The strike of gold in 1848 started what is known as the Gold Rush of 1849. This turn of events created massive immigration to the west coast in search for gold and economic success! What also fell into place was the economic boom of the lumber industry in the northwest and especially the Puget Sound.
The Pacific Northwest held a 60 year focus of the fur trade that ran from 1780 through 1840. As more and more white settlers came into the region to establish residence, logging was a practice in order to clear land for agriculture means. This also started the logging business. The timber industry became widely recognized in the pacific northwest and Puget Sound especially because of the convenience of lumber transport. The 1849 Gold Rush brought the demand for lumber in california. The Puget Sound attracted investors from San Francisco to harbor over 2 dozen mills in the Puget Sound to meet demands for lumber. The Lumber was targeted in the Puget Sound because of the easy access to the water for transport. The majority of the lumber that was sold was on the shore where it was easily put into the water for transport which was a vital option over land transport.
The California Gold Rush is responsible for the thriving "colonial economy" of timber for the pacific northwest and it continued well into the 20th century.
Sources: histoylink.org
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ReplyDeleteI knew a little about the Gold Rush from the California history classes I took growing up, but timber from this region never really got mentioned. Thanks for pointing this out.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange that what made our area an economic success is later what mad it environmentally failure. Now a days, re planting is a normal practice of the industry, but the diversity of the wilderness has been destroyed by logging. However, if the logging boom hadn't occurred, and nature had been left intact, would we still have the great cities we have today?
ReplyDeleteI like learning about the Gold Rush. Like Keith mentioned I studied it in elementary school but never really returned to it until this class. Its interesting to learn about it again!! Go COLE, woot woot!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, nice use of sources. I like how you describe the early Washington economy as a part of the global economy. The 49ers had gold, but needed lumber. Gold pours into Washington, financing lumber companies and shipping interests. I wonder when the shipbuilding industry in the Northwest took off? I've heard tales of the Kaiser shipyards in Portland, but I'm not sure when they started. I'll have to look that up.
ReplyDeleteApril, Good point. It's amazing how thorough the logging companies were. I had my atlas out and the logging road seem to snake up all but the steepest mountains. I think that the active fire suppression of the last 100 years also threatens the long term health of the state's forests.
Cole, I like the thoughtfulness of this entry -- puzzling out how one development influences another. That's an important part of history. Also, good comments, History 300 Team!
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