, 1858-07-23
PUGET SOUND HERALD.
sTElLACOOM, W. T., JULY %, 1855.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.

Ah shC w VaohibtOh ANVy SsNSN ~ SN"S ~
we find speech delivered by Hon. l. ]. Stevens
on the 25th of May, much Of which is sinteresting
to our readers. Our space being limited, we ex.
tract only such portions Of it as have direct re.
ference to Washington Territory, and Puget
Sound particularly. The House being in Commit.
tee Of the Whole, Mr. Stevens rose and said -
Ny object in addressing the Committee is to
present some observations in regard 10 the Paci.
fic railroad. This is great national question,
and should not be discussed in q sectional point
of view. As q Westcrn-coast man, dear as is to
my heart the home Of my adoption-Puget Sonnd
and the Territory Of Washngton-I see not
Puget Sound, I see not the Territory Of Washing.
ton, but Puget Sound, the Columbia entrance, San
Francisco, San Diego, and the other ports Of that
extended coast see Washington, and Oregon,
and California. Iasa 4
Il is but few years since-within the last four
or five Washington has been regarded as
terra ineOgaita. Puget Sound was almost
unknown. II was frequently confounded with
Nootka Sound. It was supposed to be some far.
off body Of water lying somewhere under the arc.
tic circle. Yet there we have Puget Sound, and
the country west of the Cascade Mountains, in
Washington Territory, equaling the State Of
New York, almost in extent, having two.thirds
the area Of the State Of New York, and, in pro-
portion to her area, having as much arabic land,
and having climate as mild ! the winter as
as the climate Of the Carolinas. We have
that splendid and caracious Puget Sound, the
most magnificent rOadstead on the shores Of all
the oceans, with sixteen hundred miles Of
shore-line, and her numerous harbors, defensi-
bic, land-locked, and cOmmOdiOus. We have on
the shores Of that Sound forest growth which
will supply the markets Of all the ports Of the
Pacific with lumber, and the navies Of the earth
with spars, for all time 10 come. The Territory
is rich in coal, and in the fisheries Of her coast
fisheries Of cod, halibut and salmon. If we 80
cast Of the Cascade Mountains, either in Oregon
OF Washington, we come there TO a delightful
pastoral and agricultural country, inviting not
only the grazicr and the wool-grower, but the
husbandman. suppose that, within the limits
Of our Union, there is no portion of the country
where woOlgrowing will be so profitable as il will
be on the interior plains Of these two Territories.
In southern Oregon and northern Washington
there are extensive ana ricn go'a heiuS Ihus'
that country, which was supposed 70 % SIMPLY
a country for miners and for few traders, is this
day country Of great agricultural capacity, as
wei as Of great mineral wealth. us mineral
wealth have not dwelt unon because IL il known
Of all men. The numbering and timber need
not do more than merely aliude TO, as ! have
DONE on another branch oil the subject l shall
come oaek 70 ras'. SOunu ana pan francesca,
~ e0nneetion WIN uhS 'raue o. the faeinc' ana
! snaii tnen 'ake occasion TO present some more
observations IN regard 70 thelr resources
Aiter setting iorth the advantages claimed Tor
he fisa rairoad routes sou.h' Nr stevens 'urhS
TO inc northern route as i0l'ows
Inc reportso OF tnat route snow 'hat the ROCKY
Mountain region, lnS'eAo Oi Oe't's Closed uP"i'n
,sc ano SNOW e'sn' nOn'i's " ns yea', S oe-
hsnuu' Pas'Oiai anu as'''ui'u's u e'a"uy' "nV'e
Sa'ue can sra1e ,no year rouhu "nerO ne'ner
,nc lnoians nor 'ne wnl'cs nave 70 iurnisn iOa'
uer 'Or .ns mln'sri wnerc nVUVrs or'ns iOr'n
Ou"s "..'s,u." li'oSs' Mn.'e 'r' ,a'uy srvW
se' Auu .ii's = .ne o',Arac'er Q, ','"' i'OeNy
HVu"'a" Wv" 'o"'v' oS'"ve' ."e '0r'y se'enu'
anu 'Orv -Hsn'n pa'"''e,S We nnu ." 'na' rou'e
~ ueSsr' We ,nu on 'u.' ros'e no ue'nO,,uou'
s.Oesi We 'nu wy Country 'u',S nSAi ~ ara
ole, au.p,ea . sla.lns' 'ns ArAOe uAe'S r"ays ,
~ suV., uaS',"scs ~i,AIs ,'u '"N"! '",so oOue'