The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-25
Note. or Washington Territory.

Note. OF wsshi"9,o" Territory.
A correspondent In the Sacramento Bee,
who prolesscs to write ins great measure from
personal knowledge, and at the same time
mot for pay or newspaper notoriety." gives
the first part Of "Sketch oi Washington
Territory" IA follows;
The Territory IL bounded on the North
by that part Of British America, Of late
called Columbia on the East by tho Rocky
Mountains. which separate il from Nebras-
ka, on the South by Oregon, and on the
West by the Peciiic Ocean. It's area Ia
1880 square miles- nearly twice thea rca
40 Virginia. II extends from 4G deg TO
AZ deg. Of north latitude. and from 2 deg
TO l2i deg. Of longitude wcat from Green
wich. I,s width In therefore about POT
statute miles, and ia greatest length is
about $50 miles Anteo dent 10 the settle
ment Of tho Northwest boundary question
between the United States and Great Brit.
ain, during President Folks administration.
ths region Of the country which is now
Washington Territory. was then claimed 10
be l!rtiah soil. and was called by the lIud.
sons bay Company, New Georgia. From
the settlement Of tho boundary question un
III the year 1853. 1t constituted part Of
Oregon. In tho latter year the Territory Of
Oregon was by an act Of Congress, divided.
and Territorial Government for the Terri
tory Of Washington was established, Pre-
vious to the late Influx. the population Of
The Territory wa estimated at $500
souls.
The present organized counties Of Wash.
ington Territory. arc fifteen. named az fol-
lowe, ClaIlan Island, Savannah Chehalli.,
Pacific, Wahkiacum. Cowlitz, Clarke. Cha.
mania. Lewis, 1hurston. Pierce. Jefferson
King, Whateom and Wala.Walla
TIE Cascade Mountain which appear
20 be a continuation OF the Sierra Nevad..
chain, extend across the country from North
10 South. nearly parallel with tho coast and
about 80 miles east Of II, Mount Baker,
in this chain. IA but short distance south
ol Erohrs River aud its summit ia 1000
icct above tho level Of the sra The aver
age altitude Of tho Cascades, however, can.
not be much above 1000 fest. while the
Snoqualmic Pass in the same chain. is only
1901 lc,, above the tide water. Tho 0lym.
pic Mountains. another lofty chain, extend
North and South across the westerly end OF
the Territory, but at some distance east Of
the coast These mountains commence TO
rise a short distance north Of the Columbia
RIVER, and terminate al the Straits of San
Juan de Fuca Another rangc Of low
mountains called the CTir Inca, crosses
the country parallel with, aud abou, ono
hoDdnd mllts west OF the Rocky Mouu.
taing
TIE rivers are numerous The principal
ones are all. however, cast Of the Cascade
Mountains. and drain the great valley which
lies between those and the Rocky MopQ,aigl
Those rivers are the Columbia ard its. inf.
mite number o; branches, the Yackiai 'a,.i
the Bitter Root. The valley which. lys Oh
bo,h sides OF tho Sound. bt,s:cn i,s U'yIr
PIC and Cascade Moun'1Ihs, /, .,s,a.l. lr,
an almost culIs@ number OF limpid streams,
but. with two exceptions, too rapid and
shallow for navigation.
The great inland sea which peoe,ratrs 10
all directions that portion Of the territory
lying wcst OF the Cascade Mountains, Is one
OF tho most remarkable sheets of water in the
world. This remarkable body OF water *.
teBds inland and parallel with the main ocean
coast. from fugets Sound, in Is deg -
mia. n, to Lynn Canal, in Russian AmeSi-
ca. in 80 deg -. a distance Of miro hundred
miles. It's average width ia about fifty
miles, and IL Is connected with the ocean by
the Straits OF fucs, Qucen Charlot,es Sound
Dixon's Entrancc, Clarence Slralis, at!onl
ing 10 almost any OF these attitudes an easy
and safe ngrcss AMI cgwss Ia the larg,s,
ships in the world, Tia, portion Of ,hi,
sheet Of water which lies in American terri.
tory is completely notified up with islands
portion OF which arc exceedingly icrtiIs
sul valuable. but the major part o. which
ART dry, rocky and barren The beholdel
on viewing the confusion with which those
small islands are s,rewn about. here and
there, fOr tle FIRST time ia his life, perhaps
becomes impressed with the idea that Ma
turc, When she formed tina, country, mus
have been in sullcn mood, and paid no rcgarC
10 order, the most iavorte Of all her laws