The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1875-04-03
FROM WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
NEwAUKUxs, WASH. TER

FROM WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
NEwAUKUSs, WASH. TER.
EDITOR REGIsrER:-There has been
nothing of particular interest afoat in
this corner of the world since I last
wrote you. There has however been
some changes in the weather since the
first of January which disproves the
idea that it cannot get cold in this coun.
try. About the 9TH of January several
inches OF snow fell. more being added
occasionally until or 8 inches covered
the ground. and it was about four weeks
before the ground was entirely bare
again. During this tins the thermome-
tor indicated q temperature of zero three
mornings in succession. This was colder
than has been known for the past fifteen
years and the old settlers complain terri.
bly, although it did not seem very cold
to me. There being no wind of conse-
quence one does not feel the cold as
much as he would the same degree of
cold in Kansas. With the exception of
the three days above mentioned the tenn
perature was very little below freezing
point and the weather generally pleas.
ant. I think more sunshine and less
rain than usual. For the past three
weeks it has been spring weather, warm
and pleasant with an occasional shower.
There has been TO frost or freeze for
some time in the valleys. Farmers are
busy ploughing for spring grain.
Business of all kinds remains dull !;
very little emigration at present. The
failure of the North Pacific Railroad in
getting congressional aid has q depress-
ing effect. There is however little ami
nation on account of the English Gov.
eminent building q trans-continenta
railroad. Sixty miles will be built on
Vancouvers Island this summer COM
mencing the first of April. The rails to
be of steel and first class in every respect.
It will run through the British posses
sions and Canada. A branch is also to
be built from near the western terminus
of the North Pacific to intersect the
English road which will give this coun-
try an outlet east without the ocean
trip to San Francisco, which prevents
many from coming here that would
come were it not for the dread of ocean
travel and sea sickness. This road will
be of great benefit to this country in
case the North Pacific is not extended
through. The English road is to be
built by the government and is un-
doubtedly fixed fact.
Although this is considered new
country, which is fact as regards the
greater portion of it, yet there are locali-
ties in it that have been settled longer
than Kansas. A number of Donation
claims were taken here at the same time
that Oregon was first settled, and the
best land and the best and most durable |
locations in both Oregon and Washing
ton Territory is owned by settlers that
located under the donation act. These
old settlers have their peculiarities and
seem to consider that they are the only
people who really have any right in this
country. This applies more to Oregon
than to this territory as many more of
this class stopped in that country. Many
of them were from Missouri and Arkan-
not possess the highest order of
intellect, nor the highest grade of refine
ment. These old settlers generally vote
the Democratic ticket and when q man
is spoken Of as candidate for Office they
do not inquire as to his qualifications,
but how long has he been here? If he
came in 1S49 they vote for him if he can
neither read, or write his own name.
They are very fond of relating over their
old adventures and each one desires to
convey the impression that he was the
first settler. They have some warm ar
guments among themselves and tell
some hard yarns to establish their pre-
cedence. As an illustration: an old SET
tier by name of Joe Meek, whom have
met frequently, and who is an old man,
becomes quite hostile if any one disputes
his being the first white man that came
to Oregon. On one occasion he had a
warm discussion with an old member of
the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Both
claimed the honor of being the first set
tier and both had about exhausted their
resources in trying to establish their
claims, when old Joe turned to his oppo-
nent and pointing to Mount Hood which
looms up over two miles high and al
ways covered with snow, and asked him
if that mountain was there when he
came to the country. His opponent said
yes, of course il was. "Well," says old
Joe, "when came here that was hole
in the ground" and he walked off with
the victory. Every year however makes
considerable change in this respect.
Father Time occasionally demands q
victim while others are swallowed up in
the wave of emigration. The large do
nation claims are being divided among
and in a few years one will OBJ
serve very desirable change.