, 1856-08-29
Nail Route on Puget Sound.

1856, Mr.. Herbert, from the Committee
on the Post Office and Post Roads, made
the following
Report:
The CommihCe on The Post OHoc nnd Posi-
Roads, 10 lrhom ,oas referred House bill
, No. l42, establishing mail route on
Puget Sound, in Washington Territory,
hare hod Tie same Wadcr consideration, and
submit he foiiOtriHg report:
In 1852, '53, and '54, mail routes were
established, by special acts of Congress,
upon the waters Of Puget Sound, in Wash
ington Territory, and postmasters were ap-
pointed.
Proposals have, at various times, been
invited by the Postmaster General, aud
bids received, and a few towns on the
route hereinafter mentioned were supplied
with mail facilities
The commercial interests and relations
existing between the various towns on the
Sound demand, necessarily, such mail fa-
clities as will enable the business commu-
nifty thereof to have free intercourse with
each other, and opportunities for inter
; change Of their various commodities.
The resources Of Washington Territory
offer to the settler or man OF business, or
to those engaged in navigating the Pacific
coast, the strongest Inducements for the
extension Of their business, not only with
home ports, but with those of the Sand
wich Islands, Australia, China, Callao,
Valparaiso, and all the South American
ports.
Its lumber interests are not only of vital
Importance to the prosperity Of lhe inhab-
tantS Of Washington Territory, but to
those commercially interested in San Fran
cisco and other home ports, as also the for
cign ports above mentioned.
From tho numerous mills at Olympia,
Stclacoom, Seattle, Port Orchard, Port
Gamble, Port Ludlow, and Belingham
Bay, and the extensive coalfelds Oh the
waters of the Sound, are daily shipped large
quantities OF lumber and other productions
Of the Territory.
During the last year, six thousand tons
Of coal were shipped from Bellingham Bay,
and as the mines or fields are just develop
ed, it is but reasonable to calculate or sup
pose that the amount will be doubled or
Lrebled during the present year. One hun
dred or more vessels, principally owned III
San Francisco, are engaged III transporting
the products Of these Territories TO San
Francisco and other Pacific seaports and
in the prosecution Of this large aud rapidly
increasing trade, the regularity with which
our commercial correspondence, Ito say
nothing Of the individual wants OF con
stantly growing community, upon which
this trade is based, built up anu excluded,
becomes Il necessity.
There are at the present time no mail
facilities upon its waters, and nearly all the
business, shipping and commercial, on this
magnificent inland sea, is carried on below
Olympia and ut certain seasons Of the
year, all communication, even that by Gu
noe and boats, is cut OF.
A weekly mail to be carried by steamer
to all parts Of the Sound, is the chief want
of the inhabitants, and Of those having
commercial or business intercourse with the
Territories.
The collection district is situated one
hundred and ten miles below Olympia, and,
us is frequently the case, after vessel has
received her cargo at any OF the ports on
the Sound, for CHINA, the Sandwich Islands,
or Australia, the merchants, owners, Or
consgnors have been compelled, IN conSe-
uueuce of their inability " send tue requl-
site information to the ,captaih by nall, 10
have the vessel come to San Francisco for
orders, losing thereby two or three weeks
time.
Communications Of vast Importance pc
cuniarily, sent from San Francisco to Puget
Sound, have frequently been so long in
transitu, that the vessels to which they
were sent have loaded and cleared for their
ports OF destination before they arrived,
causing serious loss to the owner or con-
Signor showing, conclusively, that mail
facilities are requisite and necessary upon
those waters, to enable those engaged in
their navigation and trade to discharge
their business with promptness and credla-
bic dispatch.
1t has ever been, and the committee do
not doubt that it will continue to be, the
true interest Of our government to counte-
nance and uphold the enterprise Of such oi
, her citizens as shall engage in opening new
avenues of trade in her Territories, and as
sist with material aid in the extension
of our.now worldwide commerce.
The value Of this service to Washington
, Territory would be incalculable, and should
not be estimated with the profit or loss to
our postal department.
The security which would be thus offered
to our commerce, and to individual enter
prise on the northwest coast, by the pres
ence of these steamers and display OF our
national flag, would not only greatly serve
in keeping the Indians (never so trouble
; some there as now in subjection, but give
an impetus to the settler, to enterprise aud
and commerce, extend the blessings OF civ
ilization to those comparatively new coun-
l.. 1 F..t 4 Il 90,