a great falling off in the business of ship-building and lumber manufacturing. A large, one-thousand-ton ship was built last year at Port Madison; and a steamer this year at Seattle. Ultimately this must become the great business of the Sound.
The following is the statement of Hon. M. S. Drew, Collector of Customs for Puget Sound District, for the year ending June 30, 1870:
Vessels cleared during the year: American vessels for foreign countries—115 steamers, 4 ships, 13 barks, 2 brigs, 13 schooners, 2 sloops: total number of vessels, 149; number of tons, 55,606.25; number of men, 2,105.
Foreign vessels for foreign countries: 6 steamers, 16 ships, 6 barks, 3 sloops: total, 31; number of tons, 19,227.42; crews, 456.
American vessels coastwise: 29 steamers, 11 ships, 18 barks, 1 brig, and 9 schooners: total, 68; number of tons, 31,779.74; crews, 1,092. Total number of vessels cleared, 248; total number of tons, 106,613.41; crews, 3,653.
Vessels entered during the year: American vessels from foreign countries—95 steamers, 1 ship, 10 barks, 1 brig, 18 schooners, and 22 sloops: total, 147; number of tons, 39,840.06; crews, 1,852.
Foreign vessels from foreign countries: 6 steamers, 7 ships, and 3 sloops: total, 16; number of tons, 5,366.57; crews, 62.
American vessels coastwise: 39 steamers, 18 ships, 43 barks, 3 brigs, and 6 schooners: total, 109; number of tons, 55,561.18; crews, 1,853. Total number of American vessels entered, 272; total number of tons, 100,767.81; total number of crews, 3,502.
In the coasting trade belonging to other ports there are eighteen vessels, viz., 1 ship, 12 barks, 1 brig, and 4 schooners: total, 18; number of tons, 7,761.25.
The value of the shipments coastwise can not be obtained from any other source than the mills from which the lumber is shipped, as vessels do not clear from this port unless sailing under a register.
The year's shipment coastwise is estimated at three million dollars, being an increase over the preceding year of nearly three hundred thousand dollars.
Imports coastwise can not be ascertained, as the vessels are not obliged to report at the Custom-house except in certain cases.
The total population of Washington Territory is 23,995. Of this number 6,699 are in Eastern Washington, and the remainder chiefly in the vicinity of the lower Columbia River and the Sound.
Educational and religious institutions are as far advanced and well supported as it would be possible for them to be in a country with so scattered a population. Society, all over the Territory, is rather above the average, promising a good foundation for the future moral and intellectual culture of the State of Washington.