The Last Frontier: Washington Admitted to the Union
As President Harrison signs the 'Omnibus Bill,' Seattle celebrates the end of territorial status and the dawn of statehood for the Pacific Northwest.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
President Harrison has selected his confidential advisers, the appointments have been confirmed by the senate and speculation is at an end. The cabinet as a whole seems to be a worthy one... The country has looked upon the selection of Mr. Blaine for the state department as a foregone conclusion... The views expressed on the subject of immigration and our naturalization laws will, doubtlessly, meet with hearty approbation... We rejoice with you that Dakota, Montana and Washington, after a long and unreasonable delay, are to become states, and knowing personally of the intelligence, enterprise and stability of the people therein has reasons for believing that the new states will add strength to the Union.
The address closes with few rigorous suggestions as to the policy and expediency of purifying the ballot... We print this morning the full text of the 'Omnibus Bill' under which Washington along with North and South Dakota, and Montana, is to be admitted into the Union. There have been several partial prints of this bill, but they have been copies sent out from Washington before amendment. The bill as we print it this morning is from official sources and is absolutely full and correct.
This article marks the moment Seattle transitioned from a rough-and-tumble territorial outpost to a major American city, setting the stage for the lumber boom and the 1889 fire that would rebuild it. Today, Washington remains a political bellwether in the Pacific Northwest, but the 'intelligence and enterprise' praised here now faces modern challenges of housing affordability and infrastructure strain that were unimaginable in 1889.
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