The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-04
washington Terxatoxy.
APPOINTMENT or 0OvKRNOR-SU1vEY ORDnR1D-


From the Wsshington Intslligsacsr March al
Among the few acts Of positive lsgialatioa consun
mated At the session q Congrsss Just concluded that
most important and interesting II adds another step 70
that ladder Of empire which this growing nation il
This ssa thvle Of domain forms the Northwestern
block in the huge mosaic whereon national energies
longer territorial probation than between and
years ere this far of land shall seek honorable entry
into our great family Of States.
Washington Territory $50 named with singular in
appropriateness and contributing resh confusion to
our already confused nomenclature, viii have to be
Oregon territory, and Is bounded the south by the
Columbia river up to near Fort Wala Waa (some two
hundred sno nnssy xhs e. ,ns =. ,h
to the crest Of the Rocky Mountains thence the bound
airy follows this mountain crest to latitude forty nine de-
gree and thence west on this parallel to the Gulf
of Georgia and the Straits Of Fuca to the Pacific, BY
which Il Is limited the west. We derive, from
scientific and well informed source some particulars
spectr this territory readily accessible the pub
lie, which we present to our readers
Washington Territory lies chiefly between attitudes
degrees and 40 degrees and between ongtudes ITO de-
grees and 125 degrees west of Greenwich The boundary
initial points and parallels must be accurately de-
temineG and must be decided where the crest of the
Rocky Mountains really is This latter problem may
DO easy Of solution for Lewis and Clark Father Sme
graphical Bureau maps, all represent these mountains diff
feren Lewis and Clark exhibit four distinct ranges with
which the best recent explorations essentially nd
eating at least three parallel ranges running nearly north
west instead of the prevalent indication Of single
north and south range. Exploration may show the
sty Of more definite eastern boundary On the north the
mouth Of Frazers river is to latitude 40 degrees
that portion of 1t may be found to fall in the United
States though this is improbable. There are thus
the boundaries of this neophyte State.
Washington Territory has within its limits portions
well explored and others as nearly unknown can
be found west of the Mississippi The Columbia river
thoroughly surveyed by Captain Wilkes, two sheets
out Of six being published 1t ed by Bel
cher in 1889, and two sheets published among the
Admiralty charts The Coast Survey has twice surveyed
th s ana s oHe o.
markable degree Of shifting in the sandbank, at its
mouth shoawater Bay has been surveyed by the Coast
Survey but the survey is not published Greys Harbor
has also been just surveyed aud this with ChcKalees
river has been surveyed and the survey published by
Captain Wilkes The Admir- Atty charts the Straits
OF Fuca and many harbors the mainland and on Van
couyer's Island.
coast survey reconnois sance has now extended up
the entire Pacific coast and along the south coast of the
Straits of Fuca and viii Oe published The surveys
under Capt Wilkes and his narrative give, full informa
ton of all the group of islands in the Gulf OF Georgia,
and the channels leading to and making up Pugets
Sound, with much detail The shores of this wonderful
that they must soon possess great value Through sur
pIsing extent Of line they directly accessible for
Of harbor They present the foundation for a kind of
agricultural Venice far into the heart of the half of
Washington the of which they will greatly aid
in developing Fort Nisqually and Olympia, at the
southern extremity of Pugets Sound must rapidly ad-
vance with the growth of the territory.
