of a severe winter, which brought some loss and a depressed wool market, the revenues from this source have increased. The same may be said of all branches of the great stock industries.

IMPORTING STOCK.

This Territory is not to be judged by the amount of stock exported either for meat or for other purposes. Though Montana continues to furnish in large numbers, cattle, horses, and sheep for stocking the vast pasture lands of the Dominion provinces to the North, and supplies no insignificant portion of the beef cattle for the Chicago market, she is, and for some time will continue to be, an importer rather than an exporter of stock. This must continue till our rich and extensive pasture ranges are fairly well stocked up to their natural average capacity. As a consequence, brood mares, young cows, and ewes are worth relatively more in Montana than elsewhere in the country. It is estimated that above 100,000 head of improved breeds of cattle have been shipped and driven into the Territory during the past year, and by the 1st of December about 60,000 will have been exported.

The railroads are furnishing increased facilities for importing stock. Sheep are brought from Washington Territory and Oregon by car at a cost of 50 cents per head, and in so short a time that no delay is needed to feed and water them; a hard and exhaustive season's drive is thus avoided and the stock is in better condition to endure the possible rigor of the the first winter, which is usually the most trying to stock driven in. In the same way and with equal advantage young cattle and horses are brought in from the States. This method of transportation is espe cially favorable to the introduction of improved breeds which could not well bear the long drive across the plains and mountains. Especial attention is being paid to improving the quality of all kinds of stock, and many men of wealth, enterprise, and experience are doing great work in this direction.

PREVENTION OF CATTLE DISEASE.

The climate of Montana is as healthy for stock as for the human race. There is little likelihood of any species of stock disease originating here. There is danger, however, that among the large herds and flocks brought in that diseases may thus be introduced and cause immense loss. I have found it necessary during the year past to issue a proclamation to prevent the introduction of cattle affected with Texas fever and other diseases that have caused so much anxiety and loss in some of the Western States, and have found the authorities of all the adjacent Territories quite ready to co-operate in all such precautionary measures, and our legislature is alive to the importance of making suitable laws and providing the necessary means to carry them out. But it seems that additional legislation on the part of Congress could do vastly more, reaching as it would in all directions, with a stronger hand and uniform regulations protecting us on the side of the British provinces as well as of sister Territories and States.

The stock interests of Montana and Wyoming are alike, and the citizens of both Territories are equally interested in the securing of the admission of cattle into Great Britain alive. Unfortunately, in order to retain her monopoly, the British authorities refused us exit through Canadian provinces, but it is hoped that we may accomplish it via Boston and Portland. England and Scotland favor the admission of

ions upon public policy and measures. The work of the executive office is necessarily arduous and the responsibilities great. The cost of living in the Territories is as much or more than in the States. The sums appropriated by Congress for the salaries of the governor and secretary are inadequate as a compensation for the services they are required to perform. I think it would be just and wise public policy for Congress to appropriate the full amount of salaries as fixed by law. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, LIONEL A. SHELDON, Governor of New Mexico.

Hon. HENRY M. TELLER.

Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C.

REPORT

OF

THE GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, OLYMPIA, WASH. TER.,

November 10, 1884.

SIR: Inasmucn as no reports of this character from this Territory addressed to your office have been published since the year 1879, and the only annual reports previously published were, though valuable, yet somewhat brief in extent, I have thought best to make to you as full a presentation as possible, in the brief time allowed me, of all the more important facts connected with the "resources and development" of Washington Territory, as requested by you. For this purpose I have diligently corresponded with the auditors and assessors of all the counties of the Territory, furnishing them printed blanks to be returned, and with all the managers of its various educational and business institutions. Besides drawing upon my own knowledge of the Territory, gleaned during a residence here during the past five or six years, I have gathered and compiled a variety of important facts from leading specialists in reference to the geographical, geologic, and climatic characteristics, the coal and iron mining, horticultural, agricultural, and manufacturing interests, the fisheries, and the flora and fauna of the Territory.

The data thus offered, together with the summary reports of our charitable and penal institutions, and an exhibit of the financial condition of the Territory, if published, will not only be of great service in encouraging and stimulating our people, but will furnish reliable information to the intending immigrant, and will indicate to Congress the rightful basis of our claim for early admission into the union of States.

WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

Washington Territory is bounded on the north by British Columbia, on the east by Idaho, on the south by Oregon, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean, or, according to the notes from the Surveyor-General's Office, as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Columbia River near the one hundred and twenty-fourth degree west longitude, thence up the middle channel of the Columbia to the intersection of the forty-sixth degree of north latitude, thence along said forty-sixth parallel to the middle channel of the Snake River, thence down said river to the mouth of the Clearwater River, thence north along the one hundred and seventeenth degree west longitude to the forty-ninth degree of north latitude, thence west along the forty-ninth parallel to the main channel of Canal de Haro, west of one hundred and twenty-third degree west longitude, thence 6088 VOL 2- -37

THE NATIONAL PARK.

Though the boundaries of the Yellowstone National Park are mostly within Wyoming, the people of Montana through whose enterprise its wonders were first made generally known, and through whose borders the readiest access to the Park is gained, feel a deep and abiding interest in seeing most fully realized the original purpose of making it a national resort and pleasure-ground and game preserve accessible to those of moderate means as well as the wealthy at home and abroad. In the matter of granting franchises of any kind, whether for transportation or hotel accommodations, the chief object should be to provide for those of moderate means.

I have urged upon the Department at different times the immediate necessity of protecting the fish and game within the Park limits, and notwithstanding the appointment of nine additional assistant superintendents during the past year, game is being slaughtered continually and fish destroyed by the use of giant powder. Elk, deer, buffalo, and mountain sheep heads are exposed publicly for sale within a short distance of the superintendent's house, and during a visit to the Park the past summer I passed the carcasses of elk recently killed for their antlers and left to rot where they were shot down, only a short distance from one of the main trails between the Mammoth Hot Springs and the Geyser Basin. It is well known that during the past winter numbers of beaver were trapped, and only a few of these interesting and industrious animals are now to be found. With all due respect to the late superintendent and one or two of his assistants, I consider most of the officials employed in the Park for its protection entirely worthless, and from their past inexperience in woodcraft and frontier life they are about as useful in protecting the game of the Park from being killed and exterminated, as a Sioux Indian would be in charge of a locomotive. Frontiersmen who have lived most of their days on the plains and among the mountains, with a thorough knowledge of the haunts and habits of our large game, should be selected for these positions, and none others, no matter how influential may be those who desire such positions for their constituents and friends.

It should be remembered that the frontier and thinly settled portions of the country surrounding the Park always furnish a resort to escaped criminals and hard characters of all sorts, and the fact that so many people of wealth and distinction from all parts of the world visit the Park will naturally encourage attempts at robbery and brigandage, and suggests the necessity of increasing the security against its possible occurrence. Cavalry now stationed at the posts adjacent to the Park could be detailed for special service during the summer months at no additional expense to the Government, in fact at less expense than it would cost to maintain them in garrison.

It can be clearly proven, certain newspaper statements to the contrary notwithstanding, that it did not cost the Government as much to supply the men and animals used in escorting the President's party under General Sheridan, and transporting their supplies in their several weeks' trip last year through Wyoming, the National Park, and Montana, as to have maintained the same number of soldiers, horses, and mules at their regular stations.

RIVERS AND RESERVOIRS.

While the subject of improving the great rivers of the country is yearly growing in importance, it should be remembered that the sources