The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09

States having such records most closely
In hand. The general land office has issu-
ed. in 1886. a most valuable historical map
of the United States. Besides giving all
the details pertaining to their maps, they
have given i'm this one an outline of the
territories obtained by the United States.
The Louisiana purchase is there made TO
include the Pacific Northwest. and in fact
all of the United States west of the Mis-
sissippi river and north OF the original
Mexican boundary. A glance at this great
map. showing the vast area included,
certainly justifies Napoleon's phrase: Il
have given TO America a priceless hertz
age" Besides the present state OF Louisi-
ana, this purchase is shown on this new
official map to include all of Arkansas,
Missouri. Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota,
North Dakota. Montana. Idaho. Oregon.
Washington and nearly all OF Wyoming.
Colorado, Kansas. Minnesota and Okla
homa territory and all OF the present In
dian territory. Is II not difficult 10 grasp
the importance OF such a purchase, even
at this late date, when so much of the
area has been developed into thriving
wealthy commonwealths? How much
more difficult IL must have been TO realize
it's Importance in 1873, or all our brilliant
statesmen OF that time, Jefferson seems
TO have realized the Importance of the
West more fully than any other
Twenty years witnessed the siicing OF
old Oregon into the parts now traced
upon the official maps. The mountain
boundary always seemed a perfect. natt-
raj boundary. The mountains were first
known as the Shining mountains, then
the Stony" mountains and finally the
Rocky mountains. But while the body OF
the mountains Is perfect general bound
airy. the chain OF peaks Is not regular
enough when II comes TO define the out
lines OF a state. Especially was this
noticeable in the western boundaries OF
Montana and Wyoming A glance at the
outline map above referred 10 shows that
this irregular grouping Of the mountain
chains threw part Of what is now Mon
ians and Wyoming into the territory or
iginaliy known as oregon.
The United States created Oregon terri
tory By act Of congress. dated August IL.
i>fS. which uses this simple language in
defining the limits OF this new territory:
THAT from and after the passage of this
act all that part OF the territory OF the
United States which lies west OF the sum
init OF the Rocky mountains. north of The
tortY-second degree OF north latitude,
known as the Territory Of Oregon. shall
o. organized into and constitute tenn
porary government. by the name of the
Territory OF Oregon"
The FIRST slice taken of the old Oregon
vas ~ act OF congress dated March .
issA CreattnS the territory Of Washing
ton, This took what may be called the
torthern half. The line was nearly mid
way bar the southern portion extended
much farther eastward 50 il could not be
said that the area OF the old territory was
equally divided by this partition.
The next change was the creation OF .he
territory OF Idaho. by act OF congress
March ) iss1 This took what may be
called the eastern half Of Oregon and a
portion oc Eastern Washington. now
called the Panhandle OF Idaho.
The name OF Idaho suggests point IT.
tie Known IN history. IL Is given 20 me
% one o. nay pioneer friends Mr. George
=, walker. In 1881 he was a miner q;
Pierce city. IN what was then shoshone
c~antE 81 Washington territory One day
ne mad Tour visitors a. his cabin They
were Political visitors. for the car,ssAaszn
wss fhen wsging for the election OF dele
gate IN congress. Three OF the visitors
were candidates for this position. They
were Judge ESdwArd Lander a Brerkin-
raaEe Democrat. Selucfus Gar~efae. a
1soaSlAs Democrat, and William H. Wal.
aAce. Nhig- The fourth visitor was a
companion or The candidates ua-uA-a
judge Hayes Mr.. Walker was = ,yptraI
nlssF % the old scnool and the rs,cSts
we're gwen the best ne had IN HE -. hsr
incinsiFg the privilege OF sleeping on ire
roor. Naea his guesss wsxs ready 10