, 1868-01-03
Governors Message.


sis, embracing all of its leading features. 1t
may not be out of place to add at the outset,
our opinion to that generally expressed by the
other journals of the territory, that the message,
as a whole, is the best one that has emanated
from our Capitol for years past.
The Governor congratulates the members OF
the legislature and their constituents upon the
present prosperity and auspicious prospects for
the future Of our territory, and adds that health,
peace and plenty prevail everywhere within her
borders, while actual want is unknown among
our people. From Indian wars, etc., which have
scourged other Territories our people have hap
PLY been exempt.
The vote cast at the last election indicates a
rapid increase in population. The public lands
are being taken up aud improved by actual resi-
dents, and settlements have extended into re-
gions hitherto uninhabited by white men.
In agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and
the development of our minnral resources, we
are steadily progressing, while our export OF
-four, grain, stock, fruit, vegetables, lumber and
coal are yearly increasing. Evidences of pro's
perity and thrift are apparent on every hand.
It is promised that the acquisition of Russian
America will give new impetus to the COM
merce of the North Pacific and open new mar
ket to produce, as also stimulating the whale
fisheries of that region, bene6tting our people,
as it is admitted that supplies must be largely
drawn from this Territory.
The treaty with the Sandwich Islands is allu-
ded to and it is thought that sugar and other
staples, when tie treaty is ratified by the o. S.
Senate, will come to US from the Islands at
greatly reduced prices, while the demand for our
lumber and other products will be enlarged.
The codifcation of our laws, it is urged, can
not be longer delayed without serious detriment
to the interests of the territory, it is impossi
BILE now to supply even public officers with copies
of all the laws. The Governor therefore recon-
mends that commissioners learned in law be
appointed to revise and codify the statutes, with
instructions to report to the Legislature, this
the next session.
10 regard to mail routes, among others, it is
suggested that route from the Sound to the
Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys direct, is
much needed by the people of both sections, and
vice, providing the line be established, and
suitable road be made for carrying the mail over
the Cascades.
A Wagon Road across the mountains, it is
claimed, is almost indispensable, in order that
the two great divisions of the territory may be
connected and cemented together.
Special attention is called to the defects in
the present system of keeping and providing for
our insane and iiotic, and it is recommended
that permanent site for an asylum be pur-
chased by the territory, embracing sufficient
land for moderate sized FARM that building
above all, that competent person be employed to
take charge of the institution. No citizen, it is
presumed, would complain of little extra tax
alton :or an object that appeals SO strongly to
his sympathies. Those who, in the Providence
of God, are deprived of reason, the distinguish
ing attribute of man, not ouly have stronger
claims upon the sympathy and charity of a com.
munity than any other class of unfortunates, but
they are peculiarly the wards of the local gov
ernment under which they live. For the credit
of our territory, then, if for no other reason,
let us not fail in duty guardians, or disregard
the claims of common humanity.
The total number acres of land disposed oil
for the year ending Nov. 80, 1867, is put down
at 62 ,266 39-lOO; and the total number of acres
surveyed in the same period and contracted to
be surveyed, at 4,3ll ,2O5 4I-lOO.
The agricultural resources of the territory, are
stated to be equal to some of the populous Eas
tern States, and the Walla Walla Valley has the
capacity, were all its tillable lands brought into
thorough cultivation, and all of its grazing lands
into requisitiou, to supply with subsistence a
poPulous State. Walla Walla county alone, with
aPoPulstion of only thirty five hundred, pro>
duced last year, nearly one and a quarter mills
ions OF bushels of grain, besides other staples,
and large amount of stock.
The commercial advantages of the territory are
spoken of in the most hattering manner 1t il
said Of the waters of Puget Sound, that nature
has made them the key to more than fifteen hun.
drsd miles of the North Pacific Ocean; and il
will, in obedience to natures laws, sooner OF
later, gather within its grasp, not only the coast
trade Tor this distance, but also a large portion
OF whatever of commerce is carried on between
the two hemisPheres upon this ocean.
of coal, the message says one vast coal field
underlies all that part of the territory west Of
the Cascade mountains. Heavy veins have been
found at many different points. The coal i,
adapted to the use of ocean steamers as we'll as
for manufacturing purposes. Iron and copper
exists ia the same section of the territory. and il
believed in ample supply.
vi timber, it is observed that our iuexbausta>
Die forests of pine, FIR and cedar, now the most
extensive aud the most accessible in the United
States must soon supply the place of those in
Ioe Atlantic aud Western States, which are rap.
idly becoming exhausted.
rne lumber manufactured on the Sound alone.
including sPars, piles, latbs and shingles,
amounts to more than four hundred millions Of
ieet annually. The effect of this heavy dr.f,
upon one section of our lumber fields, is scarcely
pereeptible
10 brief, besides all other ADVANTAGES enum.