Bridging the Divide: The Quest to Unite Washington Territory

The Walla Walla Union is prompted by a recent event to give utterance to the following sentiments: During the reception given the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, a pleasing incident occurred. In response to a call, Dr. N. W. Lane, of Port Gamble, said that as a representative of Western Washington he wished to shake hands across the perpetual snows of the Cascade Mountains with Eastern Washington. Amid the loud plaudits of the audience, he advanced and shook hands with Rev. G. M. Irwin of Walla Walla. This incident demonstrates that the holding of the Grand Lodge in Walla Walla and the consequent bringing of large numbers of representative men from the western part of the Territory into a region they knew not, save by hearsay, will prove very beneficial to the whole Territory. These gentlemen have had their eyes opened and learned that all of Washington is not located in the cities and villages which are to be found on Puget Sound. Hitherto, the social intercourse between the inhabitants of the two great divisions of the Territory has been restricted to the payment of taxes and the expenditure of public money. The natural result has been that there has grown up a sort of vague, jealous antagonism between the two great sections of the Territory, which has contributed in some degree to retard the general welfare. We believe the citizens of Walla Walla and Eastern Washington are one and all earnestly in favor of maintaining Washington Territory as an entirety, and of the construction of one or more railroads between the two great sections as soon as practicable. To the extent that these objects are promoted by the holding of Grand Lodges in Walla Walla, the extra expense incurred will prove bread cast upon the waters to return a hundredfold.