Readings in PACIFIC NORTHWEST HISTORY WASHINGTON 1790-1895 Readings in PACIFIC NORTHWEST HISTORY CHuuEs MARVIN GATES Published by the University Bookstore Seattle, Washington 1941 - Litkoprhted In U.S.A. EDWARDS BROTHERS, INC. ANN ARBOR. MICHIGAN 1945 Contemporary records are the stuff from which history is written; they are likewise the materials in which history can be readInterpre- tations of the past, whether they be those of historians, or novehsts, or poets, are at best imaginative writingsOnly in original documents do historical personages speak for themselves Washington is rich in materials of this sortExplorers who made voyages to the north Pacific wrote books about their experiences when they returned home Fur traders kept daily journals an which their journeys through the Indian country and their activities at individual posts were recorded in detailMissionaries wrote diaries and letters Army officers compiled the data gathered during extensive inspection tripsLeadeis of government expeditions submitted elaborate reports Historical sources for the period subsequent to settlement include other types of recordsdiaries and letters of pioneers, and early news- papersPromotion literature is at hand, and books and magazine arti- cles written by tourists and correspondents are accessibleLegislative proceedings are available as well as executive documents which were prepared for the territorial assembly or for the Secretary of the Interior Such materials as these may be found without difficulty in the larger reference libraries, but copies are comparatively rareand many inter- ested readeis do not have the opportunity of enjoying them It is for such persons, and particularly for students of Pacific Northwest history, that the present volume is intended This book necessarily includes only a limited selection of significant materials The choice of items has been somewhat arbitrary, many alter- native passages might have been substituted without changing substan- tially the character of the collectionEach selection should be read a a document which illuminates but does not completely explain the event or the historical movement to which it refers Some passages are valuable for their factual content, while others are interesting chiefly for their point of view Many of them, naturally, betray a lack of insight and historical perspective by reason of their contemporary characterFor that reason they are accompanied by explanatory iotes which indicate their setting and refer the reader to recent research The great majority of selections are copied directly from the primary sourceswhether books, magazine articles, or manuscripts In these cases care has been taken to reproduce literally the original text Misprints and misspellings have been preserved, and bracketed corrections are supplied only where needed to make the meaning clear Certain primary sources have not been available for examination (e g, the Work journal and the diaries of the Walkers). Such materials have been reprinted from the place in which they first appeared in print, and in these cases the brack- eted notations provided 'by the original editors have generally been retained. Several persons have offered valuable counsel and assistance in the preparation of this publication, and the editor gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to them. Jesse S. Douglas of The National Archives, Ronald Todd of the University of Washington Library, Vernon Carsten- sen of the Central Washington College of Education, Osêar 0. Winther of Indiana University, and Obert Haavik of Grand Coulee High School contributed helpful suggestions concerning selections to be included. Mr. Douglas prepared the Fort Townsend inspection report for publica- tion and supplied the notes thérefor. Mr. Todd rendered countless serv- ices during the editor's preparation of the other notes that appear in the book, creating a debt which can hardly be repaid. Miss Ruth West of. the Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane examined a part of the manuscript and called it to the attention of her workshop group con- ducted in the College of Education, University of Washington, during - the summer session, 1941. The members .of the group considered the materials from the viewpoint of the secondary school teacher and gave kindly encouragement to the enterprise. To Charles W. Smith of the University of Washington Library, to Henry F. Wagner, and to the American Philosophical Society thanks are due for permission to include particular selections, as indicated in the body of the book. Finally, the editor wishes to express his gratitude to Everett I. Rolif of the University of Washington Press for his attention to details of format, to Milton Raoul Mills, also of the Press, who offered numerous editorial suggestions, and to those who gave assistance in pre- paring the manuscript for publication. CHARLES MARvmr GATES University of Washington September, 1941 CONTENTS CRA1'TER PAGE PREFACE 5 Early Explorers Visit the Pacific Northwest .../.......11 - Don Manuel Qumiper Formally Extends the Spamsh Empire to Washmgton Captain Vancouver Enters Puget Sound Lewis and Clark Explore the Mouth of the Columbia Washington Indians and Their Customs.... 