, 1886-03-06
PROPOSED NEW MAIL ROUTE.
Fetition 10 the POstmAsteF-tsenerAI
for service Through the Blg
Bead Country.

RoNDo LANDING, Douglas Co,

In view Of the prospect 0f steam
ers plying the central Columbia,
frnm Pasco to near camp Spokane,
In the near future, the following pc.
tition Is now being circulated in this
part OF the Big Bend:
To Hon. w. F. Villas, postmaster
general, Washington, ID. G.: The
undersigned, residents Of the valley
Of the Columbia river and adjacent
tablelnnds from PdscO to camp Sp0-
kane In Washington territory re-
spectfully request that new postal
rOut be established on the COlumbin
river, with pOstUfiices at the follow
ing places, viz:
The rnute beginning at PascO,
which now has postal service, no as
TO connect with the lower river
route through to Purtlund and A.
tOrit; proceeding up the river to
White Bluffs, Douglas county, which
Is TN the east side Of the river;
thence 10 Mnses Cuulre on the east
-ide Of the river In Douglas county;
thence to Wenatchie at the mouth
uf the Wenttchic river, and west
side of the Columbia, and which
has now postal service on route A.
3ls; theme h. OrondO, at the foot VI
Eitiit rapids on The east side nf the
river, thirteen miles above Wrnat-
-chis and In Douglas county, also sit
uated on p0stal route 42,3lS; thence
to Browns landing. six miles ahOvr
OrpndO on the east side Of Il e riv' r,
Douglas county; thence to lake Che
Ian, situated on the west side Of the
river Hhd the 60 tiurnce Of the Che
Ian river with the same In Stevens
county; thence tn the Mrthon river
on the west side uf the Columbia in
Stevens county; thence to Fosters
creek on the east side Of the Column
bih In Douglas county, and thence
terminating ut camp Spokane, which
now has service on another postal
route. There ARE other settlements
which need postal service on this
ruut,., but the specific laHtiOns fpr
pOstutiices for them are unknown or
not determined upon; therefore they
ire omitted.
We would respectfully represent
that the valley OF the Columbia river
below PascO and abpye camp SpO.
kane have now postal rnutes aud ser
vices thereon; hut as settlement for
time t9ll1Nied the great detour nf
the Northern Pacific railway -tO the
-outh, IL left the magnificent agri-
cultural inland empire from o h.
camp Spokane, embracing the finOu-
Big Bend country Of the great plains
Of the Columbia unsettled; though
ntturhl canyons, spring|, lakes and
rivers for thIrty "a fiiGy miles ON
each side Uf this proposed pp>tau
route, with reverence paid trihu'e
to one Of the most wonderful ami
gr' Rrpst Of the naviga lie rivers Of
the globe. Now the scene hang,,s,
the herds nf the stOckInen dot our
pl lins, the sound Of the aX-mun and
the buzz Of the siwmill G no through
our forests, the Industry Of the
ranchmpn plOw our fields, and they
blus~om with rich nbund ncp, ard
even the small remnant Of the uhO-
rhymes left with Us catch enthusiasm
from the new civilization around
them; and, as il by magic, W rO IDS
are opened, and even the sound OF
he steamers shrill whistle is heard
in our waters, as the fOTerunner Of
me postal chain from It's head to the
cean.
There are settlements now on the
river at or tri utary Ia all the pro-
posed pnstOtiices, aud the tablelands
Of the great Big Bend have large
settlements. There are now abOut
400 miners In the Columbia river,
Granite Greek, COlville and Similka-
meen districts; and II confidently
expected that this number will b,.
increased To 2O,OOD before the end nf
summer. The immigration uf Land
seekers Is also expected tO be i'm
mense this year. There are re-
SiurreS tributary to the central Co
lumhil river which are sufficient 10
sustain population Of nilliUn
people when once developed.
In view Of these facts the o. u. 4
Y. company have decided tD place a
line Uf steamers on The Columbia
river, from Pasco To the mouth of
he Npspilem river, which Is within
thirty miles of camp Spokane. They
ue to build pOrtagps around Priest
and Rock island apidHHnd as Their,
is a pack trail or wIgUn rDId now nn
The river fats nr adjacent foot hills
Jr tablelands between Pisco and
amp Spokane the mail service on
his route can he supplied by
steamer, pack and stage lines.
Therefore, in view Of these cOnSid-
eratiOns, we respectfully ask thtt u
postal route he established on the
Columbia river from P,rSco to camp
Sp Ikane; with intrmpdinte post
'fiices established " set forth above,
md pOstma-terS appnintrd for the
same. The service to he OnceH week
each way per steamer, during the
season of navigation, aud per pI"k
and stage lines during the scasOn Of
nm M vi irLlinn