Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-05-07
The Port Angeles Town.Site Fizzle.

turned from the sale of town lots at
Port Angeles, that less than five thou
sand dollars were realized to the Gov
eminent from the sale. This is even
worse than we had anticipated. We
have always been Of the opinion that
the speculation would result in serious
loss to the Government, and the sale
has verified our worst apprehensions.
This speculation of Smith for the bene-
fit of the Treasury has resulted like his
other " saving operations. To "save"
one dollar he spends from two to five.
The account will show that many thou
sand dollars have already been expend-
ed for Port Angeles, while less than
five thousand have been realized from
the sale of the most valuable portion of
the TOWNSHIP; and that, too, when Vic
tor Smith had spent six months at
Washington, under the patronage of
the Treasury Department, putting his
town.site into notice.
We should like to be informed pre-
cisely how much has been expended by
the Government on the account of Port
Angeles. According to our under
standing of the matter, the account at
present stands about as follows: Town.
site debtor-To damages allowed Smith
for extinguishing rights of pre-emptors
on the reservation, in January. 1868,
$4,000; expense of Smiths three trips
to Washington and back, about 5000;
expenses ofLieut. Merryman to Wash
ington, and back to Port Townsend,
$4,000; expenses of Lieut.. Mcrryman
back to Washington, by order Of the
Secretary of the Treasury, to dismiss
him from the service for slandering
Victor Smith in reporting him in de-
fault to the Government, about 81, 900;
expenses of other revenue officers in
travelling on account of Smiths Port
Angeles speculation, at least $4,000 !;
expense of trip OF the steam cutter in
conveying Smith to San Francisco to
forcstall Lieut.. Merryman at Wushing-
ton, $1,000; amount expended for hos
pital, lighthouse, custom-house, ETC.,
necessary after removal of port of en-
try to Port Angeles, $4,000; expense
of survey of town-site, $4,000; ap-
praisement of lots, travelling expenses
of Register and Receiver from Olym-
pia to Port Townsend and returning,
advertising sale, ETC., at least 81, 900 !;
Victor Smiths charge for extra SER
vices, connected with the town-site,
$500. (This last item was probably
rejected by the land department, but
ace know the amount was claimed by
him. Total, $37, 800. Town-site cred
it by amount realized from sale of lots,
$4,000. Balance against the Govern
ment, $3.50, 1000.
Before the Government proceeds fur
Their in the novel policy Of specializing
i'll town.sites, we would suggest an in
quiry by Congress into the result Of
this first experiment, and more partic-
ularly the propriety of continuing in
the service Victor Smith as their agent
for "Increasing the revenue Of the
Government by the reservation oftown-
LATEST FROM THE EAsr.-We learn
from gentleman who was allowed a
glance at one of the late papers sent to
Wells, Fargo & Co.'S Agent, Mr.. KeI
lett, that nothing of much importance
was detailed in addition to what we re-
ceived by the regular mail. Dates to
the 81 of May represent the rebel army
under Lee as having been largely rein
forced from tie South. Beauregard
was said to have arrived in Richmond
with $4,000 men, swelling Lees army
to nearly 100000. Banks was said to
have recovered from his temporary re-
pulse, and was again advancing on
Shreveport, on Red river. Everything
was going we'll with Grant, on the Po-
tomac. The exchange ofprisoners was
suspended, no flag of truce being per.
mitted to come within our lines in the
vicinity of Fortress Monroe, probably