The Blue Mountains are considerably broken and interrupted, but generally run north and south. The country east of them to the Rocky Mountains is interrupted throughout by offsets from the Rocky range, and transverse ranges connecting the main chains. Nothing can well exceed the wild magnificence of much of this country, with its vast and snow-clad mountainous tracts, deep valleys, tremendous gorges, lofty cataracts, and rushing torrents. It is of course little suited for agricultural operations, but the basis of the hills are generally covered with timber, aud about the lakes, from which flow the head streams of the Columbia, the Spokane, and the Flathead rivers, are spots of remarkable fertility as well as of surpassing beauty. But all this district is left to the native Indians, who are a warlike and implacable race. The chief dependence of these Indian tribes is ou hunting, and they barter the furs to the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company for tobacco and articles of European manufacture ; but the fur-bearing animals are rapidly decreasing in number. The Rocky Mountains are described elsewhere. [Nicer MOUNTAINS; NEBRASKA.] There are two or three practicable passes in this range along the territory of Washington, but they are much more difficult than the Great South Pass.
The principal river is the Columbia, which belongs equally to Washington and Oregon ; it is described under OREGON. Its northern branches rise in the Rocky Mountains within the Hudson's Bay Ter ritories, and unite in Washington ; the uuited stream traversing the territory in a generally southern direction, and receiviug numerous tributaries. It forms the Columbia by the junction of the Saphin or Lewis River. The principal tributaries of the northern branch of the Columbia are the Kootanie or Flat Bow, the Flathead or Clarke, and the Spokane rivers : they are all very rapid streams, but navigable by boats for some distance. The chief river north of the Columbia is the Chekalis, which rises in the Cascade Mountains, and pursues a very tortuous course to its outfall in Gray's Harbour. Its course is very rapid, and it is only navigable by- canoes ; it receives several small streams from tho high grounds about Hood's Canal and Puget's Sound. The Nisqually and Tenalquit, or Shute's rivers, fall into Puget's Sound ; they are both navigable for some distance, but will probably prove of greater value for their mechanical power. In the interior are numerous lakes, the larger being chiefly expansions of the northern branches of the Columbia,• the Spokane, and the Clarke rivers.
At present the rearing of horses and cattle have attracted most attention from the settlers, but agriculture is rapidly extending. The productions are similar to those of OREGON : wheat is the chief grain crop ; maize has not been much grown hitherto. The forests will for
many years supply an unlimited quantity of fine timber. Coal is found in the neighbourhood of Puget's Sound, and on the Chekalis and Monticello rivers. Iron and other metals have been found; hut mining operations have as yet been little heeded. A few manufactories have sprung up. The fisheries will probably become an important part of the industry of Washington. All the rivers abound in fish ; salmon being especially abundant. Fish also abound on the coasts.
Whales frequent the coasts and the mouth of Juan de Fuca Strait. Shell-fish are very abundant. The commerce of Washington is yet iu its infancy, but it is steadily increasing; nearly all the commerce centres in the district of Puget's Sound.
Washington has as yet no town of many inhabitants. The political capital, principal commercial town, and port of entry is Olympia, on the right bank of the Tenalquit or Shute's River, at its entrance into Puget'e Sound. This town boasts of its hotel, stores, saw- and grist mills—the first in the territory—newspaper, &c.; and contains COO inhabitants. The other more important places are :--Columbia City, on the right bank of the Columbia, below Fort Vancouver; Monticello, the capital of Lewis county, and the place where the conventiou was held which led to the separation of Washington from Oregon ; Nisqually, on the east side of Puget's Sound, the property chiefly of the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, whose farms supply provisions to the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company west of the Rocky Mountains; and Pacific City, on the right bank of the Columbia at its entrance into the Pacific Ocean, which appears likely to become a place of some trade.
Washington was separated from Oregon, and received a territorial constitution, by Act of Congress, March 2, 1853. By this act the right of voting is vested in every free white male 21 years old then resident in the territory. The Legislative Assembly consists of a council of 9 members, chosen for three years, but one-third to vacate their seats each year ; and a House of Representatives of 18 members, elected annually. The governor is appointed by the president and senate for four years. All laws passed by the legislature must be submitted for confirmation to Congress. No law can be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil; or taxing the property of non-residents higher than that of residents. Sections 16 and 36 in every township are to be reserved for schools.
(Vancouver; Wilkes; Lewis and Clarke ; Fremont, &e. ; Gazetteers of United States; United States COWLS ; American Almanac, &c.)