Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-01-03
A Territorial Nineralogist,

! EDITOR STANDARD .-AThe mineral re.
sources Of the Territory which have just CON-
menced being developed by the hardy miner,
and the extent and value Of which are as vet
unknown, induces the writer to call the atten-
ton Of the Honorable Legislature to the sub.
ject, as being one prseminently within their
province to assist in by wise and liberal Leg
islation, and to this end he would respectfully
suggest that Territorial Mineraiogist-
man, who, from his experience and learning
in that peculiar science, would command the
respect aud confidence of the people, and
whose duty it should be to examine and test
the various evidences of minerals and metals
that abound especially in the districts east of
the Cascade mountains, who should report
the result of his examinations and investiga-
tions to Board Of Commissioners, consisting
of the Governor. Secretary of Territory and
Speaker of the House Of Representatives,
once in every two months; said report to be
made public in one or more newspapers of
the Territory, for the benefit and information
Of the community. not only here but else
where. This proposition is by no means nov.
el, and experience in several of the older
States of the Union has proved that the pub
lished researches of State Mineralogist,
have tended more than anything else, to de-
velop the resources of several States, instance
Iowa. Missouri, Wisconsin, Georgia and the
Carolinas. The lead mines of Galena, the
gold mines of Carolina and Georgia, would
have probably been as much in their infancy
this day, as is the inexhaustible mineral
wealth Of this Territory now. had it not been
for the researches Of competent State Mineral
ogists. and this alone presents an unanswera-
bic argument why liberal Territorial legisla-
ton should b. had The writer of this, has
seen unmistakable evidence of rich mineral
wealth in tho vicinity of the Cascades, where,
to use the words of Columbia Lancaster,
." the Columbia river, like the principles Of
civil and religious liberty, has burst the ba.
saltic formation of the Cascade range Of
mountains, and emptied itself into the broad
Pacific" Indeed, any one who has visited
the mining district east of the Cascades, will
bear me out in the assertion, that the vast
mineral wealth, independent of the gold, is as
yet comparatively unknown. 1t may be mr.
gucd that Congress is about to divide the
Territory, and that such an officer would be
Of benefit only to the mining regions let this
be granted, still the existing lows of the Ter.
ritory would temporarily be adopted in the
new Territory to be formed. and the General
Government, with its accustomed magnanimi-
ty, would doubtless assume any debt con-
tracted by the Territory for such laudable
purpose. The existence Of unbounded wealth,
all north of the States of Sinaloa and Sonora,
har been known and published in works writ
ten by the Jesuit Missionaries over $50 years
ago; indeed, all the then known portions of
the Pacific coast north Of the gulf Of Californ-
ia. were denominated California, name,
which in ITSELF signifies volcanic mineral
wealth, its derivation being from two Latin
words (calida .f0'sar) of which the above re-
mark is liberal construction. il
Lot then the Legislature by wise enactment
forestall the General Government in this mat.
ter, it will certainly rebound to their credit,
and in after years and future generations the
fame and wisdom of this Legislature will be-
como proverbial for their foresight and en-
lightened views Of public policy, recollecting
in the words Of the poet that
GAN are but parts of one stupendous whole,
Whose body nature is, and God the soul; n
Who lives In all life, extends through all extent,
Breathes DER all nature, operates unspent:
| Warns in the sun, refreshes in the breeze,
CLOVIS In the stars, and blossoms In the trees;
Breathes in the soul, informs tho mortal part,
As full, as perfect, in q hair-as heart;
As full, as perfect, in vile man that mourns,
As the rapt seraph that adores and burns.
| To Him, no high, no low no great, no small,
He bounds, connects; lie governs, equals all.
| + e. ss- ..a LE MoIN N0ia.
Olympia, Jan. /. 1868.
i