1941: Washington

Area and Population.

Known as the 'Evergreen State' because of its forests. Washington has an area of 69,127 sq. mi. and a population (1940 census) of 1,736,191, as compared with a 1930 population of 1,563,396. Despite being a state still largely dependent upon agricultural and other extractive industries, more than a third of the commonwealth's population is concentrated in its three largest cities: Seattle 368,302; Spokane 122,001; and Tacoma 109,408. Next to these in size are Everett, 30,224; Bellingham, 29,314; and Yakima, 27,221. Olympia, the capital, has 13,254.

The noticeable trend of decentralization of population in the past decade, sending thousands of people into the villages and smaller towns, has brought the 1940 'urban' and 'rural' figures nearer to a balance (921,969 urban; 814,222 rural). It is probable that the past year and a half of defense industrial expansion, with its attendant population influx to the cities, has temporarily reversed this trend. The proportion of the foreign-born in the total population is not large. Orientals comprise but a small portion of the whole, and are largely confined to the chief cities and their immediate environs.

Education.

The rapid expansion of defense work, with an attendant increase in population, has faced school leaders in some centers with pressing problems in the matter of additional school buildings, teaching personnel, and general costs. Both Federal and state funds have been made available to meet this challenge.

For the school year 1940-41, the total enrollment in the public schools of the state was 335,956, compared with 331,409 during 1939-40.

Total expenditures for the school year ending June 1941, were $30,514,975. The average salary for all teachers (including supervisors) was $1,695.

Industry.

Both agricultural and industrial production showed increases for the year 1941. Rural development was materially aided by the spread of cheap hydro-electric power for residential and mechanical use. For several years, little recourse was had to the law making possible the establishment of rural public-utility districts for the distribution of electrical energy. During the past year, however, several counties took over existing private electric utility properties through court condemnation proceedings, materially reduced the electric rates, and extended the use of such power in rural areas. Much of this has been done with the assistance of the first units of power made available from the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. The completion of power generation facilities at the Grand Coulee Dam, and the tying-in of these resources with the power facilities of Bonneville, has offered a challenge to both private and public power agencies in these times of national defense needs.

Industrial development was marked in many fields during the year, but especially in those industries having a national defense aspect. Metallurgical plants using cheap and abundant electric power from the Bonneville project were established at Vancouver and Longview. The possibilities for rapid expansion of aluminum manufacture are most promising, since the two chief essentials of the industry — alunite ore and cheap electric power — are now available in large quantities. The alunite ore is found in especially large quantities in King, Pierce, and Yakima counties.

Probably the most spectacular developments have been in specific war industries. The giant Boeing airplane factory at Seattle, one of the nation's largest, fills a large portion of the country's needs in the air.

As Washington still stands first among the states in the production of lumber, each passing year sees an increased expansion of industrial production in the synthetic wood fields, pulp, paper, and the various wood plastic products.

Mineral Products.

Production of bituminous coal, the state's leading mineral, was close in 1940, at 1,688,000 tons, to that of the previous year, when the amount mined had a value of $5,256,000. Of gold, the state produced 82,136 oz. worth $2,874,760. Copper again advanced in amount, to 19,224,000 pounds valued at $2,172,312. Zinc also exceeded the previous year's production, at 23,120,000 pounds, worth $1,456,560.

Legislation.

One of the legislative items of great importance this year was Initiative 141, which provides for the necessary financial assistance to each person over sixty-five years of age to make such person's income amount to $40 per month. State and Federal funds are matched to provide payment of this $40 (less the present available income of such elderly person). This measure substantially raised the average amount paid to the aged.

In 1941 provision was also made for increased assistance in other phases of social security. Assistance to the blind was likewise placed at $40 a month per person, less whatever other income and resources the recipient enjoyed. Aid to dependent children was liberalized by extending the former upper age limit from 16 to 18 years, in case the needy child is still regularly attending school; and it was provided that the upper age limit shall be 18 years in all cases where the Federal government will match such funds.

The 1941 Legislature made a number of important changes in the Unemployment Compensation Act. Provision was made for the appointment of a State Advisory Council to aid in the formulation of policy and to assure impartiality and freedom from political influence. Selection of personnel must now be made from registers established by a new merit-system agency, the State Personnel Board, which also serves the state departments of Health and Social Security. The most far-reaching change in the Act was a great expansion of its coverage. Formerly, the coverage was for firms employing eight or more persons. Now, all employees are covered, exclusive of governmental, agricultural, and other specifically exempt workers.

Legislation was enacted complementary to Federal statutes dealing with the protection of citizens in the military service from litigation involving financial obligations. Other measures prescribe the rehiring of former employees following completion of their service with the armed forces.

The Governor was given power to name a State Defense Council to cooperate with similar national and state organizations, and to designate 'protective defense areas' within which the use of firearms, explosives, and cameras may be restricted or prohibited.

To finance increased state governmental expenditures, the Legislature increased the retail sales tax from 2 per cent to 3 per cent, with the provision that the rate should revert to 2 per cent when a graduated state income tax is passed and takes effect. Such an income tax law has been advocated for Washington for many years by Labor, the Grange, and other civic groups. Several years ago, an income tax law was passed by the Legislature, but it was declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court. Subsequent attempts to establish power in the Constitution for such a tax provision have failed of achievement.

Educational legislation of importance during 1941 included the measure providing for school district reorganization and consolidation. To achieve this objective, provision is made for the creation of county and state committees, the plans of such county groups being subject to approval by the state committee and by local popular vote. Legislation relating to library service included revision of the existing law providing for the establishment and maintenance of rural county library service, and the creation of a state library commission to serve as the governing board of the state library.

Finance.

The state's financial position improved decidedly during 1941, despite increased appropriations made necessary by expanding social services. The enactment of the 3 per cent sales tax, and improved business conditions brought gross receipts of the state treasury to $132,147,090 for the calendar year, while warrants drawn totalled $118,138,578.

Political and Other Events.

Leading all matters of importance during 1941 was the national defense effort. During the past year, the state's military and naval fortifications and training grounds, saw tremendous expansion. Fort Lewis, for two decades a post with a skeleton crew, again became one of the nation's largest and most active military centers. Other army posts in western Washington underwent similar expansion. Aviation centers were rapidly developed at McCord Field near Fort Lewis, at Sand Point near Seattle, at Spokane, and at other points. The Navy yards at Bremerton also showed rapid expansion, as did private shipyards at Tacoma and Seattle.

The defense effort brought in its train many social and economic problems, the solution of which have required an unprecedented degree of joint Federal, state, and local cooperation. Such problems have included housing and school-building shortages, recreational facilities for members of the armed forces, and a concerted attack upon the problem of venereal-disease control. The defense effort has placed an unusual strain on the transportation and communication facilities of the region. One of the first indications of this additional strain was an increase in the accident rate on public highways.

The civilian aspect of the defense picture was brought into sharpest focus following upon the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, when subsequent blackouts in Washington most dramatically underlined the manifold civilian defense activities put into effect overnight.

State Officers.

Governor, Arthur B. Langlie; Lieut.-Governor, Victor A. Meyers; Secretary of State, Belle Reeves; Treasurer, Otto Case; Auditor, Cliff Yelle; Attorney General, Smith Troy; Supt. of Public Instruction, Pearl A. Wanamaker.

United States Senators:

Homer T. Bone, Monrad C. Wallgren.