Bisbee daily review., 1905-04-28
EMPIRE SLOW BUT SURE

The story or the ulsScNeIys eAPAOId- tion and settlement of the Oregon country, to which the Lewis and Clark exposition at Portland is drawing the attention of the world, presents some of the most astounding aspects. Per hsps the fact that arouses the greatest degrees of sstonishment in the up-to- Tdate, hustling citizen of today is that uch 2 long period of time was re- quired for taking possession of this vast territory after its discovery and explorations.
 The coast line of Oregon and Wash iugton was known to mariners genera tions before the interior was explored, and maps more or less accurate were made from tims to time. Spanish, Dutch. British and Russian navigators vied with each other in exploring the coast, but practically no attempt was made to explore the interior of the country until President Jefferson, 8 hundred years ago, sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from St. Louis up the Missouri river to its head waters, across the mountains and plains and down the Columbia river to it's mouth.
 But even after Uncle Sam, with that rare Yankee shrewdness which he is supposed to possess, had penetrated this great unknown territory, bisect ing it fI0m side to side, it was more than forty years before anything like definite intention of settlement and occupation took form. Though from the journals of Lewis and Clark and the diaries of some of their men it was distinctly evident that ''the Oregon country was a land magnifcently oppulent in prom ise, land crying for settlers and developers. even as ba bies cry for pitchers of milk, full two score years passed before a nation finally took possession of the region, ''colnc::11115.:'' :e :9 end bege. to make it 6 pazt of the civilized world.
 True, there was a dispnte ss to its ownership. Great Britain and the United States both claimed the Oregon country, and each appeared to have some color of title. Yet it required forty years to settle this matter, and during all that time Oregon and Wash ington and Idaho-as now named and known-remained wildernesses, with but a struggling settlement here and there. and those settlements harassed by hostile Indians and exposed to the natural perils of remote outposts.
 The history of the actual develop ment of Oregon and her sister states in the territory acquired by treaty with Great Britian in 184S is the history of less than sixty years of heroic effort and high achievement. America was discovered AIS years ago. Jamestown was colonized by the English 29S years ago. Plymouth Rock vas touched by the tread of the Mayfower pilgrim 2s5 years ago. American independence was declared 129 years ago. Lewis and Clark crossed the continent to the Pacific northwest 100 years ago. The United States finally acquired the Ore gon country. by right of discovery and exploration and after forty years of haggling and juggling. 59 years ago. Westward the course of empire takes its way" but until three score years ago it took its way most deliberately and with dignifed slowness.
 But after getting our clutches firmly fixed upon this Oregon country, we have pushed forward the work of de- velopment with gratifying rspidity. With the extension of the raj road and