, 1858-10-08
Pacific Railroad.
MEETING OF CITIZENS OF THURsToN COUNTY IN
FAVOR OF THE NORTHERN ROUTE.

FAVOR OF THE NORTHERN ROUTE.
At large and enthusiastic meeting Of
the citizens of Olympia, held at the Ma
sonic Hall, on Wednesday, September 29th
1858, on motion of r. NJ Walker, Elwood
Evans, Esq, was called to the chair; and
on motion of Gen. w. w. Miller, r. NJ
Walker was elected Secretary.
The meeting being thus organized, the
chairman was called upon to state the OBJ
ject of the meeting, to which call Mr.
Evans responded in some brief remarks.
On motion of Mr.. Walker the chairman
appointed a committee of five to draft reso-
lutions expressive of the sense of the meet
ing. Which committee was constituted as
follows:-R. NJ. Walker Gen. Miller, T.
NJ Reed, VIM. N. Ayers and DR.. G. K
Willard.
The committee, after having retired, re-
ported the following preamble and rcsolu-
tions:
WHEREAS, The recent unprecedented and
rapid development Of the gold mines on the
northwest coast in Washington Territory
and the British Possessions, and the great
rush of miners there from California, pre-
sents on anomalous and extraordinary con-
dition Of things, calling for the prompt ac-
tion Of the Federal Government in opening
and protecting the overland routes to these
mines from the Mississippi valley, and
WHEREAS, The nearest and most direct
route to these mines from the upper Miss
issippi and the great lakes, is that surveyed
by Gov. Stevens in 1858, 1854 and 1855,
connecting the navigable waters of the
Missouri and Columbia-lurnishing to emf
grants from the States, both water route
by the Missouri to Fort Benton, and
land route to the same point from St. Paul;
and on debouching from the mountain
region, connecting with trails leading either
to Fort Colville, the heart of the mining
region east of the Cascade mountains, and
thence to Thompson and Frazer rivers, or
to the Columbia valley, or direct to Puget
Sound, and
WHEREAS, The recent Indian disturb
ances in this Territory having suspended
the operations of Lieut. Mullen who, re-
ceiving orders some months since, had arri-
we'd in the Columbia valley, organized his
party, and was actually on his way from
the Dalles to open wagon road from
Fort Wala-walla to Fort BentOn-the
lonly portion of the ronte where work is indis-
pensible to open summer emigrant road
practicable for wagons-and which dis
turbances threaten to close access to these
regions, both by the Northern and South
Pass routes.
Therefore, be ii ResOlred, That it is the
duty of the general government to prose
cute with vigor and with all the strength
which it can apply, the Indian war, to the
end that the Indians in arms may feel the
strength and power Of our government, and
may be reduced to unconditional submis-
sion to its authority.
ResOlred, That ample appropriations
should be made to open wagon road from
St. Paul, by the line of the Missouri and
Columbia, to Puget Sound-giving access
to the gold fields Of the northwest; and
that appropriations should also be made to
place light dranght steamers, of great
power and suitable construction, on the up
per Missouri aud Columbia rivers, and
thereby determine practically all the facts
n reference to the navigability of these
rivers for steamers.
Resolrcd, That we rejoice at the appro-
priations which have been made for open
ing wagon roads from the Mississippi val
ley to California, and that we ask in the
spirit of justice, that similar appropriations
be made connecting the great northwest Of
the Mississippi valley with the prolific and
teeming northwest Of the Pacific coast,
Resolred, That Congress, by an act ap-
proved March Sd, 1855, having established
mail route from St. Anthony, on the
Mississippi river, TO Puget Sound, a mail
service should at once be put on this line,
it being that of the proposed wagon road.
Resolved, That in any scheme of Pa
cifc railroad, we must urge the paramont
advantages Of the northern route surveyed
by Gov. Stevens, in a material point of
view, the question being whether the great
railroad line connecting the basin of the
St. Lawrence and the upper Mississippi,
and the waters of the Pacific hanking the
newly discovered gold region, shall run
through American or foreign territory.
This route, moreover, is the shortest route
connecting water lines across the territory
Of the United States-passes through the
most fertile region-is in nearer connection
with Europe and Asia, and is backed up
directly by the largest railroad enterprise
and capital of the country. The expert
ence of the Grand Trunk and other rail-
roads of Canada, and three of the north
ern States, show conclusively how futile are
the objections to the northern route as re-
CARDS snow and cold, and the ability Of the
country to push its railroad system to the
shores of the Pacific.
ResOlred, That in our judgment the gov
ernment should give equivalent aid in any
scheme of a Pacific railroad, to at least
thraa rodds. that this aid shOuld consist