, 1863-01-03

est and most thickly settled localities of our Ter
ritory are yet on unsurveyed lands, amongst
which may be mentioned Boiseport the Villa
paw valley, and the rich bodies of the bottom
lands upon the Puyallup and White rivers.
The large emigration Of the past year, will, o
necessity induce the occupancy Of large portion
of the public domain yet unsurveyed This fact
together with the earlier settled lands before re-
ferred to, requires at your hands an earnest me-
mortal to Congress for an increased appropriation
to continue and extend the surveys Of such pub
lie lands as will secure to all settlers a full and
fair opportunity Of perfecting their titles To
prevent our present necessities from being fur
ther drain on the Treasury at this time. when ev-
cry dollar is needed by the nation in its glorious
struggle to perpetuate its existence, would it not
be well, in connection with this subject, to me-
morialize the proper department to bring the
public lands into market.
The revenue derived from such sales would be
paid into the Treasury sufficiently soon to antci-
pate the accounts of the VarF9 surveyors, who
would be engaged upon ,hatzs.i1s.i
PAY AND OFFICE.
BY an act of Congress, approved 3Oth Of May,
1852 the salaries of the Registers and Receivers
of our land offices were reduced from two thou
sand five hundred dollars to five bundled dollars
and fees per annum, which together, l am in
formed will not make their compensation under
said law more than about six hundred and fifty
dollars per year. The great distance between a
large portion of our people. and the location of
the land offices of the Territory causes a large
amount of written applications for various infor-
nation, respecting their donation and preemption
claims, for all of which useful and unavoidable
correspondence no fees whatever are allowed
such services on the part of the officers, are en-
trely extra official, and constitute no part Of their
respective duties. The legitimate duties Of Reg
isters and Receivers are we'll known to be burden
some, and laborous; these are positions of
weighty responsibility evidenced by the fact that
the Receiver at Olympia gives approved bonds
to the large amount of one hundred and thirty
five thousand dollars. 1t may readily be per-
ceive,, tha: the small compensation of six hundred
and fifty dollars per annum is entirely inadequate
and disproportonase to the amount of services
and responsibilities required of them.
To the people it is of vital interest that our
land offices should be continued in charge Of
competent and responsible persons, whose pay
should be sufficient to reasonably compensate
them for their services.
l respectfully ask your attention to this sub
iect, for the purpose of memorializng Congress-
to provide such suitable relief as the case re-
quires.
1t is highly important to the people of the
eastern and southeastern portion Of our Territory
that the Indian title to all lands between South
Pass and the Columbia river should be extin-
guished. treaty with the Indians eifectng this
very desirable object would be the best means of
averting the terrible calamity Of an organized
Indian nsurrection, if once brought about, would
be far more terrific in its consequences than the
late sudden ar unexpected uprising Of the Indians
in Minnesota, where it appears about eight hun
dred white people were cruelty slaughtered, and
a large amount Of property was destroyed Were
an Indian war to break out in the valley of the
Snake River, or in any other part of our mining
region where the land is yet owned by the In
dians, it would operate as signal fire that would
rouse to arms ether Indians ofthis and neighbor-
ing Territories. Our thinly settled population
would be as suddenly surprised, and as entirely
unprepared to resist general outbreak, as were
the unsuspecting people of Minnesota. Should
such an unfortunate war OF the races be again
forced upon the people of our Territory and in
all probability the conflict would assume that of
a bloody character, resulting finally in the exter-
mination of the savages.
The news is daily coming to US that our ex-
ploring miners penetrating further and fur
ther searching for gold, in these hitherto unfre-
quented places.
The occupancy of these lands, the Indian title
to which has not been extinguished, induces them
to consider our miners and farmers as intruders.
There is great danger that such reasoning upon
the part of the Indian may at any day be consid-
cred sufficient canse for the commencement of
hostililes. Protection to our miners, develop
ing the mineral wealth of this region, requires
the immediate attention of the national Govern
ment. The passage Of an act by Congress pro-
vidng for the extinction Of the Indian title to
these lands will be the best course to preserve
the blessings of peace to our Territory. l have
no doubt your application to Congress on this
subject will meet with success.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The establishment of an Agricultural College
would secure permanent benefits to the people of
the Territory the importance Of which must be
apparent to all. l would therefore urge the
adoption of a memorial praying for Congress for
grant Of land in aid of such an institution.
MILITARY SCHOOL.
The current history of the mighty events now
transpiring teach us the importance of providing
our people with military education, to prepare
them for exigencies which may arise from inva-
sion without, or civil war within. Vhe formation
at this time, of a suitable school for military in
struetion, would be of material advantage TO the
Territory, and the future State to aid in such an
OOlecC, congress WOulu uuuOuOJeuly Oe Wiling 10
make grant of land.
l commend the subject to your favorable no
tice, as eminently entitled to a strong memorial
to that body
RAILROAD.
The Act of Congress approved July lst, 1862,
providing the necessary means to secure the con-
struction of Pacific Railroad and Telegraph
line merits the warmest congratulations of the
people of the United States, and more especially
is it a matter of vital Importance, to the future
convenience, prosperity and general welfare of
the population the States and Territories West of
the Rocky Mountains.
Whatever action your honorable body may
think proper to take in memorializing Congress
to provide similar aid for the construction of a
branch Railroad to the Columbia River, or in
favor of Northern Road from Minnesota to
Puget Sound, will doubtless meet with the ap-
probation of the people you represent.
FORTIFICATIoNs
Land Fortifcations, together with an Iron clad
Monitor so necessary to the protection of our
fast increasing commercial business, Shipping,
Towns, Lumber r-mannfacturing, and Coal-mining
establishments on Puget Sound, and the Column
bia River, requires the immediate attention of
the United States Government therefore, prop
er subject for your early consideration for me
mortal to Congress.
TELEGRAPH.
The advantages Arising from the transmission
of information across this continent by the means
of Telegraph is duly appreciated by the people
West of the Rocky Mountains, who take lively
interest in the mighty contest going on in the
c.. Ill.