, 1862-12-13
Editorial Correspondence.
OLYMPIA Dec. 2nd 19l

of folks feel inclined to sleep, and conse-
quently the steamer seldom leaves her
wharf without leaving somebody behind
Although it is disagreeable hour to
emerge from a comfortable bed into the
chilling fog, it must nevertheless be done
if one would ride on the Cotolitz and in
dulgence don't help the matter in the least,
as each successive morning rings out the
five o'clock admonition. At one o'clock
we were landed at Monticello, and had the
pleasure of dining with our old friend, Dr.
Burbank, at really one of the most luxuri-
Gus and best spread tables that it has been
our good fortune to find in the country
1t was thanksgiving day, and it was
thanksgiving dinner-so far at least as the
passengers were concerned, for they gene
rally expressed themselves to this effect.
At Monticello we took the stage-a two
horse open vehicle-and proceeding twelve
miles to what is called the foot of the
mountain, exchanged our mos. pnleomafiQzt.
able seats in the mud-wagon for saddle
horses, for distance of sixteen miles, over
| the mountain and over what l should call
the worst piece of road ever travelled. Here
we halted for the night and at four next
morning took the ''coach" again-this time
an ordinary lumber wagon, with old-fash-
ioned spring poles inside the box to sup
port the seats, and proceeding forward at
the rate of sixty miles in twelve hours, re-
ceived most severe pounding before our
arrival in Olympia. We travelled the Mill
tary road, which was opened by the gov
ernment at cost of thirty thousand dol
lars. The old road leaves the Cowlitz
river at the old Cowlitz landing, and is
said 20 be better than the military road,
the settlers generally preferring it. A
great deal of rough corduroy" work has
been done by the citizens on the military
road, but for which / am informed il would
be even now impossible. There are fine
agricultural settlements along the road,
and some very desirable farms. The whole
country has, however, the appearance of
having been at some time in a far more
prosperous condition than at present.
Many places which would make really de-
sirable homesteads if cultivated, are in a
measure run down, and others are entirely
deserted Claquato, is the name of neat
little town on the Chehalis, comprising a
hotel, store, school house, and several nice
residences; and is situated in the midst of
very rich agricultural country. The
| Sound, so far as have seen, is emphati-
cally timbered country, with rugged un-
even surface, with here and there small val
leys of rather poor land, some of it en-
tirely unsusceptible of profitable cultiva-
| ton.
Olympia is situated at the head of the
Sound, which, is perhaps couple of miles
in width as far down as you can see. The
town has an extremely antiquated, not to
say dilapidated and shabby appearance
The surface of the ground upon which it
is built is quite uneven-there being here
and there a ravine, hilIock, and a hollow,
rendering the building and the shape of the
town very irregular and ungraceful. A
portion of the town is set upon stills in or
der to escape the high tide, and when the
tide is up l am told the inhabitants resort
to lat-boats and skiffs. One solitary
wharf, which looks as though it needed re-
pairs,-or perhaps appears awkward IN its
loneliness-leads out two or three hundred
yards into the Sound, which the steamer
and small craft are obliged to approach
when the tide is in, and await and watch
the same favorable opportunity for leaving.
There are two or three elegant residences
in town, and two magnificent livery sta
bles. Further the deponent, as a man of
truth and veracity, maketh no favorable
mention. The capital building is about
! three quarters of a mile from town, loca-
ted in the woods-atfording spouting +"
members the opportunity to draw inspira-
ton from the tall frs which stand thickly
about the building. rather than from too
frequent ''imbibifcations. I don't know
but the idea is good enough, but it is a
horrible long walk, up hill at that.
The members from the lower country are
all in excepting two. Seven are still ab-
sent from east of the mountains. The
Council have not yet temporarily organ
ized-waiting for the absent members
The House met on Monday and made a
temporary organization by the election of
Mr.. Chas. Eagan, speaker, and Nlf, Hurd,
chief clerk. 1t was the general desire of
the members to give the absentees chance
to get in before the permanent organization
was made, and consequently many did not
attend on Monday. A committee on Gre
dentals was appointed, and the House ad-
! journed until to-day. With the same mu-
tual understanding in respect to waiting for
absent members, the House convened to-
day at eleven o'clock. The committee on
credentials asked further time to report,
/ l.. l. II Il,