Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-07-02
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 9, 1861.
A Road Across the Mountains.

A Road Across the Mountains.
A meeting is to be held at the Capitol this
afternoon at / o'clock, TO inaugurate measures
for this desirable object. We are pleased that
our business men have moved in the matter.
The names appended to the call indicate that
the road will be constructed without delay,
and certainly in time for the immigration now
onthe plains to come through with their wagons
this fall. ia p~assable road is opened, We
dout not but that hundreds of families will
winter with us and the coming spring locate
homesteads upon our rich lands now inviting
settlement.
On several occasions during the past three
years we have directed the attention of our
people to the Importance of opening a road
between this section of country and the upper
Columbia. We urged as a reason for the no
cessity that, if it was not done, we would per-
manently lose all the advantages that accrue
from the gold mines east of the mountains,
properly our own, and that they would but
result to the advantage of our ncighbors in
Oregon. Two years ago we predicted JUST the
state of things we arc now practically realiz-
ing. We urged our citizens to subscribe the
funds necessary for the work, and those who
had not money todonate. to turn out on masse
with their axes and spades and open the road.
We estimated that forty men could in a short
period of six weeks, construct a road passable
for wagons with light loads. between Olyn-
pia and Wallula. Our confidence in the prac-
ticability of the undertaking has been in no
manner lessened since that time. We believe
that responsible parties can be found, who
will undertake to open the road by the first
Of September, without u days volunteer labor,
for two thousand dollars.
1t is well known that many Of the miners
who winter in the Willamette valley and i'll
California, would spend their winters upon the
Sound if they could make the journey at rea-
sonablc cost. AS matters now are, many who
leave this vicinity for the mines, fail to return,
owing to the great cost of the trip, and find
permanent homes elsewhere. Instead of the
mines having increased our population and
business upon the Sound, both have been
steadily diminishing. If the road now pro-
posed had been opened three years ago, they
would have been at least doubled. 1t is USE.
less to expect an accessions to our population
unless we open a way for immigrants to get
here, and no increase Of business can be real
lied without an increase of population. EN-
igrants will continue to flock into the William
cite valley by thousands, from sheer necessi-
ty. who would prefer this Territory for a per-
manent home. If we make the proposed
road, they will come. but not unless we do so.
The distance from Wallula to this point is
less than that from Portland here, and the diff
ference in bringing a family from that place to
Portland, or here, would be ten-fold in our IA
vor, if immigrants could come through to the
Sound with their teams and wagons.
There is likewise a consideration of a polit-
cal character which should cause tho people
west Of the mountains to awaken from their
Rip Van Wrinkle sleep Of a few years past.
When they went to sleep, the country east of
the mountains had a single member in our
House Of Representatives. They now have
eight, showing that the population there has
increased eight times as fast as on this side of
the mountains. Two years hence, at the same
ratio, they will have the entire control of the
Legislature, which advantage they will very
naturally use for their own local interests.
1t is folly to talk about a railroad to the
Sound. until it is practically demonstrated
that a good wagon road can be made over the
route. When the road is constructed we have
. beginning made, which will result in the
construction Of a railroad, and secure to
the Sound a large proportion Of the trade now
monopolized by Oregon. These are self evil
dent truths. 1t is 10 be hoped that the pee
pie here. and at other points on the Sound,
will arouse from their lethargy. and instead Of
dreaming Of our future greatness and wealth,
use the means now within their reach which
cannot fail to secure both.