, 1869-01-22
The Fp,ure OF WashIug,on Terr,,orv.

The Future Of Washington Territory.
Hon. Frank Hsnry's lecture at the Court
House, on Friday night last, was listened to by
a large aud attentive audience, from all whom
we heard expressions of qualification. The dis<
gentleman drew a rose coIored picture
of the Future of Washington Territory.p and
gave evidence of a thorough acquaintauce with
the wants and resources of the North Pa cifc
coast.
: TIE slow growth and development Of the
le'el'of Us compared with the early settlemeu,
Of the old North West was referred TO, and ats
tributed chiefly to the circumstance that the vast
belt of country lying between the Cascades and
Rocky Mountains, equal to more than ous>hfth
of the territory Of tue Union, bad not like the
old Nor West, been provided by nature with
either lakes or rivers for the transportation of its
productions to the markets of the world
The old North West had reached high deyel.
opment in population and wealth, withou: the
construction OF artificial channels. The sta Aples
of the vast region known as the Mississippi Val.
ley were from the first set down al paying prices
wserever bread and meat was required they
were poured iuto the ocean with the waters of
half the yont ut at be mouth of the Mississippi.
and until the era Of rail- Dads it seemed that New
Orleans was destined to becoms the grea: cons
mercial emporium of America, aud St. Louis
the great inland city. But New York lay upon
n direct line between the grniu fields of the Uni.
ted States and the bread markets OF Europe, and
NEARER to the latter than New Orleans by some
two Thousand miles. The construction Of rail
roads had entirely changed the cOnrse of this
commerce, and constituted New York the great
emporium, whilst Chicago from the same cause
was rising rapidly into the position OF the great
inland city OF America. There could not be
more striking illustration OF the force with hch
commerce will pour through the shortest, swift.
est aud cheapest channels when they are opened
10 it.
In the new North West, of which we are
part, the situation was entirely diherent-the
country (pointed out on the map) lying east of
the Cascades and Sierras with capacity to sus.
tain population equal to that of the present
union, can produce uOIhng-with the exception
Of the precious metals aud live stock-that
would ply the cost OF its own transportation to
the markets of the world. Walla Walla afford.
ed striking illustration of this truth she was
more favorahly situated with reference to natu
raj outlets than any other portion Of the region
referred to. and yet there was no part OF the
globe iu which the producer of the great bread
staples was so poorly paid as is the farmer of
Walla WAla. Though situated upon the uaviga.
BILE waters Of the Columbia, and less than two
hundred miles from tideSwAter, the fact that her
surplus flour Will pay the cost Of transportation
To the sea board, is owing to the train OF crcum~
stances which led to the construction of the
railroad portages on the Columbia River in ad
vance of the agricultural development OF Walla
Walla Valley.
As long MS this state of affairs continued the
country would advance but slowly, Ms man
would not labor to produce surplus which be
Mt ell Tha ut,la I ha W.
Walla belt might IN the course If time accumui
late sufficient fOrce to cut their own way by the
shortest routes 10 the markets of the world. But
that would be II too distaut future for us. There
were causes which would reverse the rule which
gives railroads to tbickly populated countries
Only. la this case the motive would be the
desire " possess the commerce with Asia. If
this Is correct, the route over which tue artificial
channel-the main artery Is to be constructed
becomes ruere question of engineering; II mis-
take in this respect wOu be at the peril of
those making u-they would forfeit the Oriental
commerce, as it always has been forfeited to
;hoSe who could carry it by quicker aud cheap>
er routes.
The course of commerce between the East
and West had been determined in the past by
lew geuernl rules which, might safely be applied
to tue future. The events which had twice
changed the channels Of this commerce aud
finally shifted its ceutres trom Eastern to Vest
ern Europe, were then pointed out at some
lenYth. Tae PhoenIcaus, after possessing it
some 7O0 years, lost 1t TO tue Egyptians, ey II
slight improvement made in the portage between
the Mediterranean and Red Seas, by Alexander
the Great. Alter 100 years, 1t passed from the
Egyptians TO the natlOus Of Western Europe
VINO upon the discovery of the magnetic needle
opened The passage around the Cape of Good
Hope, shortening the voyage from three years
to one.
Tue commerce between the East and West bad
always been prize Tor which nations Lad cons
tended-with Its fluctuations empires had arisen
aud passed away. Since the opening Of the
passage around ihe Cape OF Good Hope, oceans
Of blood bad been shed to obtain aud retain it :;
aud whilst ITS only path was upon the high seas
the eshrewdest, bravest and strongest would carry
the day. But open another shorter, swiiter aud
cheaper chnunei, and the question whether the
commerce will flow through It or not. pas.es
beyond the jurisdiction Of the great umpire OF
nations-baItes and wars cannot decide II il
VIII turn upon law OF commerce rs imperative
IN It's Suihllmrut'aS the law Of gravitatinn.
The distance from New York 10 the Straits o:
Malacca, via the Cape OF Good Hope, was about
l7,OOO miles, and the usual tune for a voyage
was from SIX to eight months. The distance be
tween the same points across the American Con
uneut was less than 1000 miles, and with II
railroad completed could be made in six or
eight weeks. The figures spoke for themselves.
Railroads would inevitably shift the commercial
centres between America and Asia, from the At
lautc TO the Pacific, MS the discovery of the
magnetic needle, the improvement ir nAvigA.
tlon ami the opening of the passage around The
Cape OF Good Hope bad shifted the ceLtres be,
tween Europe and Asia, from the Mediterranean
TO rhe Atlantic, from Eastern Europe to Western
Europe
Slill greater results might follow. The Uni
ted States were nearly in central position upon
an east and West line between Europe and Asia.
The distance from Liverpool to India, via the
Cape OF Good Hope, was about IA, 900 miles, and
about the same between the two points via the
American Continent. Whilst the voyage around
the Cape of Good Hope requires from Eve to eight
months, the trip might be made by steaul. .nad
rail in seven or eight weeks. The question as to
whether Europe was to continue to trade d.
reetly with Asia would finally hinge upon the
practicability Of making the old channel, via the
Mediterranean and Red Seas as swift and chenp
as The new ones over the American Continent
though the former was shorter than the latter by
one fourth in miles, ii was Questionable whether
IL could ever be made as quick and cheap.