1942: Washington

Area and Population.

The state of Washington, in the northwest corner of continental United States, has an area of 68,192 sq. mi, ranking it 19th among the states, and a population of 1,736,191 (1940) ranking it 30th in that regard. This was an increase of 172,795, or 11.1 per cent over the 1930 census figure.

The leading cities, with their 1940 population figures, are: Seattle (368,302), Spokane (122,001), and Tacoma (109,408). Important cities of less than 100,000 population include: Everett (30,224), Bellingham (29,314), Yakima (27,221), Aberdeen (18,846), Vancouver (18,788), Walla Walla (18,109), and Olympia, the capital (13,254). These figures have been raised substantially in the cases of Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Bremerton, and Vancouver, as centers of defense industries and military and naval posts. Seattle increased to an estimated population of more than 500,000 in 1942. Even greater proportionate increases are estimated for Bremerton and Vancouver, shipbuilding centers which have more than doubled in population in the past two years. The more spectacular increase of the two was experienced by Vancouver, which was formerly chiefly a trading center for an agricultural hinterland. The location there of a Kaiser shipyard and an aluminum plant have brought unprecedented demands for over-night expansion of such social services as schools, streets, public housing projects, sanitation facilities, and recreation.

Race problems do not loom large in the state of Washington, where less than 3 per cent of the total population is non-white. This fact facilitated the recent wartime re-location of persons of Japanese descent, with a minimum of social friction. Among the countries ranking highest in the contribution of foreign-born residents to the population of the state are Sweden, Norway, Germany, and England.

Education.

Education is free and compulsory through the elementary school years. Schooling is furnished through 2,095 local public school districts. Of the total, 379 are rural districts maintaining one-room schools. The total enrollment in public day schools for the year ending June 30, 1942, was 388,688.

The state current operating expense for public schools during the year 1941-42 was $32,845,972. The average salary (including superintendents, principals, supervisors, and teachers) was $1,756 ($1,941 for men; $1,672 for women). The average for teachers in one-room schools was $1,248.

One of the most significant educational developments of the past year was the progress made in school district reorganization and consolidation. On Dec. 11, the State Committee reported that a total of 354 former districts had merged into 57 new districts since Jan. 1, thus effecting substantial financial savings.

Another significant development of the year was the distribution of substantial emergency grants of state and Federal aid to hard-pressed defense communities which have experienced abnormal population increases.

Agriculture and Industry.

The financial status of Washington agriculture improved steadily during 1942, largely due to the stimulus of the war effort. In certain areas adjacent to military and naval posts and large defense industry centers, farmers benefited from increases in the price of bottled milk. Prices for other dairy products and for meat likewise netted farmers substantial increases. Many sections of the state experienced acute shortages of agricultural labor during the harvest season, which at times seriously threatened the saving of crops. However, appeals to civic pride and duty brought sufficient after-hour help from the ranks of urban labor to prevent serious crop losses.

All lines of industry experienced greater or lesser labor shortages during the year, due to manpower demands made by the armed forces and to the incentive of high wages in defense industries.

As in the first World War, the present conflict makes heavy demands on the timber resources of the state, which form its basic industry. By the end of the year, it was announced that 2,500,000 tons of critical materials were being released for defense use through substitution of wood products, including enough steel for construction of 100,000 medium tanks. Such substitutions of wood for metal are made in army trucks, aircraft, boats, railroad cars, storage batteries, trailers, and containers. Until September, lumber workers migrated in large numbers to higher paying jobs in shipyards and similar strictly defense industries. At that time, the Government 'froze' workers in the lumber industry.

Legislative Matters.

Since the state Legislature holds its regular sessions in odd-numbered years, legislative developments of 1942 were restricted to items of popular legislation. Initiative 151, providing for liberalized old-age assistance payments, was defeated at the polls. A proposed constitutional amendment which would empower the Legislature to levy a state income tax also failed.

A great deal of interest attached to pre-legislative activity of the State Grange, which obtained signatures to petitions that would ensure legislative consideration for a bill enabling public utility districts to condemn and purchase private power properties on a state-wide or regional basis, instead of being restricted to county-wide limits as in the past.

One of the greatest challenges facing the people of the state is that of forest conservation. Governor Langlie has already made public the text of a bill which he will present to the 1943 legislature on this subject. This measure would establish a new state forest board to control fire protection, reforestation, state timber sales, and all other such matters now under separate agencies. This measure would also provide for state control of logging practices on private lands, and provide for sustained yield methods of timber production and harvesting.

