The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

NUMBER 10.

are overcome, to certain extent, by
railroads constructed around them; but
as the entire transportation on the
river is now, and has been for years,
controlled by one company, freights
are necessarily very high.
At the present time the price of
wheat in Eastern Washington is from
thirty-five to fifty cents per bushel,
and at Portland, Oregon, distance Of
about two hundred miles, it is ninety
cents; the cost of transportation being
one hundred per cent. for this short
distance. When the work of con-
structing canals at the Cascades and
the Dalles, now being prosecuted by
the general government, is completed,
there will be an uninterrupted steam
boat navigation from the wheat grow
ing regions of Eastern Washington
and Oregon, and Western Idaho, to
the Pacific Ocean. There is no work
of internal improvement now carried
on by the Government which is of
more Importance than these canals.
Another outlet can be furnished by the
branch line of the Northern Pacific
Railroad from Eastern Washington
across the Cascade mountains to Puget
Sound. The advantages of this road
to the whole Territory are almost in
calculable 1t would afford ample ia
cilities for the mutual interchange of
various dissimilar productions of the
two sections. The coal and lumber of
Puget Sound would be exchanged for
the wheat and other products of East
ern Washington, and the surplus grain
production of the latter could be trans
ported to the western terminus of the
road, and thence shipped to any part
Of the world.
The average temperature in East
ern Washington is as follows:
Spring, 50 ,; summer, 73o win
ter, "a ;. The average annual rain
fall is about twenty inches.
TERRITORIAL UNIVERSITY.
This institution is located at Seattle.
1t was erected from the proceeds of
the sale of university lands donated
by the general government to the
Territory. 1t is in a very prosp rus
condition. 1t is mainly supported by
appropriations from the Territorial
treasury, and managed by board of
regents.
INSANE ASYLUM.
An asylum for the insane and idi-
otc is located at Steiacoom. 1t is
maintained at the expense of the
Territory The present number of
inmates is seventy-six. Visitors
from abroad speak in the highest
terms of the management of the in
stitution. 1t is under the control Of
a board of three trustees, appointed
by the Governor.
PENITENTIARY.
The Territory has no penitentiary
building. Criminals convicted Of
felonies have heretofore been con-
fined in the county jails Of the Terri
tory. The last legislative assembly
provided for the keeping of all pris-
oners by the sheriff Of Thurston
county, by contract. Suitable build
ings have been erected by the con-
tractor at Seatco, where all Territor-
ial prisoners are now confined. The
wisdom Of this system has been ques-
toned, but it is too early to deter
mine whether the results will be fa-
vorable or not. The United States
has fine penitentiary on McNeil's
Island. 1t is used exclusively for
the confinement of prisoners guilty
Of ofensesi against the laws of the
United States.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
The Legislative assembly meets BIZ
ennially, and is composed of Coun-
Gil consisting Of nine members, and
. House of Representatives cansist-
ing Of thirty members. The session
begins on the first Monday of Octo-
ber. Elections for members Of tho
Legislative assembly, Delegate 10
Congress, and other officers, occurs
on the 6st Tuesday after the frst
Monday Of November, biennially.
SUFFRAGE.