MEMORIALS. MEMORIAL PRAYING FOR THE RETENTION OF THE GARRISON AT FORT COLVILLE, STEVENS COUNTY. To the Honorable Secretary of War of the United States: Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington, would respectfully represent that the county of Stevens embraces within its boundaries nearly one-half of Washington Territory, being two hundred miles in length and one hundred and fifty in breadth, and containing thirty thousand square miles; that it is inhabited by the Spokan, Cour d'Alene, Isle d'Pierre, San Poel, Okanagan, Lake, Colville, and Callispel tribes of Indians, in all numbering about forty-five hundred; that Colville valley contains one hundred and twenty-seven white settlers, with thirty women, and one hundred and seventeen children, and that there are scattered in various settlements here and there, in other parts of the county, one hundred and thirtyseven white settlers, with forty women and one hundred and fourteen children; that no treaty has ever been made by the United States with the Indians of Stevens county, or have they ever been placed on reservations; that Fort Colville is a military post of the United States garrisoned by a single company of infantry, and situated at a distance of two hundred miles from the settled portions of Washington Territory east of the Cascade mountains; that the Indians inhabiting Stevens county have heretofore been kept in check, owing to the presence of this small body of troops (since their defeat by the late General George Wright) but that when lately it was. rumored the troops would be removed, they became emboldened and openly announced their intention of driving out the white settlers and taking possession of their property as soon as the removal of the troops was accomplished; that the settlers of Colville valley would be unable to protect themselves, and would be compelled to abandon their farms on which they have expended many years of toil, were the troops removed; that the settlers in other parts of the county, except possibly those living near the county of Walla Walla, would likewise be driven from their homes by the Indians, and that hostilities between the whites and Indians would almost necessarily follow the removal of the troops; that in anticipation of the Northern Pacific railroad passing across Stevens county, settlers are immigrating to it very rapidly, and that in the opinion of your memorialists, the military post already established by the government, with its garrison, should be continued until the settlers are numerous enough to protect themselves and to convince the Indian tribes living in that county that any resistance to immigration or hostilities to the white population would be futile. Wherefore, your memorialists would respectfully and earnestly ask that the post at Fort Colville remain garrisoned as at present, till the increase of the population of the county may render the same no longer necessary to the safety of the inhabitants. And as in duty bound, your memorialists will ever pray. Passed the House of Representatives November 13, 1871. J. J. H. VAN BOKKELEN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Passed the Council November 17, 1871. H. A. SMITH, President of the Council. MEMORIAL RELATIVE TO THE FREE NAVIGATION OF THE SKAGIT RIVER. To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington, would respectfully represent that the Skagit river, in this Territory, could be made navigable for river steamers for a distance of sixty to seventy miles at all seasons of the year; that said river at and near its mouth is obstructed with one drift or jam to the great exclusion of navigating the same, thereby retarding the settlement of the Skagit valley, which contains an area of three hundred thousand acres of our finest lumber and farming lands; that the Skagit river passes through the Cascade range of mountains, affording an easy and accessible pass from the Yakima valley to the Sound country, while the mountains through which its head waters pass abound in rich mineral wealth; that learning from the engineer of the North Pacific railroad company, who has examined said section of the country, that the obstruction can be removed for the sum of ten thousand dollars and thereby open a channel for immigration to a tract of land capable of sustaining over one thousand families. Your memorialists would therefore respectfully pray your honorable bodies to pass an act appropriating ten thousand dollars for the removal of said drift or jam, and the making of said river free of obstructions and navigable. Passed the House of Representatives October 16, 1871. J. J. H. VAN BOKKELEN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Passed the Council October 31, 1871. H. A. SMITH, President of the Council. MEMORIAL PRAYING FOR MAIL SERVICE FROM PORT TOWNSEND TO COUPEVILLE. To the Honorable Postmaster General of the United States: Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington, would respectfully represent that under contract No. 15,412, from Seattle to Whatcom, it takes one week for a letter to go from Port Gamble, Port Ludlow and Port Townsend, to Coupeville. Your memorialists would therefore respectfully pray that a semi-weekly mail from Port Townsend to Coupeville, via Ebey's landing, be established, connecting with the mail between Olympia and Port Townsend, for the following reasons: First. There is a daily communication between Port Townsend, Port Ludlow, Port Gamble and Seabeck. Second. The distance between Port Townsend and Ebey's landing is seven miles by water, from Ebey's landing to Coupeville, two and one-half miles by land, making the distance nine and one-half miles. Your memorialists would further state that by the route asked for, some five hundred persons would be accommodated with more speedy and certain mail facilities. We would therefore respectfully pray that a mail be established between the above mentioned places, and that proposals for carrying the mail be advertised for said service, to commence on the first day of July, 1872. And as in duty bound, we will ever pray. Passed the House of Representatives November 16, 1871. J. J. H. VAN BOKKELEN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Passed the Council November 17, 1871. H. A. SMITH, President of the Council. |