A Report on Washington TerritoryRuffner, William Henry
History
A Report on Washington Territory
Ruffner, William Henry
Washington (State)
The tree problem will, I think, work out satisfactorily, though, of
course, no such trees can ever be produced there as abound in West
Washington. Walla Walla is embowered in trees of artificial growth. The
Lombardy poplar seems to have been most successful. At various points I
saw plantations of box elder, and was told that this tree is easily
grown. The cottonwood is said to grow readily. Captain John McGowan
reports the successful culture of locust, walnut, maple and catalpa in
Lincoln County. He says, also, that the plum, peach, apricot, apple,
pear and grape succeed: and so with strawberries, raspberries and
blackberries. All these fruits are grown about Spokane Falls, but I
think that the grape and peach sometimes fail to mature. A good many
plantations of trees have been set out under the timber-culture act of
Congress, but it is thought that much imposition has been practised on
the Government by the failure to take proper care of the trees after
they were planted. The truth about the whole matter seems to be that,
with proper care, trees of most varieties may be grown on the plateau,
but that they will grow slowly and not attain large size. I might add
many details concerning the products of this wonderful country, but
these will suffice as illustrations.
LABOR.
[Sidenote: Good supply of labor, but more wanted.]
Under this head I will merely say that, though the laboring population
of Washington Territory is very mixed and has not the settled character
of labor in the old States, and though many more laborers could find
employment, there does not seem to be any special deficiency of this
class, and the high wages that are paid will, no doubt, bring in more
workmen as they are wanted.
[Sidenote: Wages.]
Governor Squire, in his report for 1885, page 41, gives quite a detailed
list of wages, which shows that the rates are at least fifty per cent.
higher than in the Middle States, and double what is paid in the
Southern Atlantic States. Farm laborers get from $25 to $30 a month and
board. Loggers pay from $35 to $40 per month to common hands, and $65 to
$70 to teamsters. Skilled labor receives high wages, and railway
contractors sometimes have to pay $2 to $2.50 per day for common
hands. Servant girls are scarce, and wanted, at $15 a month and board.
Hotel servants get from $20 to $25 a month. Chinamen are extensively
employed for family servants. Many of them are tolerable cooks, and get
$30 a month and board. Indians are working more than formerly. The men
"slash" the forests, pick hops, etc. Squaws always were industrious--had
to be! The Sandwich Islands, as well as China and Japan, furnish some
laborers. The employers are favorable to this class of immigrants,
whilst the white laborers are bitterly opposed to them. Canada will
continue to employ cheap Chinese labor, and thus place our Pacific
States at a disadvantage, if the present policy of excluding Chinese
labor is continued.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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