Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-26
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

this growing nation is mounting to the loftiest
heights of political greatness. This ultima thule
of our domain forms the northwestern block in the
huge mosaic whereon our national energies are to
expend themselves We need not to look forward
to longer territorial probation than between FIVE
and ten years ere this far-of land shall seek an
honorable entry into our great family of States.
Washington Territory" ESQ named with sim
gular appropriateness, and, contributing fresh
confusion TO our already confused nomenclature,
will have to be changed) comprises the northern
portion of the recent Oregon Territory, and is
bounded on the south by the Columbia river, up to
ninety miles,) where the parallel of 460 of latitude
int Gets it, thence BY this parallel to the crest Of
thu Rocky Mountains thence the boundary fol-
low this mountain crest to latitude 49o, and thence
runs west on this parallel to the Gulf of Georgia
and the Straits of Fuca to the Pacific, by which it
is limited on the west. We derive from scientific
and wel-informed source particulars respecting
this Territory, not readily accessible to the public
which we present to our readers
Washington Territory" lies chiefly between
ATTITUDES 400 and 49o and between longitudes 1l0o
and 1850 west of Greenwich The boundary initial
points and parallels must soon be accurately de-
termned, and it must be decided where the crest of
the Rocky Mountains really is. This latter problem
may not be easy of solution, for Lewis & Clark,
Father de Smet, the Irving Astoria Map and the
Indian Bureau and Typographical Bureau maps all
represent these mountains differently. Lewis 4
Clark exhibit four distinct ranges, with which the
at least three parallel ranges running nearly north
west, instead of the more prevalent indication Of
single north and south range. Exploration may
show the necessity of more definite eastern boun-
dairy. On the north the mouth of Frazer's river
is so near to latitude 400 that portion of it may
be found to fall in the United States, though this is
improbable. There are thus several important geo.
graphical questions connected with the boundaries
of this neophyte State.
Washington Territory has within its limits
portions well explored and others as nearly I'M
known as can be found west of the Mississippi The
Columbia river was thoroughly surveyed by Capt.
Wilkes, two sheets out of six being now published
1t was surveyed by Becher, in 1889, and two sheets
are published among the Admiralty charts. The
Coast Survey has twice surveyed its mouth, and
published one sheet. A comparison of these seve-
raj surveys with Vancouver sindicates remarkable
degree of shifting in the sand-banks at its mouth
Shoalwater Bay has been surveyed by the Coast
Survey, but the survey is not published. Grey's
Harbor has also been just surveyed and this, with
Chckalees river has been surveyed, and the survey
published by Capt. Wilkes. The Admiralty charts
cover the Straits of Fuca and many harbors on the
mainland and on Vancouver's Island A Coast
Survey reconnaissance has now extended up the en-
tire Pacific coast and along the south coast Of the
Straits Of Fuca, and viii soon be published The
surveys under Capt. Wilkes and his narrative give
full information of all the group of islands in the Gulf
Of Georgia. and the channels leading to and making
up Puget's Sound, with much detail The shores
Of this wonderful network of channels so favored
in soil and location that they must soon possess
great value. Through surprising extent Of line
they are directly accessible for ocean vessels and
form, as it were, an immense network Of harbor.
They present the foundation for kind of agricultural
Venice, far into the heart Of the west half of Wash
ington the resources of which they will greatly aid
in developing Fort Nisqually and Olympia, at
the southern extremity of Pugets Sound, must
rapidly advance with the growth of the Territory
The interior portion Of this section is but imper-
fectly known The land Office surveys north Of the
Columbia have as yet made but little progress but
the sketches prepared in that Office give more recent
and correct information than is elsewhere to be found
on the section between that river and Puget's
Sound. On penetrating further towards the Rocky
Mountains, the country is essentially unknown
The narrative Of Lewis and Clark, the book on
Oregon Missions, by Father de Smet, published in
New York in 1S47 and Irving's Astoria (the last
edition. are the chief publications Of value this
ground These serve merely TO show that the coun-
try bordering the Rocky Mountains between 46'
and 400, on both Sides is still fine field for explo
ration Much may be expected from DR.. Evans,
who is engaged in geological reconnaissance Of the
old Oregon Territory, which has taken him much
among the Rocky Mountains and over their basal
plains.
With field every way SO requiring examination,
it is fortunate that the newlyappointed Governor
Of Washington possesses so many peculiar qualif-
cations for his station, and especially thorough
training in geographical science. Gov, STEVENS,
late Lieutenant and Brevet Major Of the Corps Of
Engineers, and now just entering on his.duties as
Governor Of " Washington Territory" has been
the Assistant in charge Of the Coast Survey Ofhce
for over three years A head graduate at West