, 1856-11-14
Close of Vol. H-COmmencement Of Vol V.


this week the first number of the ith volume.
1t were superfuou- to say TO our readers that the
events connected with the year which closed 4th
volume in the history and to the people of this Terri
tory have been Of the most distressing and d as-ous
character ;-distressing in most painful degree to
our inhabitants, and disastrous having almost efec
tuay paralzed our once steadily increasing commerce
transferring from cur numerous lumLering estab
lishments and timber yards, and from almost every
other industrial pursuit connected with exporting
interest and otherwise, the hardy and tlletc young
men Of our Territory, into the ranks Of the citizen
soldiery-tO take up arms in defence Of the unpro
tected settlements N shield them from indiscrimnate
massacre by the savage.
A synopsis Of what has tmnspilld around US in this
connection, rs well as of oil things else of which
have been made cognzInt, of interest to the public
has, from time to tine, Leen laid eiOre readers
any further detail Of which, at this time would not be
to our purpose.
In the course Of the four years of oGr residence
here, (nost part Of which time have been connect
cd with this paDe, the Territory has been organized,
and we have witnessed with undissembled satisfaction
the steady in which it has become settled by
tho hardy immigrant lrcm the States, Oregon, &c. E.
From thousands of miles remote, tic farmer with hi
family has pioneered Lis way here, to this northwest
corner Of the United States dominions to find per
manent home, where the far west" extends no far
ther on our national geography. Claims have been
cupied and cultivated on every hand. laundering
establishments have been erected at the more inviting
localities and convenient points-shpping has in
creased commensurate Herewith and in addition to
our California trade, cargoes taken with some
regularity to the Sandwich Islands, to Valparaiso.
China and elsewhere in the Pacific. Coal fields Of
large extent have been discovered and worked with
Schools have been established. Towns have
sprung up wherever necessity or interest dictated
and Steilacoom, Seattle, Alki, Port Townsend Cove
land, Port Gamble, Port Ludlow, Whatcom, and 9TH
eFs, are designated on our Territorial map military
road has been constructed across the Cascade noun
tains. Conyeyances by steam have been introduced
upon the waters Of the Sound, along whose shores
farms have been opened and one year ago, almost
everywhere, the hustle Of business and general activity
was plainly to be seen, giving promise Of bright
future for our Territory.
Four years ago, where stood but few solitary
buildings, OLYMPIA may be found, with its NJ meous
stores, workshops and scores Of neat, substantial
dwellings. In its vicinity, Swanylle has sprnng from
chaos-New Market has become place of considcra-
be business and the once dense forests Of FIR lining
the bay either side fast being supplanted by
cultivated farms. One year ago--previous to the
breaking out Of the Indian war; there indeed an
apparent cheerfness--a sunshine on the face Of all
things around US. 4 eyt
As before stated the past year has been disastrous
and gloomy for the Territory. Indeed it has ret
rogaded in all its essential elements. Immigration
has ceased, and many families have taken their depar
ture from amongst us whilst others have been
cred by the Indians. Forts occupy the ground
whereon should stand the dwellings Of the farmer
Impoverished In every respect, as the events of the
past year have rendered our peope-wth large pro
portion Of the young men in the field, or otherwise
connected with the volunteer serViee-the families ol
the farmer either in towns sheltered by stockades
the settlement Of country entirely broken up
business suspended as II were, and export trade
literally demolished, except in localities hundred
miles northward on the Sound, what else might be
expected but that Territory must have retrogaded
Although the present hour Is dark one, let US all
hope for the dawning Of a brighter day-for the full
flment Of that manifest destiny" which may be no
very great distance in the future. Let US remember
that the first three years Of our Teoia history was
marked by that kind Of permanent prosperity which
alone IA desirable. Ordinarily, population Is not
made up Of the migratory order. The farmer, the
mechanic, the lumberman, the merchant, all are
" fixed institutions !" and although, as II were,
huge eclipse" has darkened our Territory for the
past year, i may be but the precursor Of more glori
Gus sunshine. ONE good consequence has attended
the past years war Large prlires and other bodies
Of the most excellent agricultural land have been dis
covered along the western slope Of the Cascade range
Ion the Snoqualmie, White, Green, Puyallup and
other rivers, and either wagon roads or pack trails
have been opened, establishing an easv eommunica.