, 1858-03-26
Military Roads.

Military Roads.
We invite the attention of contractors
to the proposals, which will he found in our
advertising columns, for opening, clearing,
grading aud corduroying so much of the
military road between Fort SteiIacoom and
Fort Bellingham as lies between the lower
crossing OF the Puyallup river and Seattle.
Itis to be hoped that the contract will be
takSIand completed within the time speci.
fed in the proposals The entire route be-
tween Fort Steilacoom and Fort Belling-
ham was carefully surveyed, both ways,
during the past summer, by party under
the immediate supervision of Mr. w. w.
DELAcY, one Of the most thorough aud
accomplished civil engineers on the Pacific
coast. A few days since, Mr. THOMAS
PRATHER, one Of the party in the survey,
exhibited to us a map Of the route, and
from his representation Of it, we can see no
very great obstacles to overcome He is
satisfied that good wagon road can be
made from point to pont-to perfect which,
however, considerable grading, bridging
and corduroying will be required, and sew
eral ferries established 1t is contemplated
that $3.50, 900 would open and complete a
good practicable wagon road the entire dis
tance, Of which sum, $4,000 was apprO-
priated at the last session Of ConeSss.-
Mr.. P. thinks the whole distance, as survey
ed, to be about l30 miles--bringing Bel
lingham Bay nearer to the head Of Puget
Sound by forty or fifty miles than it now is
by the water communication referred to.
A large portion Of the route too, we learn,
is over very desirable ground, and much of
it through an excellent agricultural country.
When completed, this will be one of the
most important thoroughfareS in our terri
tory, as it will extend from and along the
waters Of Puget Sound, to within a short
distance Of our northern boundary line
thus opening the way for immigration and
continuous settlement from the Columbia
river to the possessions of our English
neighbors
This road is but continuation Of the
one proposed between Fort Steilacoom and
Fort Vancouver, and upon which consider
able labor has already been expended, and
progress towards completion made. That
portion located between Fort Stelacoom
and near the Cowlitz Landing, contracted
for by Mr.. Tower, we understand has been
completed and duly accepted. The next
important point to reach will be the mouth
Of the Cowlitz river, at its confluence with
the Columbia. The road completed thus
far, will be vastly important achievement,
as it will practically disarm the terror with
which immigrants to our. territory are, aud
have ever been met at its threshold, by the
enormous duties exacted for freight and
passage up the Cowlitz river. 1t is the
opinion Of gentlemen, for whose opinion we
entertain the highest regard, that the com
pletion of practicable wagon road be-
tween the CowliIz Farms and Monticello
or Vancouver, would provo almost miracu-
lous in inducing immigration within our
borders from Oregon and Northern Calfor-
uia. And when the chain is completed,
(as at no distant day it will be, } connect
ing Fort Vancouver with Fort Bellingham
opening an extent Of country of 800
miles in length for settlement, easy Of ac-
cess aud abundanty fertile. What may
we not expect in ths way of an immigra.
tion from the ioest Of the Atlantic. Popula-
tion and thoroughfares are all that our
Territory require for the achievement Of
its glorious future. Nature has done The
rest