Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-05-25
STATE ADMISSION.


Dakota aud Washington Territories
are now rapping at the doors Of Con-
gress for admission into the Union as
new States.
The recent report of the Committee
on Territories in the House Of Repre-
sentatives, recommending the admis-
sion of Washington, an 4 the earnest
attitude of the people of North Idaho
asking to be annexed to Washington
when she is admitted, attracts atten.
tion. The bill introduced by Mr..
Brents for the admission of Washington
includes within the new State what is
known as North Idaho. The people
of North Idaho and Washington, with
almost entire unan'mity, desire this
union.
A memorial of the Lower House of
the Idaho Legislature and of the Wash
ington Legislature at their last session
was adopted, asking that the two he
united, "A glance at the map showing
the awkward shape Of North Idaho,
wedged in between Montana and
Washington, with width at the north
ern extremity of only about forty miles,
suggests reasons why the wish of the
people should be gratiiied. North Idaho
is part of the Columbia river valley,
extending from the Bitter Root noun
tains cn the east of the Cascade range
on the west. The sections between
these two ranges are united as natur-
ally and as completely as are tie diff.
ferent portions of Illinois.
In 1862 Washington Territory in
cluded all of North Idaho and most of
what is now Montana In hat year a
movement was made to organize the
Territory OF Idaho out of the country
east of the Columbia. BY the political
maneuverng Of Interested parties North
Idaho, against the wish of her people
and without their knowledge, was sew.
cred from her natural position and
placed with what is now Montana, by
making the western line on the 1l7th
meridian instead of the Columbia river
as asked for, thus forming part of the
new Territory of Idaho. The organi.
cation of the Territory of Idaho was
consummated in 1868.
Iu 1864 Montana was organized into
a Territory, and its western line ex.
tended to the crest of the Bitter Root
range, thus leaving North Idaho like
q wedge, entirely severed from Mon
tana on tho east and Washington on
the west. This action, too, was claimed
to have been. done in the interest OF
certain political aspirapts for Congress
sional honors Between North and
South Idaho there are no interests in
common. The high range of Salmon
River mountains so efiectually divide
the two that there never has been, and
probably never will be, even a wag
road between them. The only CON
munication between the two within
the Territorial limits is by horseback
over mountain trails. To pass frcul
one to the other by wagon or by any
public conveyance can only be done b.
passing through Washington Territory
and the State of Oregon by rucit
Gus route. The entire commerce o.
North Idaho is westward on the Clear
water, Lewis aud Columbia rivers ant
by railroad. The people Of this section
claim that their property is lessened
in value at least twenty per cent. b,
reason of their enforced connection
with section with which they have
no socill or commercial relations. I'm
der these circumstances they claim, ant
with apparent good reason, that the
refusal of Congress to allow them to be
annexed to Washington when it is ad
mitted as State, is hardship ruinous
to all their material interests. A
knowledge of the history and location
Of this section Of the cpuntry, with its
natural connections with Washington
and its entire isolation from Southern
idaho, you'd sugges. that now is the
time for Congress to correct the errors
of the past, aud place this section O
the country where it naturally belongs
as part OF the State of Washington
Sterling (W) Gazette.
Wheat for New Orleans.