in the usual manner, and the state government passed from the hands of the Republicans, who had been in control since the admission of the state.

The fifth

184. Election of United States Senator. legislature of Washington convened at Olympia on the the 11th day of January, 1897. The fusion party held the majority and began to ballot for the successor of Senator Squire. A dead-lock resulted, which was broken after 25 ballots had been taken, resulting in the election of George Turner, a Free Silver Republican of Spokane.

PROGRESS OF THE STATE.

185. Population of Washington. In 1880 the national census showed Washington Territory to have a population of 75,116. According to the census taken in 1890 the state had a population of 349,390. In 1880 Washington Territory stood number 42 among the 47 states and territories in regard to population. In 1890 Washington was number 34 in the 49 states and territories in population, having gained eight places in rank in ten years, more than any other state or territory. This remarkable increase in population has continued since the last national census.

186. Important Commercial Events. Several important commercial events have transpired since the admission of the state. In 1892 the Great Northern Railway from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, was completed, and the same year a line of ocean steamers

was established between Hong Kong, China, and Tacoma. During the year 1892 the Northern Pacific Company completed a branch line from Chehalis, in Lewis county, to South Bend in Pacific county, and another branch from Centralia to Gray's Harbor. In 1896 a line of steamships was established between Japan and Seattle, called the Nippon Yusen Kaisha. These enterprises bring the Occident and Orient into close commercial relations, and are are of inestimable value to the interests of the state of Washington.

187. Trade with Alaska. An important trade between Alaska and the cities on Puget Sound has been built up and is growing in importance each year. The ports of the Sound are the natural entreposts for the Alaska trade. Since the discovery of the rich gold fields of the Klondike on the Upper Yukon, the trade with Alaska has increased an hundredfold. 188. Agricultural Interests. Eastern Washington is the finest wheat growing region in the United States. The wheat fields of Walla Walla Valley and the Palouse country are unsurpassed for the amount produced per acre and the quality of the grain. The Lower Sound country is noted for the immense crops of oats produced. The state of Washington leads the world in the production of hops, both in the quality and the amount produced per acre. All the fruits and grains of the temperate zone grow luxuriantly in Washington.

189. The Lumber Industry. In the amount of lumber produced Washington excels any other state

in the Union. The forests of fir and cedar growing in the Puget Sound basin, and on the west slope of the Cascades, are almost inexhaustible. The fir timber is most excellent in quality, much used for shipbuilding. The cedar makes the best quality of shingles. Washington has in her ports along the Sound the largest and best equipped sawmills, at which vessels load lumber for all parts of the world.

190. Shipbuilding. The interests of shipbuilding has steadily increased in the state, and is destined to become of great value in the near future. In the several shipyards on the Sound many vessels are annually constructed. The Moran Brothers at Seattle are at the present time (1897) engaged in building two steel vessels for the United States government.

191. The Fish Industry. The fish industry of Washington is very valuable commercially to the state. The Sound and the bays of the west coast and the rivers abound in fish of many kinds and of excellent quality for food. The salmon of the Columbia River is the finest food fish produced. The canning industry has grown to be of great value. Many halibut, cod, oysters, clams, shrimps and other kinds of fish are annually taken in the waters of Washington. Olympia oysters are noted. Washington also carries on an important seal fishery in Behring Sea.

192. Mining. In the number and value of her mines Washington takes high rank among the states. The precious metals are produced in many parts of the state, and the valuable metals, coal and iron, are

found in the Cascades and the foot-hills in large quantities. Coal mining in western Washington has become a great industry, and furnishes employment to many people.

193. Manufacturing. During the last decade factories have sprung up all over the state. The many natural resources within her borders are sure to make Washington a great manufacturing state in the near future. The manufactures of the state consist of lumber, shingles, wooden implements, paper, iron implements, and others in great variety.

194. Life-Saving Stations. The noblest institutions of our government are those established for saving the lives of mariners. Three life-saving stations have been established on the southwest coast of Washington, one on Willapa Harbor, one at Ilwaco Beach, and one near Cape Hancock, on Baker's Bay. Another is now being constructed near Westport, on Gray's Harbor.

195. Size of the State. The state of Washington has an area of 69,994 square miles-44,796,160 acres. The shore line from Cape Flattery to the Columbia River is 170 miles, the distance direct being 156 miles. The inside shore line is 1992 miles.

196. The "Evergreen State." The history of this young but vigorous commonwealth of the Pacific has now been presented for the benefit of the youths, who must soon take their places in the management of its government, an outline of which constitutes the

second part of this volume. It is hoped that they may from the study of the history of their state obtain the knowledge and zeal to enable them to perform their duties well as citizens. It has been the custom in the United States to confer pet names upon the several states. When Washington was admitted into the Union some one suggested that she be called the "Sunset State." Another suggested "Bunch Grass State," but finally, by common consent, the very appropriate name, "Evergreen State," was adopted.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. What benefits did the people of Washington attain by the change from the territorial to the state government?

2. Why did President Cleveland veto the annexation bill?

3. What must the people of a territory guarantee before attaining state government?

4. What remarkable historical coincidence of name and date is connected with the admission of Washington?

5. Was the location of the state capital at Olympia a wise choice? Why?

6. What can be said in favor of North Yakima for state capital? Ellensburg?

7. What do the "dead locks" in the legislature in the sessions of 1893 and 1897 teach?

8. What caused the rapid growth of population in Washington during the decade 1880-1890?