Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1860-12-15
The Governors Message.

HclnblN. IL reflects great crcUlt upon
its author, and we regrets want Of room
to spread it atlcngth before our readers.
Every person in Washington Territory
should be possessed ola copy, and give
tia careful reading. 1t is plain, straight
forward and practical; details matters
of interest to the people in business
like way, without attempt at rhetorical
display, and is entirely Invested Of amy
matters foreign to the Territory and its
peculiar interests.
1t opens with a brief notice of the
present condition of the Territory, and
may be considered as treating. f'St OF
subjects suggestive of memorials to
Congress or the Departments: sgco,"d,
subjects suggesting amendments i'll the
laws of the Territory; Hid, Il general
view of the present condition of the
Territory, based upon the official acts
of its various officers.
Considerable attention is devoted to
Military Roads. This part of the Mes
sage is entitled to special consideration.
The suggestions made arc really valu-
able. We may be excused forrctcrring
to the following extracts:
cit affords Inc much pleasure to state
that the military road from Fort Ben
ton to Walla Walla is row so far COM
plctcd as to allow the passage of wag-
Ons over the entire route. On the 18th
Of October last, Il military command
under Major Blake, arrived from Fort
Benton by this road, making the trip
in tifty-sevcn days. | am informed by
Lieut.. Mullan, the able and energetic
officer in charge of the construction Of
this road that with the work of two
seasons more it will be completed. In
connection with this road, would call
yourattcntion to that proposcdby Lieut..
Mullan, from Fort Laramie to the Deer
Lodge Valley. Capt. Reynolds, under
instructions from the War Department,
made an exploration of "a portion ofthis
line during the past summer, and it is
reported that it travcrscS- an cmincntly
easy and beautiful region. If opened,
it will shorten the present cmigrant
route several hundred miles, enabling
the emf grants torcach their new homes
at an early season. | would suggest
Tat tho War Department be mcmori-
allied to direct an examination of this
route"
The Importance of communication
between Puget Soundand WalIa Walla.
ya the Cascade Mountains, to connect
with the road from Wala WaIla to Fort
Benton, and road from the Sound
through one of the passes Of the Cas-
cadcs to Fort Colvillc, is developed.
Roads from Stcilacoom to Vancouver,
and thence to the Dallcs from Stella
COON to Bcllingham Bay, and from
Stcilacoom toll militarypost at Gray's
Harbor, arc all urged as essential to
the proper defense of the Territory,
and arc recommended as proper sub
jccts of memorial.
The recent massacre at Salmon Falls
is alluded to, and in this connection the
Legislature is requested to adopt Il
memorial urging the immediate cstab-
lishment of a military postin the vicin-
ity of Fort Boise, with the view to the
protection and security of immigration.
The discovery of gold in the Wcnat-
chcc, Similkamccn and Clearwater re-
gions, which must in the coming sea-
son draw hither vast number of
miners, is properly commented upon
as an urgent reason for Congress at
once to extend its aid by sufficient ap-
preparations to secure and protect the
settlers in those regions, by building
proper and necessary roads, thereby af-
fording facility for transportation and
the movement of troops and settlers.
The Governor thus alludcs to the
progress during the year towards the
erection of the public Buildings of the
Territory:
"In February last, Governor Ghol-
son received information from the Treas
ury Department that the title to the site
selected for the Capitol had been APP
proved by the Acknowledgement of the
United States, and that portion of the
funds appropriated for the erection of
the building had been forwarded to the
Chief Justice of the Territory to be de-
1ivered to his Excellellcy, on his cXccu-
ting bond as Discussing Agent. The