, 1864-12-09
The Re-divigion Of idaho.

ment of the TerritOry-dividing it into two
parts, and thus forming two Territories out
of the present large one. The boundaries
are not distinctly set forth. To the Western
half it is proposed to add the county of
Walla Walla, from Washington Territory
and also to take slice from Oregon-UniOn
and Baker counties, we believe. The Lew
iston Age of Nov. Both, in lengthy editO-
rial upon the subject urged with great ear
nestness numerous advantages and benefits
which would be derived from such divis-
ion. The people, as at present situated, it
avowcd were in some instances cut off from
their Capital and Courts by rugged noun
tain ranges that half the year are impossible.
1t says, "By division, these rugged obsta-
cles become boundary course, and the po-
litical communities on either side would en-
Joy easy communication with their respec-
tive capitals, and the seats of their courts,
throughout the year" Speaking of detach-
ing Walla Walla county from Washington
Territory, the Age said: owe have been
told by citizens of Walla Walla that very
great majority of the people Of that town
and valley would prefer the change. They
are compelled to travel three times the actual
distance between them and their capital in
order to reach it. x It is believed
the communities on the Sound and on the
Columbia, seeing that the people of Walla
Walla county would be so manifestly bene-
fitted by the change, would use no effective
opposition to the segregation" The whole
project of division, in short, was regarded as
feasible, and with little effort on the part
of those interested, division could certain
ly be consummated The scheme appeared
to us so well matured, so full Of grand results
and SO easy of attainment, that we almost
came to the conclusion that the division was
a settled fact We began to reckon our
county as attached to the aurferous domain
of the "Gem of the Mountains, and to con-
slider ourselves as part and parcel Of the fix
lures of that Territory, "before the fact. -
We began to look at our political con-
condition and "status" as an integral por-
tion of Idaho Territory, and wondered
whether taxation would be any lighter in
our new and changed condition; and imag-
ined that our county had made lucky es-
cape from an "impending Draft" by getting
into a Territory where, SO far as drafts are
concerned, the people are likely to get off
"Scott free" With the Safeguarding
instincts of the true-booded, Puritan Yam
kee, we at once revolved in our cranium
our probable gain by the division, and
"a-b-e-o.u-t" how much we would make by
jumping into Idaho The Capital Of our
new Territory we imagined would be forced
upon the modest and unassuming City of
Walla Walla, because no other point could
get it. Northern Idaho wouldn't let the
Capital go to Boise City no way it could be
fixed, and Southern Idaho wouldn't let it go
as far North as Lewiston, if by any means it
could be prevented. The two sections would
be pretty evenly balanced in population, and
to compromise their difficulty about the
Capital embroglio they would fix that estab-
ment at Walla Walla. Even now it is con
ceded by parties from both northern and
southern Idaho, that in case the proposed
division should be effected, the Capital
would naturally, and without any exertions,
be permanently located at Walla Walla.-
The place. from its easy access, from its supe-
rior agricultural resources, from its conven-
ience of location as winteriDg point, and
from its many advantages over other points
in other respects, they claim would bring
the Capital here without doubt.
All of these things we're given due deib-
Grafton. We felt quite certain that we
would lose nothing by the proposed divis-
ion, and that was the main point, while there
would be an excellent opportunity to gain
something by it. The relations which ex-
ist between the people of Walla Walla coun-
ty and those Of the Sound country are Of an
immateral, if not Of an unfriendly ma
ture. No interests are held in common
that tend TO bind the two sections together.
The Cascade mountains separates interests
which but for the mountain barriers that
interpo8e, would be identical AS it is, the
Western part of the Territory appears to
the people Of this valley like some foreign
land, and it is about as little talked of or
thought of by them as is the Chinese En-
pire. No trade of any kind is carried on
between the sections and there are no roads
to offer inducements to trade or travel. So,
that for all purposes Of any particular mo-
ment to our people, Eastern Washington
might as well be attached to China as to
remain a portion of W. t., in an isolated
condition No Statehood looms up for US;
no Senators or COnpressmen to exercise a