, 1865-12-29
NUMBER e.
GOVERNOR, LYONS MESSAGE.

no Legislature, now in session, we find a num-
Der Of suggestions, practical in their character
and as such, meriting attention We extract
MINT AND ASSAY oFFIeB. o.
An acknowledged necessity exists for the losa:
tion of an Assay Office and Mint in the confines
OF our Territory. The production at the lowest
approximate estimate Of seventeen millions Of
dollars in gold.and silver for the last year with
the fairest prospect Of larger increase on those
hgures IN the future is of itself powerful ar
gument in Its favor; add to this the burden i'm
posed upon the honest miner by a tax of from
hVe to eight per cent. in expense and transport
tation ere bis dust can be turned into dollars,
and you have really so strong a case that 1t does
not seem possible that Congress win Ione peos-
tive memorial of the Territorial Legislature in
It's favor. The mint and assay office of Dahlon-
ega, in the State of Georgia, was established
when the production of gold of that State was
computed by only as many thousands as ours is
of millions, and even aon-gold- producing States
have had granted both mnts aud assay Offices
while depending upon the gold and silver pro-
duced beyond their borders. It is but Just here
to remark that legal tender notes are sold high
er for gold in Idaho than in San Francisco or
New York; no better evidence could be given of
the faith of the people in the stability of the
Government or their loyalty to the Union Your
attention to this matter is sincerely desired as
pre-emnently right and proper.
LEWISTON WAGON ROAD TO HELENA
1t is left to your discretion whether it would
not be well to memoralze Congress for an an
propriaton for the construction ofa road from
Lewiston, in Northern Idaho, to Helena in tho
Territory of Montana. wa the Lolo Fork and
Bitterroot Valley. From the rapidly increasing
trade in that direction and the late important
discoveries in the BlackfOct country Of the pre-
cious metals, as well as the difficulties attendant
upon the navigation Of the headwatcrs of the
Missouri river, this route is the nearest now
known between the two points named. Ladened
pack NJ Iles have made the trip in less than
twelve days. The commerce once secured by a
passable highway the benefits would be incal.
culable in opening mp the country for settlement
as well as render permanent what is now but
temporary trade and Intercourse from the Pacifl
ic slope. -..
MULLAG ROAD.
A memorial for an appropriation from Con
gress for clearing the distractions from the
Mullan wagon road is recommended Ranches
are already being located in the valleys of the
Palouse, the Lahtoh, and on the plains of
the Spokane river, and the new discoveries
of gold-bearing ledges in the CGur d'Alene
Mountains give great promise for the future
of this outlet to the Columbia river. 1t al
SO, would facilitate the communication with
minus, through grazing and timbered country,
capable Of yielding rich return to the settler
- MAILS.
The subject is again renewed of the want Of
proper mail service, both daily and tri-weekly.
In many parts OF the Territory it works great
hardship from the high price of express letter
postage. Congress, by declaring postroutes, can
alone remedy this great inconvenience.
RAILROAD FROM SALT LAKE TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
After careful series ofsoundings at low wa
ter it has been found that the Snake or Shosho-
nee river can be made navgabe at a nominal
expense, from Old's Ferry to Salmon Falls,
distance of two hundred and fifty miles, thus
road communication from the noGth end of Great
Salt Lake to Wallula via. Grand Ronde Valley
and WaIla Walla, over the lowest pass of the
Blue Mountains. With about one hundred miles
of navigation on Great Salt Lake we have less
than four hundred miles of railroad to build to
render a branch Pacific Railroad a success,
whose entrepOt will be Portland and its termi4
nus Great Salt Lake City. This route is some
FIVE hundred miles nearer China and Japan than
the trunk route through Nevada and Califorhia,
and by your endorsement of the state of facts in
in a proper way, BY memorial, it cannot fail 10
attract favorably the the attention of Congress,
that we may have the same chartered rights and
Government bounty to induce its construction
that has been given TO measures of a similar
character Thus the Columbia river, the natu-
raj avenue of commerce, would attract the trade
of the orient as well as the occident, and form
the last grand link in this truly national high
way. Oregon, as well as the Territories of Mon
tana and Washington, will be largely the gamers
by its progress and completion.
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