The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
Governor Newell On Its Resources

IL
through the north west have reached
Territory. 1t is u beautiful city, built
Puget Sound from the center of an
amphitheatre of hills, so that the city
is flanked by the waters, on both sides
evergreens of an enormous growth.
The capitol is a handsome structure,
situated at the highest point at the
view of the bay for miles, together
with the foothills, Coast, Olympia and
Cascade ranges. of mountains, and of
Rainier, Helen's, Baker, and Adams
peaks, which penetrate the clouds and
city is well supplied with churches,
academies, schools and other public
buildings, and parks. Business is ac-
tive, and the commercial advantages
of Il harbOr with water sufficiently
deep to float any vessel, as we'll as
those of an agricultural and manufac-
turing character which the city en-
joys, tend to make it one of the most
prosperous and promising towns of the
Territory.
Calling upon Gov. Newell, whose ac-
quaintance | enjoyed when he was
governor of New Jersey and represent
tative in congress, 1 found him i'm the
handsomely furnished executive apart
ments, surrounded by numerous con-
course of people who, like myself, had
just landed from the steamer DAKOTA,
and were seeking informationas as to the
Territory and the best location for
hA
ernor seemed to be provided with all
necessary knowledge, which he i'm
parted cheerfully, responding fully to
all inquiries and giving advice which
was well adapted to the varied inter-
ests of the visitors. Afterthey had re-
tired, | informed him that had called
to obtain information for publication.
The governor stated that he would
considefine1r' 'eA;becYitty proper that
the Tribune should be the medium of
imparting such information to the
public, since the great founder of that
journal had done so much toward in
ducing people to ''go west
$50 little is known upon the Attain
tic side of the continent concerning
Washington Territory,n he continued,
'that single interview will scarcely
Tribune even II meagre outline of its
present and prospective greatness. l
will therefore condense my language.
The Territory, as you know, lies be-
tween the forty-siXth and the forty
ninth parallels of north latitude, the
Pacific ocean and the western boundary
of Idaho The Columbia river sepa-
rates it from Oregon. These bounda-
ries inclose nearly 10000 square miles,
or a, ,OO0, 900 acres of surface. The Cas-
cade mountains, running nearly north
and south, divide it almost equally
into two natural divisions, which diff
fer most widely in physical character
istics. They are known rs eastern and
western Washington.
THE COLUMBIA PLATEAU.
The eastern section contains 20,000,-
600 acres of grain, prairie, sage, bunch
grass and grazing land. This is desig-
mated the plateau of the Columbia,
and is an agricultural region purely,
producing prodigious crops of wheat,
rye, oats and barley, and affords pas
ture for untold numbers Of horses, cat
tie and sheep. The land is easily cul-
tivated, being mainly free from OBJ
structions to the plough, and is self
recuperative for wheat, being highly
impregnated with alkaline matter.
The sowing season for wheat runs
through the entire fall and winter
months. Live stock has suffered Sc
verely during the last winter for want
of shelter and fodder, an evil not likely
to recur, AS no one cares to encoun-
ter the same bitter experience. The
great tributaries of the Columbia river
waters, drain and afford navigation to
this immense space. The climate is
mild compared with the weather In
the same latitude further east, and the
harvest season is always dry. There
is much unoccupied land in eastern
Washington. 1t has many flourish
| ing towns and settlements. Walla
Walla is a city of great beauty and
prosperity. The southern portion OF
| this region Is connected with the Pa
cific ocean by railroads and steam
boat lines, and is easily accessible for
settlers by way of the Columbia river,
and from the east and southeast by
| the Union and Central Pacific rail-
roads and with wagon trains.
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
Western Washington, known as the
Puget Sound basin, lies west Of the
Cascade mountains. The surface Is
mountainous and undulating, well
watered, aud with forests of immense
extent and growth, which, on account
Of their vastness and accessibility from