HOSKINSON, Riley M

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Washington Territory's march toward statehood 1878

In this letter to The Osage Chronicle Riley writes of the Washington Territory's march toward statehood. Of note, his population estimate of 60,000. Recall that when he arrived in Seattle two years prior in 1877 he stated the population was only 4,000. While the 60,000 is for the territory as whole, the majority would certainly live in Seattle suggesting very rapid growth in Seattle's population from 1877-1878. Washington did not become a state until 11 Nov 1889, roughly ten years after this letter. "We now have a state constitution, adopted at the November election by a majority of 3,321, and a Republican Delegate to Cengress, whose majority is 1,301. We expect soon to knock at the door of Congress for admission into the great sisterhood of States. How we shall fare remains to be seen. You will soon hear from us. We now number about 60,000, and, as the figures show, largely Republican. Out public school system is equal to that of any State in the Union. Where ever there are fifteen children of school age, they are allowed a school district."