Defense Production.

The greatest expansion in defense production occurred in the Puget Sound area, where estimates of the number of workers added during the year ran as high as 100,000, with promise of continued expansion during 1943. During the year, emphasis shifted from increased hirings at the large Boeing aircraft plant in Seattle to the five largest shipyards in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area, which added some 23,000 employees in 1941 and approximately 45,000 in 1942. Most of the needs of these firms have been for skilled labor, the most difficult of all to secure. Such difficulties have necessitated resort chiefly to in-service training, and up-grading of present employees. A potential labor supply of the greatest importance consists of women, who invaded shipbuilding and aeronautic crafts in increasing numbers during the year. The chief problems of defense employment are expansion of housing facilities for incoming workers, increase of pre-employment and in-service training programs, and full utilization of woman power. Attendant problems include transportation, recreation, hospitalization, and education.

Finances.

The state budget for the 1941-43 biennium (April 1 to March 31) totals $256,694,351, of which $74,061,877 (including Federal aid) is for social security (exclusive of unemployment compensation and industrial accident compensation).

While gasoline rationing has made a cut in the gas tax revenue used for highway construction and repair, there has also been a decreased need for road construction and repair, caused by decreased usage.

State Officials.

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

United States Senators:

Homer T. Bone, Monrad C. Wallgren.

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.

1940: Washington

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood Nov. 11, 1889, Washington ranks 19th in size among the states, with an area of 69,127 sq. mi. In population it ranks 30th, with 1,736,191, according to the census figures of 1940, a growth of 172,795, or 11.1 per cent between 1930 and 1940.

Nine of the fourteen cities having 10,000 population or more increased during the decade, the largest growth being registered in Bremerton (naval center), 15,134, which showed a 48.2 per cent increase. The largest cities, in order of size are now as follows: Seattle, 368,302; Spokane, 122,001; Tacoma, 199,408; Everett, 30,224; Bellingham, 29,314; Yakima, 27,221; Olympia, the capital, has 13,254.

Education.

Important progress was made during 1940 on an educational survey for school-district consolidation, conducted by the State Planning Council. Of the 331,409 students registered in the public schools of the state for the school year ending June 30, 1940, elementary school students were 203,085; regular four-year high-school students, 64,573; senior high-school students, 30,685; and junior high-school students, 32,166. Of the 1,605 schools in the state, 1,228 are elementary, 303 senior high and regular four-year high, and 74 junior high schools. The total current expenditure for the 1939-40 school year was $29,073,466. The average salaries in the public schools are; superintendents, $2,704; principals, $2,322; supervisors, $1,773; teachers, $1,630.

Mineral Products.

The year 1939 brought again a substantial increase in the production of Washington's chief metals, gold and copper, even above the high figures of the preceding year. Gold amounted to 90,420 oz., compared with 74,175 in 1938; and copper rose to 17,996,000 pounds, compared with 12,034,000 in 1938, the largest amount up to that year. Zinc fell slightly below the figure for 1938, at 20,262,000 pounds. The output of bituminous coal amounted to 1,690,000 tons, an increase over the preceding year, when 1,567,000 tons had a value of $4,939,000.

Industry.

Industrial production during 1940 showed steady expansion under the impetus of the national defense program. This expansion was felt especially in the lumber industry (backbone of the state's industrial life), shipbuilding, and aircraft production. Shipbuilding projects reminiscent of World War days are being launched. The Boeing aircraft plants at Seattle are being rapidly expanded to meet government contracts; at present this work is giving employment to some six or seven thousand workmen. Special schools and classes are being provided for the training of skilled workmen for the aircraft industry. Federal housing projects are being started at Bremerton and Sand Point, near Seattle, to care for additional defense personnel. Iron and steel manufacturing is being established on the Columbia River at Vancouver, and the press reported on Dec. 17 that an eastern company is considering construction of a $6,000,000 plant on Puget Sound for the reduction of aluminum ore, recently discovered in large quantities in King and Pierce counties.

Legislative Matters.

In the November election, two initiatives held the spotlight. Bill Number 139 failed of passage. According to its proponents, this measure would have provided popular control over the issuance of bonds of public utility districts; according to its opponents, it would, by various means, have dealt a death blow to the public ownership program. Initiative Number 141, providing for an increase of old-age pensions to forty dollars per month (half to be paid by the state), passed. There is some question as to whether or not the Federal Social Security Board will approve all the provisions of the act.

