, 1858-12-17

ness relations diametrically opposed to them,
should earnestly demand their speedy extinc-
ton within our Territory.
Our war debt, in which every citizen Is inter
ested, either in his own behalf or as matter Of
justice to bis neighbor, still remains unadiustcd.
The money expended-the material furnished
the services rendered-all remain unliquidated.
Many obstacles have been placed in its way
malice has vented its spleen and
egotism have given their deliberate opinion, and
detraction has done its utmost Yet, there
stands the record, confirmed by the blood Of our
murdered citizens, by ruined houses and devas
tated farms, and by solitary Lock houses dotting
the country west Of the Cascades. BY that re-
cord We can proudly stand A commission was
appointed to Investigate these claims, consisting
Of two army officers and a civilian, and by them
the accounts were audited, with scarcely an alter
alton. The whole matter was referred 10 Con-
gress, and by it to one Of the most prominent
members of the Military Committee, to be invcs-
tigated during the recess, and we may expect a
report early during the present session.
beg leave to cal your attention to the condi-
ton Of the Territorial Library. From the re-
motencss Of the Capitol building from the centre
Of the town, and the smallncss Of the salary
allowed by the general government, $4,000 it Is
impossible for any one to hold the Office and give
to il that proper attention which it requires. As
remedy, will suggest, for your consideration,
that the law uniting the Offices Of Territorial
Auditor and Librarian be repealed, and the
County Auditor, Of the county in which the cap
itol may be located, be ex-oificio Librarian CIV
ing bonds for his faithful performance Of this
duty, in addition to his bonds as County Auditor.
His duties as Auditor could be performed at the
Library, as well as at any other place, and he
could, at the same time, keep charge Of the books,
for which, under these circumstances, the pre-
sent salary would be an adequate remuneration.
You are aware that there is no legislative en-
actment authorizing the executive to offer re-
wards for prisoners escaping from confinement
Cases have occurred, and may hereafter occur, in
which, to meet the strict ends Of justice, il would
be Of advantage that reward should be offered
for the reclamation Of the fugitive. In order,
therefore, to render the dccrccs Of our Courts
more certain and decisive and to prevent the
ends Of justice from being defeated, ! would
recommend the passage Of a law investing the
Governor Of the Territory with some discretion
ary power in this matter.
OF the amounts appropriated by Congress for
erection Of o Capitol, and Pcniteutiary, none
has as yet been expended. The act Of the Leg
islative Assembly locating the Capitol, required
that the title to the site for the same should be
approved by the Attorney General Of the United
States, before any Of the money should be a?-
piled to the erection Of the building or the i'm
provement Of the site. The title deeds to the
ground have been submitted to the Attorney
General, but from a mistake in not sending on
copies Of the whole record, (not knowing what
would be required) they have not been approved.
The necessary papers have been Transmitted, the
defect supplied, and we may expect definite
opinion in due course Of mail. Of the state Of
the title to the site for the Penitgntiary, am
not advised.
One Of the most material elements Of wealth
within this Territory, is its rich coal fields.
Those Of Bcllingham Bay arc the only ones
which have been worked to any extent, and their
resources have been recently more fully devcl-
oped, q shaft has been sunk TO the depth Of five
hundred feet, and coal bearing fair comparison
with the best English Goals procured. The
thickness Of the vein is twenty-five feet, and the
quality emi.bituminous. The analysis Of the
Superintendent gives
Carbon 5oper cent
Volatile Matter %
Ashes
In order more fully to develop this great in
terest, and as a matter Of convenience to such
Of our steam vessels Of war as may cruise in
these waters, will suggest as a subject Of me
mortal the establishment by the United States
Of coal depot within our waters, similar TO
what they have maintained in other arts Of the
world, at which certain number Of tons should
always be kept on hand.
The great and.important lumber interests Of
the Territory are shown by tho extensive estab-
lishments, both Of the Columbia River and Puget
Sound, which export to all parts Of the world
manufactured lumber, spars and piles, and carry
on business Of not less than two millions Of
dollars per year. Our magnificent forests Of the
most valuable timber Of fir, cedar and pine, are
unequalled in extent and unrivaled in accessible
ity on the globe.
The commission constituted on the rart Of the
United States for the survey Of the boundary
line between this Territory and Great Britain, is
still in operation, but as to its progress or results
have no information. The commission on the
part Of Great Britain has arrived, and the two are
at present jointly engaged in the undertaking. In
view Of the constitution Of the Colony Of British
Columbia, and the probability Of its receiving a
rapid increase Of population It's material to the
welfare Of this Territory, in order TO avoid all
possible disputes as TO jurisdiction, that this
boundary line should be surveyed and marked to
the Rocky Mountain
In this connection, viii call your attention TO
the line between Oregon and Washington, and
in the event Of the probable admission Of Ore
gon into the Union as a State, suggest the expc-
diency Of having that line surveyed and marked.
This line has already been estimated for by the
Suryeycr-General, in his annual report, to be
used as base line for the further progress Of
the land surveys east Of the Cascades. b
The extension Of the public surveys during
the past year have developed large bodies Of
excellent farming lands upon the lower Colum-
bia and Chehalis Rvcrs-upon Grey's Harbor,
the Cowlitz, the Peniusular between Puget
Sound and Hoods Canal, and also, u,pon the
southern shores Of the Straits Of Juan de Fuca.
From the office Of the Surveyor-General, am
cnabed TO furnish the fnlloMing inlnrfnlt on since