, 1862-10-09
PORT TOwHsESD, PORT ANeEIos. -.
To the Editor Of tie Puget Sound Herald:

PoRT TOWNSEND, Oct. I'd, 1869.
"When, in the course Of human events, It be-
comes necessary to remove the Custom House
and Marine Hospital from Port Townsend to Port
Angelns which removal took place on the lst
instant, it is proper to inquire into the causes
which led to such an organic change. From the
earliest explorers TO this "hr west" we gather
but little respecting any harbors on the Sound.
Wilkes passed two survey months here, and
makes favorable mention Of this bay, and he an.
pears to be much pleased with the romantic
scenery that surrounds the "placid waters Of
Puget Sound"
It is a matter Of surprise and regret that this
town should have been built on its present site.
Surrounded by romantic hills and beautiful val.
leys beyond comparison, il yet lacks the elements
for shipping pOrt The station and Intervening
cove afford good, safe anchorage, easy Of &C.
cess, with abundance Of wood and water, and,
being much more convenient to Ports Discovery
and Ludlow, we wonder that town has not been
built there. Notwithstanding such natural dis
advantages, Port Townsend is now and has been
for years a place Of considerable trade. For
years It has been tho central port in which ships
10 congregate,a dcd to a hospital lavishing some
twenty thousand dollars annually, which, with
the Federal and Territorial Courts, gathered con-
siderable sums Of money; these in turn were
judciously applied to trade and shaving "mil
DHper," all Of which have given this place pres.
tige not easily affected; and thus, with much
capital and 4 well.direcled energy, we by no means
deS,air that Port Townsend will suffer materially
BY so great a change
From the journals Of the Spanish navigators
we judge that Port Angeles proved the only
Mecca that afforded pleasure or pastime. The
commodious harbor, surrounded by such roman
tic hills, the cooling streams abounding with de-
licious trout, mtersected by those pleasant vSl-
lcys which then ahounded, as they do now, with
der, bear and other game, must have afforded
to the gay Spaniard exciting recreation, and no
doubt proved equally agreeable to the scurvy-
suffering seamen. Hence the name.
Several modern visitors who have Travelled
around these shores, have expressed delight and
sung paens to this CherbOurg Of America. Lo-
Gated convenient to the ocean, having unusual
facilities for commerce and trade, and at no dis
tant day to become the great depot Of the whale
and other fisheries, we believe that Cherbourg
will be o place Of some importance. As to the
causes which led to the removal Of the Custom
House and Marine Hospital, they are as varied
as they are conclusive. First we have the off,
cal reports Of several naval and military officers
all unprejudiccd and dsinterested. Secondly,
we have the unanimously adopted memorial Of
the Territorial Legislature Of 1860 81, requesting
the establishment of port Of entry and delivery
at Dungeness Third, we have the petition OF
many shipowners and masters employed in the
Puget Sound trade for such change. Fourth,
we think we have facts in our possession proving
that Col. Wallace, our Delegate, favored such a
change, all reports to the contrary, notwithsand-
ing We have seen letters from him to the
Victor" breathing the most endearing friend
ship and brotherly love; and whatever claims
Smith may have on him, Il Is logical to conclude
that Port Townsend has none, as the proprietors
subsidized al and every "nursery Of democracy"
In the place TO defeat his election. As to the re-
ports that Smith carried everything in the co'u'
mittee and Congress, IS well as with an admins
tratiaH elected wholly or In part on the platform
Of Territorial rights and franchise. and such .
sweeping change aaIecling the organic and fnnda-
mental rights of our people should be carried in
the faoe and aEaiu.l ihe Efforts of lone Rspub-
lican Representative. BY Republican Congress.
and execuisd BY . SecretAry Whose grandest
sdoFts were iar TeFfiloSiA righiA ue doli6eraicly
pronounce The uhole . hfce and delusiun.
We believe that waIacs favored ths chang, and