Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/373

WASHINGTON. toward the eastern border it becomes heavier and extensive farming operations are carried on without the aid of irrigation. The depth of the channels of the large streams prevents the use of their abundant waters for irrigation. The principal region in which irrigation is possible is the Yakima River valley. The greater part of the irrigated area of the State is watered from the Yakima and its tributaries. The total crop area irrigated in 1900 was 117,798 acres. Alfalfa, clover, and other grasses and vegetables and fruit are the chief crops irrigated. Over half of the total crop area of the State is in wheat. Wheat production is greatest in eastern Washington, Walla Walla and Spokane being in the regions of heaviest production. The crop is grown almost wholly without irrigation. The soil is exceedingly fertile and a very high per acreage yield is obtained from wheat, as also from other crops. Barley and oats are the only other cereals of importance. The region is not adapted for corn. Hay and forage rank second in area and value. Potatoes are a favorite crop, and sugar-beet culture has developed in Spokane County. In Yakima, Pierce, and some other counties hops are a valuable crop. The most remarkable agricultural development between 1890 and 1900 was in fruit culture. The number of apple trees in 1900 (2,735,824) was nearly 9 times as great as in 1890 and the number of plum and prune trees (1,290,845) was more than 15 times as great. The southeastern counties lead in fruit-raising. The alluvium soil at the mouths of the tributary streams to the Walla Walla are peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of orchard fruits. The following table shows the acreage of the leading crops in the census years indicated:

. Extensive areas too arid for cultivation afford pasturing facilities. All kinds of domestic animals are rapidly increasing in numbers. The number of sheep increased 110.4 per cent. between 1890 and 1900 and all other varieties increased over 50 per cent. The following table shows the number of domestic animals on farms and ranges:

. Forests of yellow pine, interspersed with tamarack and Western white pine, are common east of the Cascades and north of the Columbia River. Light forests of yellow pine also cover the eastern part of the State south of Spokane. East of the Cascades dense heavy forests of red fir prevail except near the coast, where its place is taken by the hemlock, cedar, and Sitka spruce. The total

wooded area is estimated at 47,700 square miles, or 71 per cent. of the State's area. This includes large areas that have been burned or cut over, and 9500 square miles of forest reserved in the mountainous country and 324 square miles of the Mount Rainier National Park. The red fir constitutes over one-half of the stock of mercantile timber, estimated in feet. This and the cedar have been cut most extensively, the red fir being manufactured into lumber and the cedar into shingles. Puget Sound makes a large part of the timber land accessible to water transportation, in consequence of which the lumber industry has been much more extensive than in Oregon or California. The industry has developed almost wholly since 1880. (See table under Manufactures.) In 1900 the State ranked fifth among the lumber States. Wholesale methods of lumbering are followed. Donkey engines and wire cables are in common use in the lumber camps, and logging railways are often built for the transportation of logs.

. Manufacturing has developed almost wholly since 1885, in which year railroad connection was made with the older parts of the country. A new impetus was given to the industry through the discoveries of gold in Alaska in 1897. The rapidity of development is shown by the fact that while the value of manufactured products was only $3,250,134 in 1880, it was $80,795,051 in 1900. The number of people engaged in the industry increased meanwhile from 1147 to 38,806, the latter being 6.6 per cent. of the population for that year. By far the most important branch of industry is the sawing of lumber. (See above.) Next in importance is the manufacture of flour and grist mill products. An Oriental market is developing for the products of this industry. The canning and preserving of fish has developed almost wholly since 1890. (See .) The slaughtering and meat-packing industry is of equal importance with the foregoing. Seattle is the largest and most rapidly developing manufacturing centre, followed at a distance by Tacoma and Spokane. Statistics for the industries mentioned and for a number of less important ones are given below on the following page.

. Washington possesses the best commercial facilities of any of the Pacific States. The principal outlet to the sea is Puget Sound, which, by reason of its position and the numerous bays and inlets with which its shores are indented, is especially well adapted to commercial purposes. The Puget Sound customs district, through its port of entry. (q.v.), controls the greater part of the trade with Alaska and the Orient. The total value of its foreign commerce in 1902 was $47,478,000, including exports to the amount of $34,726,000. Gray's Harbor and Willapa Harbor are other important outlets. Water communication with the interior is afforded by the Columbia and Snake rivers and their branches. The Columbia, the most important stream, is navigable for large steamers as far as Vancouver, and for smaller vessels throughout the greater part of its course. In 1893 the total railway mileage was 2619, and in 1900, 2914. The principal lines are the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern. They both traverse the State from east to west as far as Seattle, where the