, 1863-01-24
Letter from italy.
The following letter from, Andrew J.
Stevens, .. S. Consul at Leghorn, may
have some interest to our readers

The following letter from. Andrew J
Stevens, .. S. Consul at LeghOrn, may
have some interest to our readers:
LEGHoRN, ITALY, Oct 9th, 1862.
EDS. STATESMAN noticed from a New YORK
paper which received few days since, that the
Government Military Road leading from Walls
Walla to Fort Benton on the upper Missouri had
been completed and that the officer having the
work in charge, had reported himself at Wash.
ington.
Now, it has occurred to me, that this military
road IS very important to your growing and pros
porous territory, as opening up new and favora-
bic route by which to reach the waters of the Co.
lumbia and the rich gold fields of both Washing
ton Territory and British Columbia from the At
lantic seaboard and l have taken he liberty OF
addressing you this note for the purpose of urg-
irg you to call attention to the completion of this
road, through the columns of your journal, thai
emigrants may be informed of itG advantage and
induced to avail themselves OF lit, in their journeys
to the Pacific
There are many persons in Europe who are
deslrous of emigrating to the gold mines border
ing upon the head waters of the Columbia
and Frazer Rivers, who are deferred from doing so
from the great expense of a sea voyage via Pan
anna, and the length and tediousness of the our-
ney by the usual overland route. The compile
tion OF the road in question obviates all these diff
fculies; and the emsrant from Europe to your
territory, can reach New York by sailing vessel,
thence by canal and lake, to Chicago-thence to
st. Joseph by rail and from that point by steam
boat to Fort Benton, and by coaches to Walla
Walla. The completion of the Dubuque and
Western Railroad through Northern Iowa, will
materially shorten the route by making Sioux
City the point from which the steamboat part of
the journey would commence, in place of St.
Joseph
Aline of light draft steamers on the Missouri
and proper four-horse coaches to run between
Fort Benton and Walla Walla, should be placed
upon this route the coming spring, in season for
the emigration that will then be vending its way
to the new gold fields of Washington Territory
By promptly avalrg themselves oflhe advantages
which nature and the Government have placed at
their disposal, the citizens of your territory will
reap untold advantages, and trust that they will
not let so favorable an opportunity pass unim,
proved.
BY calling attention to this new route of travel
and placing fully before the public it's advantages
you will perform great service to those who are
desrous of reaching one of the most inviting of
our territories, and you will also have done much
towards Fastening the day when Washington shall
be hailed as the Northwest State of the Ame-
rican Union.
was so pleased with your territory when Wis
tied it four years ago-its magnificent inland sea,
forming a barbor sufficient to accommodate the
shipping of the whole worlds its towering noun
tans, fertile valleys, untold mineral wealth, valu-
able forests and its delightful climate, that cannot
allow any opportunity to pass, by which l can add
to the advancement of a portion of our
country which has before it such brilliant and
2 81 I
for troubling you with the foregoing sugges-
tions.
Hoping at no distant day to become citizen Of
your rapidly progressing territory.
am very truly yours
ANDREW ]. STEVENS.