Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-08-15
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST Is, 1863
Wagon Road Across the Mountains.

Wagon Road Across the Mountains.
We have on several occasions within the
past two years directed the attention of the
people of the Territory, and more especially
of the Sound region, to the Importance of con-
structing good passable wagon road from
the Sound to the Upper Columbia. While
nobody questions the Importance of the speedy
construction of such road, and all concede
that the business and population of the Sound
region is steadily diminishing rather than in
creasing for the want of still no active steps
have been taken by our citizens for the con-
struction of the road, nor have we seen any
indication of such a purpose. We intend to
do our duty as n public journalist. by agitat-
ing the subject from time to time, in the hope
that our property holders, as well as all other
classes of our citizens, may awake from their
lethargy. and realize the fact that unless
something is done to secure a portion of the
population now pouring into tho Territory
east Of the mountains We shall very soon be
outnumbered in population, and of course in
representation, the result of which will be the
removal of the capital, and the transfer of
trade which is now languishins upon the
Sound, to other sections Of the Territory.
The practicability of connecting the two
sections by wagon road has been amply dem
onstra'ed. A few months ugo party Of en-
terp,ising citizens, whose capital unfortunately
consisted mainly of their labor, at great sac
ritice of time. explored and marked route
from Olympia to the Upper Columbia, for
wagon road, and they represented it as posi-.
bic to make good road for an outlay of
about two thousand dollars. Small as this
amount is, we believe it would BE- amply suffi.
cient to open a road to enable immigrants with
theif teams to reach the Sound with compar-
alive ease and entire safety. in six Or eight
Days, from the Upper Columbia, and We be-
lieve that if our people will but interest them
selves in this matter, the means can be raised
and the work completed in tim for this sea
sons gration-who are numbered by tens
OF thousands-to come through to the Sound
Those who have travelled over the proposed
route state that u wagon road may BE- con-
s'ructed great portion of the distance with
very little trouble, the principal labor being
required in the building of bridges over the
deeper gulches aud streams.
The advantages which would result to the
business of the whole Sound region from this
investment are apparent to ALL. For the want
of this road. thousands Of emigrants who
would settl" upon our rich alluvial lands, now
unoccupied find their way into Oregon, over
tho mountain trails and down thu Columbia,
and after all put up with mere third.rate
farms.
Those among lis who Aatier themselves that
the capitol may b. retained on the Sound by
ceding the Wala Walla region to Idaho Ter
ritory. are doomed to meet disappointment,
for it will not b. DONE Even If il could be
accomplished. it would, in our opinion, prove
ruinous to the material interests of both SEC.
tions. There is really no diversity Of inter-
est between the Sound and Upper Columbia
that would not b. reconciled by the opening
of the route across the mountains. II this de-.
sirable result, which can be secured for few
thousand dollars. is neglected year or two
longer. our Walla Walla neighbors will have
become so used to the Columbia thorougLfarc,
and there will BE- such concentration of CAPT.
tai along both sides Of the river that it will
then be too late, and we will awake from our
Rip Van Wrinkle sleep to find that We aro
strangers to the more enterprising people who
ndjoin us.
The late discovery Of rich gold diggings on
the bars of tho Upper Columbia add greatly
to the Importance Of the work proposed. II
nothing ia done on the Sound to secure the
rich trade Of that section. it will necessarily
continue to fall in the lap of our Oregon
neighbors. Cities will be built upon the trade
which few thousand dollars will secure to
Olympia and other towns upon the Sound.
But If VIZ persist in adhering to our present
do mothixg policy. town lots will ere long b.
more valuable for farming purposes than any
other, aud the capitol will be removed to either
the upper or lower Columbia. One of two al