, 1854-08-05
To Merchants, Ship Owners.

The undersigned takes this mode Of ac-
auAinting all persons who are interested in
mercantile operations, that the new TERRI
foaY on WASHINGTON, which was divided
rom Oregon Territory, by act Of Congress
in 1868, Is now becoming place OF note,
and will, in few years, be one Of the most
important possessions Of the United States,
on the Pacific, for the following reasons
Look 1t the coast chart, from the south
1nmost boundary, where the United States
Joins Mexico, to the northernmost bOunda-
", where Il joins the British Possessions.
You will see 1t extends from about the lati-
tude 80 to latitude 40 north, having
coast front Of about 1000 miles-and there
Is 10 Port or Harbor from San Francisco
10 the northern boundary, Except several
open bays and bar harbors, and the Colum-
bic riVer), a distance Of about eight hun
dred miles. II must therefore be evident
10 every thinking man Of the world, that
the time is not far distant when rail road
win be built across the continent Of Ameri-
q and 70 look at the geographical aud
xInoNAL point Of view, it must be plainly
sen, that if the main road does not termi
nate at Puget Sound, branch i0iH.-
Then again Look at the beautiful nayi-
cation, the entrance to which is between
c6pe elasset and Vancouver's Island, then
runs up the Straits Of San Juan de Fuca
eighty miles, and the average width Of
about fifteen miles, the centre of which is
The boundary line between Great Britain
and The United States Tire boundary
then runs around the eastern point Of Van
couvePs Island and up the Canal de Arc
TO the parallel Of 40 north latitude, leay-
ing On the right hand, or southern and
eastern side, the whole Of Admiralty Inlet,
Puget Sound, and q number Of Islands
belonging to Washington Territory. From
thsentrance Of said Straits of De Fuca to
DE entrance Of Admiralty Inlet, is about
ninety miles and from there to the head
Of Puget Sound, is about f2O miles, and
VARIES from one half q mile TO Eve miles in
vidth--with its hundreds of bays, inlets
and rivers--and forms the most beautiful
inland navigation in the known world, and
has depth Of water for the largest ships to
navigate.
Every river and bay and inlet abounds
il salmon Of the best quality, and a great
many thousand barrels may be cured yearly:
dlso Goldfish, herrings, halibut and different
other sorts Of FISH in abundance clans Of
N sizes, iu immense quantities and Of ex-
eellspt quality. Oysters plentiful, but
snail. y
Nearly The whole Of the banks of this
immense inland navigation are covered
With timber, consisting mostly Of fir and
cedar-the former equal to any known, in
quality, for ships spars, and far exceed, il
length and beauty, any yet discovered il
any part Of the world. Cedar is.a good
substitute for white pine, and is useful fol
house and boat building, &C., &c. There
are now about 1000 white inhabitants in
he Territory, many Of whom have com
meneed the numbering and fishing business
and know Of no part Of the world where
there is 50 good q field for enterprising
meh, at the present time, as Washington
Territory. The climate is very healthy
and eight months Of the year the weather
hfery pleasant. The snow lies on th,
ground, for a few days at a time, during
tAe months Of December and January
but the farmers do not lay in feed for theil
stock, except their working cattle.
The Indians are numerous, and generally
harmless. Coal beds have been discovered
: y many places, sufficient to supply tht
whole Pacific coast 1t lies there for thoS'
Whp have the means and enterprise TO re
move Il 10 where II was intended to go.
At the entrance Of the Straits De Fuca
and on the large fishing banks that lie Of
nom ten to thirty miles from the coast
Shere are great quantities of whales. Th'
Indians take from two to three Thousand
barrels Of oil per annum, in their rude way
And they dispose Of the greater part Of /
toithe traders, in exchange for clothing
e They also catch great quantities 0
COO and halibut on the different banks ]