Referendum Bill Number 5, providing for continuance of the present 40-mill tax limitation on real property, passed by a large majority. Three amendments to the state Constitution were up for a vote: one repealing the present two-term limitation for county officers; one permitting the Legislature or the people by popular vote to fix the salaries of all officials provided for in the Constitution; and one eliminating the double liability of stockholders in state banks. Only the last of these three was approved by popular vote.

Political and Other Events.

Probably the outstanding governmental development of the year was the expansion of the military program at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma. This fort, one of the leading training camps of the World War days, is again rapidly assuming the air of a war-time military establishment. During the last months of 1940 more than 15,000 soldiers were stationed at the fort and at near-by Camp Murray, Washington's National Guard headquarters. A press report of Dec. 16 estimated that more than $9,000,000 worth of building construction was completed or in progress at Fort Lewis, with thousands of workmen laboring at top speed to provide for full occupation at the earliest possible date. When the work is finished, more than 1,800 buildings will have been completed.

A controversy of interest in the field of conservation arose during the year in connection with the proposed Cascade National Park. The State Planning Council prepared a study of the proposal by the U. S. Department of the Interior. The Council recommended that the park be not created. Arguments on both sides of the controversy have been well aired, and the question is still pending. The Planning Council is currently engaged in making other valuable surveys of the state's natural resources and setting forth recommendations as to the most effective conservation policies.

The most startling news event of the year was the collapse, during a high wind on Nov. 7, of the famous Tacoma Narrows Bridge across Puget Sound, with the third longest span in the world (2,800 ft.). The huge suspension structure collapsed at a time when the traffic was at a minimum, so no loss of life was incurred. Built at a cost of $6,400,000, the bridge had been opened only in July. An investigating committee went to work immediately to ascertain the reasons for the collapse. The structure was insured.

State Officers.

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

United States Senators:

Homer T. Bone, Mon C. Wallgren.

1939: Washington

Area and Population.

Washington, the nation's most northwesterly state, is 370 miles long and 238 miles wide with an area of 69,127 sq. mi., ranking it 19th in size. In population it ranks 30th (1930 census, 1,563,396), 35th in population per square mile, 14th in percentage of urban population, and 36th in percentage of rural population. The rate of population increase has been declining steadily since 1910, when the increase for the preceding decade was 120.4 per cent. Later figures were 18.8 per cent, 1910-20; 15.2 per cent, 1920-30; 4.3 per cent, 1930-35. Between 1910 and 1920 the urban population outgrew the rural, and the gap has widened since then. The state has fifteen cities with a population of more than 10,000, three with more than 100,000 and three others with 30,000 or more. Population estimates for 1937 were: Seattle 412,853, Spokane 135,000, Tacoma 111,000, Bellingham 32,000, Everett 31,000, Yakima 30,000. The capital is Olympia, 11,733.

Since Washington is still relatively a pioneer state, it ranks low (45th) in the percentage of the population born in the state. The population is predominately white (97.3 per cent), and none of the nonwhite racial groups are large or growing. In 1930, the most numerous were the Japanese 17,837, American Indians 11,253, Negroes 6,840, and Chinese 2,195.

Education.

Education is of paramount importance in the life of any people. For the year 1938-39, Washington had 2,113 schools. Public high schools totalled 306, private high schools 46. The enrollment in the public schools, reached a total of 334,511. Kindergarten enrollment accounted for 6,072 of this number; grade schools, 200,374; four-year high schools, 67,231; junior high schools, 33,012; and senior high schools, 27,822. The total average daily attendance in these schools was 280,613.

A recent study shows that Washington ranks sixth in literacy. The average teacher's salary for 1938-39 was $1,645; for rural teachers, $1,100. An educational event of importance during the year was the launching of a WPA rural 'bookmobile' service, sponsored by the State Library, and designed to interest counties in establishing library service for the third of the population still without access to good reading. The project looks toward a coordinated school and public library service reaching all people.

Industrial Review.

During 1939 the first contracts were signed for furnishing electric power to several counties from the new power distribution facilities of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. Some of the county public utility districts have instituted condemnation proceedings to take over private utility distribution systems.

During the autumn there was a decided pick-up in industrial production, especially in the lumber and allied industries, the backbone of the state's industrial structure. This was attributed both to natural inventory depletions and to stimuli offered directly and indirectly through war orders.

