The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24
1T Is A WASHINGTON RIVER.
MT. sempIe Disproyes Oregon's Claim
The sound Interested in Ii.

Ex-Governor Eugene Semple disputes
the right of Oregon to claim the Columbia
as an Oregon river, and gives some cold
facts to prove that it can be far more truly
described as Washington river. He says:
There seems to be an impression amongst the
people OF the Puget sound cities that the Column
bia river is an Oregon river, and that that state
is solely interested Ia opening IL to free navlga-
ton. Such impression is most erroneous, as
can be oculsrly demonstrated by the merest
glance at map of the regions watered and
served by that great stream. The Columbia
river is, par excellence, Washington river, and
is destined to be one Of the greatest factors in
our progress. From its mouth for a distance OF
about 30 miles it constitutes the northern
boundary Of the state of Oregon and that is all
that our southern neighbor has to do with it.
Above that point IL is entirely within the state
OF Washington until it enters British America
So also are all its ravigable tributaries except
the willamette. Oregon has a frontage
OF 30 miles on the Columbia and
Washington about 1900 miles. Oregon has
no frontage on the nsvigable waters of the
Snake river, and Washington has 30 miles All
OF this stretch OF navigate water runs practically
east and west, parallel with the lines OF immi-
grafton and commerce, and drains an area of
$500 square miles of productive country, most
OF which is within the state OF Wash ngton
The counties of Pacific. wahkiakum, CowIi,Z
Clarke, skamania. Kickitat, Yakima, Klttitas,
0kanogsn, Stevens, Walla Walla, Franklin,
Douglas and Lincoln front on the Columbia
river; tine counties of walla walla, Columbia,
Garfield, Asotin, Franklin and Whitman from,
on the snake, aud the county of Spokane fronts
Oh the Spokane river, so that all the counties of
Eastern and Southern Washington. exeept
Adams. are directly served by the Columbia
river and its trh ltsrles. All the other counties
OF the state front on salt water. except Lewis
"A hot has 81 -
and the cowitz, one enptying into Gray's har-
Dor and the other into the Coumbia.
As the existence o. opea waterways prevents
exorhiiant charges and unjust dIscrim nation
on the part of transportation companies, it will
be seen that she Columbia river. wken opened 10
free navigation, will be al insurer OF lair rates
for transportation 70 the seaboa!d. II will not
only insure fair rates down the vslley Of the
river, but will compel the same on thu railways
that cross the mountains, because they would
have no freight to carry unless they made q
rate equal. all told, 10 the rates by the valley
routes That they will 10 this is provea by
uniform experience. where similar conditions
exist Puget sound is therefore as much in
te-ested in the opcuiag Of tae Columbia river as
any other par, of the state
Washington proirces in its interior bread.
studs forage, fruits, low grade ores and other
bulky articles demanding cheap transportation
10 tide water. With an open Columbia river ell
these would come 70 Puget sound on a freigat
basis that would lesye some pEods fos their pro-
dueers. The river might nos 10 much business
but it wcull eaeeluAlly requisite rates. 1t
would be like q farmer sitting on the fence VITA
a shotgun in his hsld. The boys VIII never
steal has vatermeions a. long IS he is thsre.
The scheme for improving the Columbia river
involves a canal and locks AZ the Cascades on
the Oregon side, boat railway al The DAiIss on
the Washington side, and various minor opera
tons on shoots and rapids shove The Dallss
The completion of these WORKS will hsasi.
every part 81 the state alike snc should have
unanimous support