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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHOEE. OUR INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. The oowpUiuu of fcutoouutiuontol railroads to this region opera the question of its power to support them, and this leads to the deeper question whether this sec tion can sustain itnolf in competition with the thriving industries of the East and of the vast interior. The problem cannot bo solved by the transfer of raw materials across the continent to bo returned in finished goods. This M.Iicy proves suicidal to every country which merely supplies raw materials for the manufactories of England mid New England When the South raised cotton chiefly and bought food and clothing it became poor. Its lands were worn out Its planters were compelled to find new fields west of the Mississippi. India, Africa, South America and Russia make little progress barely exist while shipping their coarse natural productions to the mart of Great Britain and the United States, to receive back cargoes of manufactured goods. When tho Central l'acifio Railroad was completed to Kim Francisco, and the last spike driven in Utah connect ing it with the Union Pacific Railroad and all Eastern lines, it was seeu that those roads would flood California willi merchandise and drain off all its gold and silver, leaving tho State full of pauper lalwrers. To avert this calamity William C. Ralsten, among other wealthy citi tens, rallied ull whom he could enlist to establish and extend manufactories, start now industries and develop resources hitherto untouched. Bold in adventure, as he was over-sanguine of success, he Bunk his own fortune, 111 i ... ... 1 involved ins memi-t ami sacrificed hnnsolf. But the many productive industries of that State have turned the tula of prosperity in its favor. This experience is a valu- ... ivnmii.Miy w our region, wnicli borders the same vast ocean and lias more natural advontagOB. Gentlemen have come among us to inquire what industries are in progress here, and what can bo profitably increased and what new one wisely commenced. Tl,n .,),:. ..f ii.:. ... . .... ,. v i imn wen oi aruclos is to answer such mqinnes as far as siblo, and to cite some specially favorable conditions. 3 ri. i- ... .... un indies .mi ltae Ingld hftve faa . , , r important liuliiKtnna T,u ..!.! ! i i . .. . '"""w ueai or I in uiinuiUlllUl either varied or le. But the. eliiiinri W.. 'n. linn proved eminently immitionn Ti, a.i....i- F Ym ,Ih summers and winters. The Pacific on a wdubrious bv oooim n...l . . ... mue anke . . . " ' currents. Work can ha men, ,d ., d . b mhuw uis work UirouKU the vnr . in wa' TUui i:.:..-. .. . Jw ,Ul '"creased viti,Uf w Iinpjut vlgor under them thrives a luxuriant vegetation which supplies, unfailing resources for many important industries. The rich and abundant food supply of a country is wentinl to its most numerous and vftlnnhVindtrici We have the advantage of soil and climate, prolific in cereal, vegetable and fruit power, often and widely tested and assured by unfailing harvests, with areas sufficient for tenfold our present population. Added to that from the land is the fish food from rivers, bays and ocean, abundant and within the means of the poorest Demand will create supply for multitudes larger than we may ex. : pect to see. The laborer on this Northwest Coast has always been well fed. It is a sign that he need never suffer in this respect or be stinted like his fellow work man in Western Europe, unless he wastes and destroys himself by evil habits. Our resources have been found more and more numerous and valuable in the qualities required for in dustrial pursuits. Grander forests, more extensive coal, iron and lime beds, and new mines of gold, silver and copper, will invite capital and labor during the centuries to come. Millions of acres wait for the plow. Herds and flocks will have their pastures on the mountains. The wilderness can be made a garden. I desire to speak of a few of our leading industries in detail, to show what they have become and to point out their needs and possibilities for the future, and will begin with one of the most important . SALMON FISHERIES. Every stream and bay on the coast of Oregon, Wash ington, British Columbia and Alaska is thronged at cer- tain seasons of year with that great food fish, the salmon, and on many of .them are establishments, employing thousands of hands in the aggregate, engaged in canning, salting and drying these and other food fishes for market This industry has grown in twenty years to large propor tiona The success of one salmon, cannery on the Colum bia River, with a few nets and an output of a few hundred cases, has caused the erection of more than fifty on this and other streams, bays and sounds, requiring over 600 miles of nets, from 18 to 24 feet deep. The catch of over 2,000,000 fish, as estimated, furnished last year an output of not less than 800,000 cases, 634,000 cases being irom the Columbia Biver alone. This product, at $460 per case, gives a value of $3,600,000, one-half of which, at least ($1,800,000), is paid for labor. Failure of this industry is not to be feared or ex- pected except by the destruction of salmon. The rivers of New England, formerly stocked with them, now have none, unless recently replenished. No doubt the Colum bia can also be deprived of them, yet a few hatcheries on its upper streams would supply it permanently. These have been successful in the Sacramento. Much more they can be in this grander stream. This industry, at first an experiment continues and grows. Over-supply, with some loss to the producer, has made it in some seasons a little uncertain. But its trade marks are known and new home markets have been opened, while foreign ones have been held firmly. Th" I