The holding of a state-wide chemurgic conference in November emphasized a new phase in the state's industrial development, with increasing attention being paid to the use of the state's wood and farm products for the manufacture of synthetic products. The State Planning Council plays an important part in the industrial life of the state by making timely studies of the state's resources and needs, natural and human.

Agriculture.

Agriculture in 1939 showed a somewhat lower return than for 1938, with crops of wheat, hops, potatoes, apples, and pears below the level of the previous year. Wheat production was 23 per cent below the 1938 figure and 9 per cent under the average for 1928-37, largely due to reduced acreage. The disturbing effects of the European war brought threats of a large apple crop surplus, which led to an intensive campaign to increase domestic apple consumption. A boon to the industry was the inclusion of apples on the list of Federal surplus commodities. Seattle was the pioneer community in the state to be selected for a demonstration of the Federal government's new orange and blue stamp plan for increasing the sale and consumption of surplus commodities to persons on relief.

Mineral Products.

The total value of Washington's leading metals, gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc amounted in 1938 to $5,510,440, a sum more than double that of the previous year. This was mainly the result of astonishing increases in the production of both gold and copper. The former rose by 50 per cent above the previous high records of 1936 and 1937, to a total of 74,175 oz. with a value of $2,596,125. The largest producer was the Howe Sound Company in Chelan Co. Production of copper advanced by almost 100 per cent to a record output of 12,034,000 pounds valued at $1,179,332, compared with 128,000 pounds valued at $15,488 in 1937. Zinc also showed a surprising advance from 8,232,000 pounds in 1937, to 22,804,000 in 1938 with a value of $1,094,592. Preliminary figures for bituminous coal showed a lowered production in 1938 at 1,565,000 tons as against 2,001,449 (value, $6,325,000) in the preceding year.

The total value of Washington's chief metals in 1939 was estimated to be $6,668,700. This included a gain in the output of copper-gold ore from 371,800 tons in 1938 to approximately 600,000 tons, and a 20 per cent rise in gold production from 74,175 oz. to about 89,300 oz. in 1939, with a 16 per cent increase in silver from 380,938 oz. to 442,200.

Legislative Matters.

Legislative achievements of importance included the following: concentration of control in the administration of public relief funds in a three-man Social Security Committee; reduction of old-age assistance from a statutory minimum of $30 per person to a statutory maximum of $30; authorization of the establishment of low-cost housing authorities; creation of a State Dairy Products Commission, corresponding to the State Apple Advertising Commission to extend the use of dairy products; an unfair trade practices act; a uniform motor-vehicle safety responsibility act; creation of a State Soil Conservation Committee; a three-day marriage license law; legislative authorization for the establishment of legal aid bureaus in Class A and first class counties. The only approach to additional taxation lay in the removal of exemptions under the sales tax and an increase in the cigarette tax. The budget for the state government for the 1937-39 biennium was $196,318,654; for 1939-41, $206,847,335.

Events of the Year.

The year 1939 marked the Golden Jubilee of statehood for Washington, and this theme was carried over into the celebrations of many public and semi-public organizations, and featured in the state's exhibits at the world's fairs in San Francisco and New York.

An event of importance during 1939 was the establishment of the Seattle Housing Authority, to inaugurate a slum-clearance and low-cost housing program.

Welfare and Correction.

The state maintains the following penal and charitable institutions: hospitals for the care of the insane, a state penitentiary, a school for the deaf, a school for the blind, boys' and girls' reformatories, a veterans' home, a soldiers' home, and a school for the feeble-minded. An additional custodial school, Western State Custodial School, was established this year at Buckley.

State Officers.

The chief state officers are: Governor, Clarence D. Martin; Lieutenant Governor, Victor A. Meyers; Secretary of State, Mrs. Belle Reeves; State Auditor, Cliff Yelle; Treasurer, Phil H. Gallagher; Attorney General, G. W. Hamilton; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Stanley F. Atwood.

United States Senators.

Homer T. Bone and Lewis B. Schwellenbach.

1938: Washington

Area and Population.

Washington, nicknamed the 'Evergreen State' and the 'Chinook State,' was admitted to statehood Nov. 11, 1889. It ranks 19th in size, with an area of 69,127 square miles; in 1930 it ranked 30th in population, numbering 1,563,396. The Federal estimate in 1937 was 1,658,000. In 1930, 56.6 per cent of the people lived in cities and 43.4 per cent were rural dwellers. Roughly, 97 per cent are members of the white race. Minority racial groups include the following: Japanese, 17,837; Indians, 11,253; Negroes, 6,840; Filipinos, 3,480; and Chinese, 2,195. Native-born whites comprise about 81 per cent of the population, with more than half the total population also of native parentage. Augmenting of the rural population by dust-bowl refugees continues.

