Speech #490032485

The people of Northern Idaho are also practically unanimous in their desire to have Northern Idaho included within the boundaries of the new State. There were very few settlers in that portion of Washington Territory east of the Cascade Mountains. now Eastern Washington. Idaho. and Western Montana prior to 1861. In consequence of the discovery of gold in what is now Northern Idaho during that year. in that and the succeeding year there was a considerable immigration from Western Washington. Oregon. and California to that mining region. During the latter year a movement was inaugurated for the organization of a Territory out of that portion of Washington Territory lying east of the Columbia River.