, 1854-03-18
WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE--FIRST SESSION.
,E IN COUNCIL.

RAhhiI ~hNtNh ~ Ap'N'
House bill No. I, "an act to locate a
road from Steilacoom to county seat Of
Clarke county" read second time.
o. Mr.. Catlin Of Lewis, was opposed to this
bill on principle 1t located roads through
various counties, call them territorial roads,
and saddled upon county without its con-
sent, the debt Of constructing its proportion
Of the road. 1t was one thing to contract
debts, but quite another thing to pay them.
The bin was unjust, for 1t took away liber-
B; what worse vassalage than to groan
under debt, and that too, not Of your own
contracting. He wanted to have free
people, free indeed, out Of debt, and free
agents none wanted roads more than he
did, but this mode Of opening roads was in
iuriousAit lead TO log rolling, and for one
he preferred to do without roads, rather
than be coerced to go for measures he con-
sidered injurious, for the purpose Of saving
such as were highly beneficial
~ He deemed this an infraction Of the rights
of citizens, an abridgment Of their liberties,
and closed with a motion to lay on the Ia
ble tin the 4th Of July. %
SeyeraI members desiring to speak on
the bill, Mr.. Catlin withdrew his motion to
lay on the table, and Mr.. Bigelow of Thurs
ton addressed the Council, concurring in
mnchsaid by the Hon. Senator from Lewis.
Heobjected however to the policy Of opening
territorial roads every where following the
preeedents established in Oregon Of making
only roads on paper, and which would not
In years secure one good road fit for travel.
Aptecedent legislation providing how
roads should be constructed, who should be
subjected to expense he deemed to be nee
essary. He was not opposed to this par
tcular road, as he had not examined its
merits, nor was he ready to vote for roads
every where pursuing the system Of lcgisla-
ture termed log rolling.
Mr. Tappan of CLARK, ,said-lt was easy
70 detect faults, but difficult to suggest rem
edies, be went for this bill, he thought the
opening Of territorial roads one Of the most
useful objects of legislation. This territory
bpeculiarly interested in that matter-she
peeded roads more than any other Wash
ington territory depends for her increase
entirely upon full road system, and nu-
merous trunk and branch roads. She will
derive her growth from the facility we ex-
tend 70 the emigrant. Bot he did not fa-
vor log rolling, nor was he ready to build
roads 70 unimportant places, to mouths Of
rivers, and TO various favored localities
He wanted good road beneficial to the
travelling public, aifording eonveniences for
emigrants, and transportation for all. He
could not see why such a system should be
opposed, but there was no doubt Of the fact
that II good road was to run through Ger.
tain counties, q certain Steamboat invest.
nentn Snow projected on a very shallow
stream, would not be as profitable as its
projectors had hoped for 1t. (The presi
dent called the senate to order. Mr.. Tap
pan concluded by saying that he was ready
to support the bill without better plan
was suggested. ."''
Mr., Yantis, of Thurston, was not person.
sllyto be benefited by the passage Of this
bill It did not meet precisely his views, but
be knew by experience the difficulties Of
travel between the two territories, the two
great valleys to connect which the Cowlitz
river was at present the only channel oi
Communication. Another bill might near
ermeet his views, but he regarded the prin'
cipal object to get a road. That is the
great measure. This bill secured that, and
DC was ready to vote for it. '''
Nh. Bradford Of Clarke, said the great
feature Of the session is to connect this
section Of the country with the Colum
oia river. In the other House steps are
being taken to induce the emigration tC
come to Vancouver, and from that point
distribute themselves into Washington ter
Htory. He alluded in eloquent terms tC
the difficulties the emigrant had to contend
with m bringing his family across the con
tireni, losing his stock at various points OF
me way, exhausted and fatigued he reaches
the DaTles, and then his task Of getting hi
wagon now down the eRbia, finally
sometimes on foot, or mefelya Aglc wagon
probably penhiless, he reochesthe William