The chief cities show a healthy rate of growth, with Seattle's population in 1937 estimated at 412,853; Spokane, 135,000; Tacoma, 111,000; Bellingham, 32,000; Everett, 31,000 and Yakima, 30,000. Olympia, an attractive city of about 14,000, located at the head of Puget Sound, is the capital.

Legislative Matters.

The state Legislature meets in the odd-numbered years, but 1938 brought many legislative proposals. Moreover, the state came close to a special session in April. Lieutenant Governor Victor Myers had long promised that if Governor Martin should leave the state, the Legislature would be convened by himself to provide enabling legislation to receive Federal housing funds, and to increase social security benefits. On April 20 cross-country airplane races found the Governor back in the state after a trip to Washington, D.C., just a few minutes too soon to make legal the Lieutenant Governor's call for a special session, following his arrival by plane from California the day before. Social security legislation is most pressing since state funds are at a low ebb and a recent decision of the state Supreme Court nearly doubles the number of potential recipients of old age assistance. Financial problems will loom especially large in the 1939 Legislature, since the electorate turned down an income-tax amendment that would have provided additional funds for social security and for such other hard-pressed groups as the schools and cities.

In the November 1938 election the people approved a 37 mill limit on real property and an initiative making county and state school superintendencies nonpartisan offices on the ballot. The most hotly contested initiative on the ballot was disapproved. It was intended to eliminate 'labor racketeers' and promote democratic control of unions, but actually, according to opponents, it would have nullified the Wagner Act and been a step toward Fascism. Large sums were spent by both sides during the campaign.

Industrial Review.

In financial, agricultural, manufacturing, and industrial activities, Washington fared better during 1938 than many other sections of the country, despite the recession and the slump in the lumber industry. As was true throughout the country, Washington's bank debits and department store sales showed declines during 1938; but the value of building permits and mining activities showed increases. Farm income was up, with farm real estate values about the same as in 1937. Industrial developments include new uses for plywood, such as the construction of pre-fabricated houses. Research along the line of potential industrial developments has been carried on by the Northwest Chemurgic Conference, the State Planning Council, and the higher institutions. Industrial possibilities disclosed by research include production of magnesium from magnesite and dolomite, synthetic ammonia, a magnesia industry, and plastics from farm products.

Washington's lumber industry still ranks first in the nation, while coal and other minerals are important products of the state. Scientific inventories of the natural resources and recommendations for their exploitation are being made by the State Planning Council. Tourist trade and out-of-state investments are sought through the publicity efforts of the State Progress Commission. The state is moderately wealthy, as evidenced by the fact that it ranks 8th in per capita tax-paying ability.

Public works projects of significance include the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, through which irrigation districts are now being formed, and the Bonneville Dam farther down the river, which began generating electricity in 1938. Projected bridges of record size, on which work will soon commence, are the Lake Washington pontoon bridge, and the suspension bridge across The Narrows of Puget Sound near Tacoma. The Olympus National Park, comprising about three-fourths of a million acres of virgin wilderness, was created by presidential decree during the year.

Mineral Products.

Coal constitutes the major item among Washington's minerals. The total value of these in 1936 was $23,092,607. Production of coal in 1937 amounted to 2,010,000 tons, as against 1,812,104 tons in 1936 with a value of $5,504,000. Washington's limited supply of gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc added $2,253,054 to the total values in 1937; and stone for building and paving amounting to 1,909,025 tons, added $1,645,848.

Education.

About 330,000 attend the public schools, involving an expenditure of some $35,000,000. The University of Washington, with about 10,000 students, and the State College, with about 4,000, show steady growth. The state ranks high in many aspects of education, as evidenced by the low illiteracy rate of one per cent. An educational survey of the State Planning Council recommends school district consolidation, establishment of junior colleges, extension of vocational education, and expansion of public library service.

State Officers.

The chief state officers are: Governor, Clarence D. Martin; Lieutenant Governor, Victor A. Meyers; Secretary of State, Mrs. Belle Reeves; State Auditor, Cliff Yelle; Treasurer, Phil H. Gallagher; Attorney General, G. W. Hamilton; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Stanley F. Atwood.

United States Senators:

Homer T. Bone and Lewis B. Schwellenbach.