Pioneer Character Oregon Progress 265
energetic than those of Washington — indeed could not be so energetic
In the circumstances, the new population could settle in Washington, hitherto unoccupied, with more advantage; and every one who settled there wrote to his friends to come on, and wrote to the paper at his old home a glowing account of the situation. Then, after a while, followed the marvelous tales of gold discovery in Alaska and British Northwest terri- tory. This set an immense tide of movement through the State of Washington and ports of Puget Sound, since the shortest route lay that way. Immigration and trade were enormously developed through these movements, of whose benefits the State of Washington was so fortunately situated as to receive the largest share. These are the facts that account for the more rapid recent growth of the State of Washington, as compared with the State of Oregon.
The Oregonian has thought proper to set forth these things with its customary plainness. It is the misfortune of Oregon that it has some stupid people who, without this plain presenta- tion, are unable to understand them. Some even blame The Oregonian for a general condition, which, of course, it has been unable to change or control. It has worked, however, at all times to the utmost of its power, and it believes that it may without immodesty say that its voice has ever been the main factor, as it today is the main factor, in keeping the name of Oregon before the world.
(The Oregonian, June 16, 1909.)
The remarkable sea basin of Western Washington, the great estuary of Puget Sound, was of slight importance in the early time. Agriculture, cattle, grazing, were all in all. The valleys of Western Oregon from the Columbia River to the Siskiyou Mountains furnished these opportunities. The poor grazing and the poor agricultural possibilities of the
