Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-11-29
ORIGINAL STORY OF ARRIVAL HERE
CONTINUE. from page ID

feel that have now reached home
home soon to be cheered by the pres
ence of my wife and children-and to
be the scene of the labOrs of my future
life You have reason to complain of
the great delays which have occurred
in the organization Of your territory,
and l was prepared to bear patiently
any expression of dissatisfaction which
you might think proper to indulge in.
| did not doubt you would recognize
the general bearing of my labors upon
your own prosperity, and upon the
whole it would be conceded that the
territory would be a gamer by my CON-
ing overland in charge of the railroad
exploration. I did not look forward
however, to the universal policy which
l have found wherever l have been
that no serious detriment had occurred
to the public service and your best in
terests had most effectively promoted
by my course. 1t is my pleasant duty
to be able to report the complete sue
cess of the exploration, and that a rail-
road Is eminently practicable from the
head of navigation of the Mississippi
to your magnificent Sound. The ex-
ploration has covered a wide range of
territory and has developed at least
two passes in each of the three noun
tain ranges-the Rocky mountains, the
Bitter Root mountains, and the Cas-
cade mountains. Good routes connect
these passes. The country passed over
is well watered and abounds in grass.
A small expense will open up excellent
wagon roads. The mountains abound
in granite and marble, and are COW
cred with luxuriant forest growth. l
have been favored with associates of
unsurpassed zeal, energy and ability,
and with most admirable body of en-
ploycs. No serious difficulty has &C.
Cured on the whole route, and the In
dian tribes have welcomed us into
their country and assisted us on our
march. The parties are now at Van
couver, and will in few days reach
this place.
Gentlemen, I have now seen much
of our territory. and am convinced that
1t is to play no secondary part in the
future progress Of our country. It's
position on the t,orthern Pacific is au-
gust and makes 1t the greatest outpost
OF the western coast. Its fisheries of
cod yet to be developed, and its fish
cries of salmon will be a nursery OF
the leaven of its future commerce Its
resources of lumber are inexhaustible
Much of its soil on both sides of The
Cascades is rich and we'll adapted to
cultivation. l can speak advisedly of
the beautiful st. Mary's valley Just
west OF the Rocky mountains, and
stretching across the whole breadth q.
the territory; of the plain fifty miles
wide bordering the south bank of the
Spokane river; of the valley extending
from the Spokane river to ,Colville: of
the Occur d'Alene prairie of 600 square
miles; the Walla Walla valley. The
Neg Perce country is said to be rich as
well as the country bordering upon
the Yakima river.
I'VE have everything to encourage
us to do our part in establishing the
solid foundations of the solid prosper.
ity OF our territory. Ours is the great
roadstead, where are the vessels en-
gagged in the commerce and the pro.
lection Of the commerce of the world.
can ride at anchor. This great road.
stead is on the route of Asiatic com.
meree, and with the known practical
bility of the railroad route thence to
the st. Lawrence valley, and the upper
Mississippi, it must become a great
emporium of trade. have come here.
not as an official, for mere station. but
as a citizen as we'll as your chief mag.
istrate, to do my part towards the de-
velopment Of the resources of this ter
ritory, and combining the elements of
national organization and strength on
the Western coast. A great field opens
to our view, and we can labor with the
conviction that from our hands as the
pioneers on the Northern Pacific, an
imperial domain will descend to our
children and an accession of power re-
suit to our country, all, too, in the
cause of freedom and humanity"
AS no report of the speeches which
followed has been furnished us, and
as no notes had been taken, it would
be folly for us to attempt to do justice.
or give even synopsis of the able
manner in which the several gentle
men acquitted themselves.
Judge Monroe was Immediately call
ed for at the conclusion of the speech
OF the governor, and, in we'll con.
ceived address of some length, well