CHAPTER XV

GOVERNOR, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.--EXPLORATION, NORTHERN ROUTE

Washington Territory organized--Exploration of routes to Pacific determined on--Appointed governor--Letter of resignation from army--Colonel Totten's reply--Silver service presented by friends on the Coast Survey--Obtains charge of exploration of Northern route--Takes high ground--Impresses his views on the administration--Applies for Captain McClellan--Letter to him--Sends Lieutenant Donelson to Montreal to procure maps and data from Hudson Bay Company--Prepares his own instructions--Magnitude of task--Organizes the expedition-- Gives McClellan charge of construction of the military road, Steilacoom to Walla Walla--Declares independence of Hudson Bay Company--Busy scenes in 3d Street house--Sends officers to San Francisco, St. Louis, and St. Paul to hasten preparation-- Selects territorial library--Exploration fully reported in vols. i. and xii., Pacific Railroad Reports 280