The Nevada journal., 1857-06-12

perfect models of beauty; and L am told
that they are often made large enough
to carry sixty or seventy warriors each.
With twenty-five or thirty paddles on
a side, there is little use in pursuing
them in sailing vessels. They STAN
however, in great dread of steamers, and
one armed vessel of this Kind is consid-
cred sufficient to afford entire protection
against their incursions.
The climate here is very mild and
pleasant. There are several persons
here who have been in Nevada, who tell
me that the winters here are never as
cold as in that place. In fact, during
the last winter, which was much colder
than usual, the snow lay upon the
ground at Olympia only same two
weeks. The rainy season is long, how
ever and the quantity of rain falling
makes the winters less pleasant than
they would be otherwise. The lands
generally through the Territory are not
as good for agricultural purposes as in
Oregon, though there are sufficient of
good lands to make a fine farming State.
Living is less expensive here than in
Nevada. Flour is but eight dollars per
barrel, and other home products, vege-
tables, SC, at like low prices. The
most important business now carried on
in the Territory is the lumber business,
large cargoes being constantly shipped
from the sound to foreign and domestic
ports. The fisheries are valuable and
inexhaustible and the coal mines
promise to constitute a constantly in
creasing source of wealth to the Terri
tory. In fact, the future Of the Terri
tory cannot be doubtful; though at pre-
sent the want of population to develop
the resources of the country, is sadly
felt by the inhabitants.
Unfortunately the press of the Ter
ritory, in order to pusA up the General
Government to make adequate proyis-
ion for the protection of the people a.
gainst the Indians, and for the purpose
of obtaining appropriations from Con
gress for the construction Of roads, &c,
have exaggerated the dangers arising
from Indian dinicultias to 51lh al o.
tent as to make persons abroad over-es-
innate the obstacles to a peaceable set
tlement Of the country. This must ne
cessarily be a rambling letter, and if l
make the communication too long for
one insertion, you must make two Of it.
set down such facts as occur to me, |
and such as l think will be of interest
to those who desire information respect !
ing the country, without much refer |
ence to order, in stating such facts.
The people here are expecting to de-
rive very considerable benefit from the !
payment by the General Government Of
the Indian war debt" so called. The |
amount now due the inhabitants of this
Territory for services as volunteers, and
for supplies during the war, is supposed /
not to be less than one million Of dollars |
nearly twice as much being now due
to the Inhabitants of Oregon. Scrip has
been issued for this indebtedness by the !
Quarter Masters of the volunteer forces, |
and Congress has recognised the valid I
ity of tie claims, Though not as to tho |
arOuntsi by appointing three Commits
sioners to examine the amounts. As
one of the Commissioners is an inhabi- |
tant of Oregon, and the other two are
U. S. Army officers, serving on this
coast, and familiar with the necessities !
of the country, it is hoped that liberal
allowances will be made, and as the
Commission is now in session, it is to be
hoped that an appropriation will be al
lowed during the next session of Con
gress to meet the demands.
Well, million of dollars distributed
among a population of less than five
thousand souls is certainly rather pret-
ty, q pretty thing.
A word about the population here,
and then for other matters.
have been in several new States
and Territories, and know something of
frontier life, but no acAere else in a new
Territory, have 1 seen a people so gen
orally intelligent, orderly, and promis-
ing so much for the future of a country.
You look in vain for dissipation, idle
ness, or any of the vices or disturbances
which generally obtain in new countries.
Here, in Olympia, have had tn privi-
lege Of meeting not only The principal
merchants and business men Of the
place, but also Of visiting several fami-