, 1864-11-25
The Mint Question.

L he last OOuSTeSS uASu lne lOcdtlOu vi lhO
Oregon Branch Mint at Dalles, and an ap
preparation was made for the erection of
the necessary buildings; but owing to the
discovery, by some Portlanders, that the
Dalles was not an appropriate place for the
Mint, the appropriated funds were not for
warded The agriculturists of the William
cite concluded that Salem was the proper
place for the permanent location of the State
Capitol, and that Portland was fireplace for
the Mint These matters were amicably ad-
justed between the Portlanders and the Sa-
lemites 1t would not do to cripple Port
land by building up the Dalles with the
Branch Mint. The Dales would soon out
strip Portland in population and wealth, and
the snags which have measurably obstructed
the navigation of the lower Willamette,
would multiply, and finally the balance of
trade would be in favor of Dalles The
farming interests of the Willamette are de-
pendent to considerable extent for success
upon the prosperity and growth of Portland.
If that town should grow backwards, like
the unfortunate town of Oregon City has
done for several years, and the Dalles grew
and prosper at the expense of Portland,
as Portland has prospered at the expense
Of Oregon City, it would leave no near
mo rL or for +ha aoriop1turo1 rroJnots of Tho
valley. The tendency for a large town ap-
pears to be in favor of locality below Port
land rather than above it, So that if Port
land ever takes back step, point some
place below will take advantage of it and
make town and port of entry at her ex-
pense. We are not surprised, therefore,
at the uneasiness which is manifested by the
people of the Willamette, lest Portland
should take fatal recedng step. 1t is a
matter of vital importance to the people
there that Portland's progress should be on
ward, not backward. If the establishment
of Mint at the Dalles would build the town
up to the lasting injury of Portland and the
Willamette interests, we cannot blame the
latter place for exerting its influence to have
the Mint re located but we cannot concede
that the location should be fixed at Port
land. That would be unjust to the inter
ests of the people living this side of the
Cascades, and especially unjust to the min
ing interests AT least nine-tenths of the
gold and silver which would 60 to this Mint,
would be sent from the mines east of the
Cascade Mountains, and this fact alone
should be sufficient to satisfy a reasonable
people that the proper location for the mint
should De fixed at the most convenient point
in the upper Columbia basin. "Where the
gold is produced, there it should be coined y
appears to be the general sentiment with
the people oft surrounding mines Port
land and Dalles have had their say upon
this question: and now the miners and bus
iness men of the upper country are begin
ming to speak out, and they are interested
the most and have right to be heard
We are credibly informed that money is
being used by some Portlanders to convince
certain persons that the Mint should be To-
Gated at Portland These individuals who
have been pecuniarily convinced, it is said,
are now travelling through this country, stop
ping at all the important points, teaching
the people that their interests require the
Mint to be located at Portland. Whether
this moned influence will have any control
over the Delegates in Congress from Idaho,
Washington and Montana Territories, re-
mains to be seen. If they faithfully rep
resent their constituents, they will use their
united influence to have the Mint located
in or near the mines, where it will be of
some benefit to the people.
The Lewiston Age makes the following
pertinent remarks about this Mint matter;
"This Session of the Legislature will un-
doubtedly memorabilia Congress for the es
tablishment of a Mint in Idaho. Its ne
oessity is palpable. Our friends in Oregon
succeeded, last winter, in getting many
thousand dollars voted them for the estab
Hshment Of Mint; but it seems their Leg
islature has not appreciated the favor, in
asmuch as they raised question about To-
cation, and the money is yet uningested.-
We would suggest that Idaho remove this
cause of contention amopg her neighbors.
by taking the Mint herself. AS our Gov
ernor states in his message, "where the gold
is produced there it should be coined" A
plain statement of facts, embodied in me-
mortal, would be very apt to have the effect
of transferring the money voted Oregon to
the advantage of Idaho. The justice and
propriety of doing this are clear. Look to
it, Legislators.
The Dalles Mountaineer gives, among
other testimony relative to the sentiments of
the people in the mines upon the Mint ques-
ton, the following from gentleman resid-
ing at Idaho City:
"Mauric6 Fitzgerald. gentleman largely