25 Peter Puget Visits the Tribes on Puget Sound Gabriel Franchere Portrays the Customs of the Columbia River Natives An Early Resident Admires Indian Naval Architecture J G Swan Explams the Jargon of the Coast Tnbes IIIThe Fur Trade in the Pacific Northwest 41 John Jacob Astor Founds a Tradmg Post on the Columbia An Old Diary Reveals the Daily Life of the Fur Traders A Hudson s Bay Company Brigade Journeys from Vancouver to Walla \A'alla Fort Colville Dispatches the Wmter s Fur Catch Captam Wilkes Visits Dr John McLoughlin at Fort Vancouver IV Missionaries Among the Indians 67 Elkanah and Mary Walker Carry the Gospel to the Spokanes Catholic Missionaries Labor Among Western Tubes V Government Officials Study the Indian Problem 85 Lieut Kip Witnesses the Walla Walla Indian Council An Indian Agent Explams the Red Men s Grievances Captam Mullan Enumerates the Tribes Between Walla Walla and Fort Benton Northern Oregon Becomes Washington Territory... 107 Senator Semple Argues the Oregon Question Senator Buchanan Expresses the Spirit of Manifest Destiny Joseph Lane Defends a Bill to Make Northern Oregon a Separate Territory The Olympia Columbian Reports the Movement for a Separate Territory Territorial Lawmakers Attack Economic and Social Problems ....... 181 Statutes Define Criminal Acts Transportation and Communication Are Encouraged Commercial Firms and Social Organizations Are Incorporated Units of Local GOvernment Are Established Social Legislation Is Enacted VIII The Army and the Problem of Military Protection 153 The Terntonal Legislature Urges Military Measures Col J K F Mansfield Visits Fort Townsend CONTENTSContinued CHAPTER i'AGE IX Documents of Overland Travel 165 Experienced Travelers Offer Practical Advice to Emigarits Gen J F Ruslmg Journeys by Wagon Through the Blue Mountains Samuel Bowles Describes Overland TravelinWashington Temtory X Travel on Western Waterways 179 Samuel Bowles Views Puget Sound from a Steamer Caroline Leighton Narrates an Adventure on the Upper Columbia Samuel Bowles Describes the Exploits of the Oregon Steam Navi gation Company General Rushng Travels by Steamboat Charles Nordhoff Candidly Surveys the Columbia River and Puget Sound XIRailroads Come to the Pacific Northwest 197 The Importance of a Transcontinental Railroad The Construction of the Northern l'aciflc Line John M Murphy Has a Sad Experience on the Famous Wallula Railway Washington Celebrates the Completion of the Northern Pacific XII Economic Enterprise Lumbering, Fishing, Mining 211 Lumbering Operations During Territorial Days Indian Salmon Fishers Demonstrate Their Skill Canneries Make Fishing a Business A Western Pioneer Recalls the Gold Strike at Oro Fmo XIII Developments in Agriculture 235 G. 0. Hailer Describes the Life of a Gentleman Farmer Hop Culture Brings Prosperity to Puyallup Irngation Works Miracles in Western Washmgton The Patrons of Husbandry Carry Their Program to the Far West XIV The Growth of Manufactures and Commerce 261 Maritime Commerce and Shipbuilding on Puget Sound The State of Manufactures and Commerce 1884 Washingtonians Defend Themselves Against Eastern Criticism XV Appeals to Tourists, Immigrants, and Sportsmen 275 A Loyal Pioneer Comments on the Weather Western Businessmen Advertise the Territory Hazard Stevens Ascends Mt Tacoma Establishment of Rainier National Park XVI Community Life in Washington Towns and Cities 301 Territorial Towns Put Their Best Foot Forward Striking Contrasts Mark the Cities of the Sound The Vicissitudes of Spokane Falls XVII Washington Becomes a State The Benefits of Statehood Washington's First Elected Governor Addresses His Constituents A News Reporter Describes the Inaugural Ceremonies APPENDIX ....... 331 The Organic Act, 1858 Proclamation of Governor Stevens, 1853 READINGS IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST HISTORY WASHINGTON 1790 - 1895 CHAPTER I. EARLY EXPLORERS VISIT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Don Manuel Quimper Formally Extends the Spanish Empire to Washington1 The first reliable report of the Straits of Juan de Fuca was made by Captain Charles William BarkleyaBritish fur trader,during thelatterpart of the eighteenth centuryAfter 1774 Spanish explorersnotably Juan Perez Bruno de Hezeta and Juan Francisco Bodega y Quadra were engaged in reconnoitermg along the north Pacific coastIn 1789 the Spaniards took teps to establish a permanent post at