1901 Millroy and Egan Map of Washington State

The rare and striking 1901 first edition of Millroy and Egan's important large-scale map of Washington. This was the best map of Washington state to appear in the heyday of the new state's early 20th-century industrial and population booms.

A Closer Look

The Seattle Post Intelligencer (April 21, 1901) describes the map in detail:

What is probably the most complete map of the state of Washington ever printed has just been issued by Millroy and Egan of this city. It is on good paper, with muslin back and is 54x36 inches in size. It is brought up to date and contains much valuable information not usually given on maps.

The map covers the latest surveys of the state that have been made by the federal government. The various railroad lines are accurately shown, with the distance between stations marked. Projected lines of railroads are also indicated clearly.

Over 11,000 miles of wagon roads are shown on the map, with the distances between important points. The various mineral districts are also indicated, with the character of mineral found in them.

A feature of the map is the marking of the boundaries of the forest reserves. Land offices are also suitably designated, and the state's fish hatcheries are marked. In Eastern Washington, all the numerous irrigating ditches are shown.

Around the border there is printed a list of the cities and towns of the state, with their population according to the last census. The map also shows the several steamship lines on Puget Sound and those extending to Alaska, the South, and the Orient. Distances between Seattle and important points in Alaska and the Orient are also shown.

Heady Times

When this map was issued, Washington was undergoing breakneck economic and infrastructural development. Rich natural resources, vast open land, and lucrative industries like timber, mining, fishing, and agriculture pushed the development of the state's interior and funneled wealth into cities like Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. The expansion of railroads, specifically the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railways, connected Washington to national and international markets. The fertile lands of Eastern Washington and the resource-rich Puget Sound region both saw enormous population booms. The timber industry thrived due to the vast forests, while wheat farming became dominant in the Palouse. Seattle's spacious port played a crucial role in maritime trade, linking the state to Alaska, Asia, and beyond.

Publication History and Census

This map was issued in 1901 by Millray and Egan of Seattle and printed in Philadelphia by Lincoln Publishing. We are aware of only a single edition. We see just two examples in OCLC, at the University of Washington and at the Washington State Library. No market history.