The interior portion OF this section is but mpe ecy
known The land office surveys north of the Columbia
Lave as vet made but little progress but the sketches
prepared in that Office give mere recent and correct in
formation than is elsewhere to be found the section
between that river and Pugets Sound On penetrating
ft Their towards the Rocky Mountains. the country is
essentially unknown. The narrative Of Lewis and Clark
the book Oregon Missions, by Father de Smet pub
lished in New York il 1s47 and Irvings Astoria (the
ground These merely to show that the country
bordering the Rocky Mountains between 46 degrees and 40
degrees both sides, is still fine field for exploration
Much be expected from DR. Evans who yed
geological reconnaissance Of the old Oregon Territory,
which has taken him much among the Rocky Mountains
and their basaltic plains
With field every way so requiring examination It is
fortunate that the newly appointed Governor OF Wash
ington possesses 50 many peculiar qualifications for his
station and especially thorough trimming in geograph
cal science Gov Stevens late Lieutenant and Brevet
Major of the Corps Of Engineer, an just entering
has been the assistant in charge Of the Coast Survey
Office for over three years. head graduate at
West Point highly efficient constructing officer of
Engineers, distinguished on General scotts staff in
Mexico he has discharged the laborious and difficult
duties Of his recent position in SO excel
lent a manner rs to elicit frequent encomiums from
Professor Bache the Superintendent of the Coast Sur
yey and to afford every guarantee that he will make
himself most usefuly felt in the sphere which he is
entering We expect from his energy, from his liberia
lily Of views and attainments that he will not permit his
present term expire without pre- cntng the public
toeraby complete map of the Territory and such
ports viii give clear conception of the surface soil
resources and pecuiarties OF region 50 sooa
are Haes on m Dar ns % BE- abs m
accomplish this and much more in addition 20 thosc inn
portant and laborious duties which se-oire upuu
him in organizing and putting into thorough operation
the machinery Of a new territorial government.
From the Boston Post
Among the appointments of Massachusetts, men 20
Office BY President Pierce which have been confirmed by
the SENATE that of Isaac Stevens Governor of the
new Territory Of shDgton. Governor Stevens is ma.
tive OF Andover and graduate of 1889 at West Point
with the highest honors of his class For few years
previous TO the Mexican he Officer OF the
engineer corps OF the army in charge of the public for
fcatons at Portsmouth n h and at Portland and the
naIrows OF the Fenobscot, Maine Fort Knox at the
latter pnce planned and its constr ucton has thus
Ear been directed by him
Upon the determination Of our government to con
qler peace with Mexico by attackinr Mexico nv tie
liz pursued by General Scott Governor Stevens then
OF the engineer was assigned to daty
rails memorable campaign rendered such services as TO
have honorable mention in nearly al all of that
ofcers dispatches and 10 receive two 5revets from
the government.
For the last four Governor Steven, has been the
assistant of Professor Bache upon the survey
magnitude Of that work of which few aware requires
adm Illustrative ability OF high order and assistant
IN charge Of that Office Governor Stevens has become IA
vorably known to the leading men in Washington
Since his ointment the President has determined TO
put him IN charge Of party to explore what is called
the Northern Pacific Railroad line under recent act of
Congress making appropria ton to explore the different
routes to the Pacific. The party for this purpose will
rendezvous as coon as cas be orgapzed at some noint
in Iowa or Minnesota and viii probably be it, way to
the Pacific about the 1st of Nav The Columbia river
is the natura northern be the Pacific side and that
nv from its mouth to the for six tn degree of l1
tude Is the southern boundary of Washington Territory
1t would be dithcult to select skful engineer
or man of more indomitabe energy nd perseverance,
than Governor steyen to take charge of important
an e2ploI ton
The BRAZILIAN SLAVE TRADE.-Dcspatches
lately forwarded TO the State Department of Mr..
Schenck the American Minister in Brazil by re.
ference to the slave trade and the utter neiciency
Of cru to put stop to the dissertation of the
American flag, propose four remedies, Of which the
first is a strong measure, viz -
j. To p oibit FL trade in American bottoms bet tween
Brazil and the African coast to prevent the eva
sions practised To prohibit the exporta from
Brazil in American bottoms of articles useful only ia
the slave trade, as gunpowder, gewgaws and cloths g.
To prevent the transfer Of vessels. by ing issue
Consular SEA letters A. An immediate ganzaton of
the naval force belonging to the Brazilian station so az
to provide swift vessels of light draught capab BILE fol-
loving the savers into the creel and behind the islands
where they take refuge
MAINE LEGIsLATURE.--Th Maine Legislature
adjourned without day on the 1st inst, making