Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/160

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154
F. G. Young.
154

154 THOMAS W. PROSCH. upon it of that name, that they called their paper the Columbian. It was well conducted, ably edited, and in- fluential. A term of the district court was held at John R. Jackson's on the 26th and 27th of October, at which time the matter was discussed by those in attendance. As a result a call went out for another convention to be held at Monticello November 25, 1852, when questions similar to those previously discussed at Cowlitz would be considered. The most ardent advocates of a new territory were the people living farthest north, particularly Puget Sound. It was recognized that those living on and near the north bank of the Columbia had less reason for separation from those on the south bank than others more remote had. It would not be unlikely, in fact, that in the new territory they would be farther from the capital and the center of population than they were under the conditions prevail- ing. It was determined to placate these people as far as possible, and with this idea in view the convention called for at the Jackson meeting was located at Monticello. Monticello was a small place that for twenty years had prominence as a transfer point on the route between Puget Sound and Portland. The building of the North- ern Pacific railroad and the town of Kalama killed it in the early seventies. The convention met as called. An inspection of the list of delegates developed the fact that the area repre- sented in the Cowlitz meeting the year before had grown in settlements and population, and that at least one place had since sprung into existence that was inhabited by men of ambition, enterprise, and public spirit. Though far to the north, it had sent eight of the forty-four dele- gates present. This new place was called Seattle. One of the eight was George N. McConaha, who was made president, and another, R. J. White, was made secretary.