, 1853-01-29
Governor Gaines on the Puget
Sound country-its prospective
Importance, &C.

IN MS message 10 ne Doute oi 'ePi'se"
iatiycs of Oregon, at the opening Of the
present session, Governor GAINES, held the |
following discourse relative to the territory |
north Of the Columbia river:
Puget Sound is beginning to awaken, and
from It's high importance justhes, the earnest At.
tenuon Of the enierprsing and capitalist A large !
district Of land lying on the north side OF the Co-
lumbia river, and well adapted in many portions
to agricultural purposes, must, at no distant day, |
find its market and seek its supplies at the various
ports in that arm Of the II eontAi ms hatbors
combining beauty, spacousness and security, m
numbers fully equal to the wants Of the country,
when II shall have reached that degree Of advance
ment looked for by its most sanguine fTiends.-
Forests there exist in proximity 10 the water, from
which inexhausiihlo supplies OF lumber and ship
timber can be obtained. Whales and other fish
sbound in its waters and entertain no doubt
that profitable fisheries might be established in
that region. From the great natural advantages
which there eXist-from the fertility and extent Of
the neighboring soil. and its various productions
and eapacilies-and from the general salubIity Of
the climate, Puget Sound must soon become one
Of the most important commercial points on the
Pacific"
Difficult as is our territory Of access
discouragIng TO the stranger as may be its
lamentable want Of roads, for the gaining
Admtlance into our numerous beautiful prai-
Tics-u unfortunate as may be its present so-
lated, but heretofore unavoidable political
relationship, with southern Oregon-ncg-
lectful and unjust, almost to oRImNALrTY,
as has, in times gone by, characterized the
conduct Of those departments of homo and
national government from which was tx.
pected an evidence OF that sympathy, kind
ness and bcneyolence, due 10 new, promis-
ing, and defenceless territory; yet against
all these opposing considerations - against
The Jealousy and calumny of Pampered, and
IN some respects more highly favored por-
iion of our common household, has our in
fant Hercules struggled up, unaided, 10 a
position soon 10 rival, and ultimately to far
y Outstrip its enviouS relation in the march to
future greatness. Alone, have few indom-
liable spirits, the pioneers of AS and 80
maintained their ground--plantcd and cul-
tivated the germ of civilization in the midst
Of an untutored horde Of sayages-prepared
for " seed time and harvest "-erected their
temporary cabins, and made plain the way
for all who might be led to seek home
within our territory. To the undaunted To-
tilude and iron will of = few brave hearts,
who, in former times slaked their tents in
this then wilderness, with the resolve-''here
will bide "-"n power that sways the
will Of man shall stir me hence "--are we
indebted for the production of " order out
Of chaos " in this goodly heritage, and for
The davning Of star, 10 guide hither the
footsteps of the agrieUluralist, mechanic, la
borer, capitalist, and The enierpTising in all
pursuits Of industry.
And they arc coming. The white can
vass of the merchantmen is. daily winged
from point 10 point along the quiet Sound,
completing cargocs Of our valuable timber
for foreign ports. The number Of vessels
engaged in this business is constantly increas
ing-the safety Of its entrance, and the spa
eiOUsDess and security ofits harbors are mat
iers with which commercial men, generally,
are becoming familiar. And as but lately
the visits of the stately vessels from our
neighboring cities have usurped the place
and traffic of the fail canoe, the "enierpri-
sing and the capitalist have determined
TO augment the speed of wind and tide, by
the introduction Of an additional auxiliary
in the shape of " STEAM" upon the placid
waters Of our inland sea. We rejoice TO
know that while puget Sound is beginning
to awaken the earnest attention of the enter
prising and the capitalist" &c, the terrific
rial Executive, and legislative assembly, are
also beginning TO awaken" to SENSE Of
its Importance"
Thy are coming The agriculiuraIists
are mastering their domestic herds upon our
beautiful prairies-Preparing the earth for
fruitful yield of an abundant harvest set
Elements are iorming-roads are being CON
structed and mProved-bridges are being
erected-schools are loming--mills are 90
ing up rapidly, and the evidences of civili-
ralion every where around US are oblterating
the barbaric gloom of former centuries, and
redeeming bright oasis from the lone
EImoom."
THET ARE COMING Merchants arc ar
irving and opening stock Of goods at our
various thriving town sites; mechanic shops
are following, driven forward by solid col.
ulnn Of sturdy labOrers, at whose advance
forests have " fell and faded" towns have