Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-04-16
L,Hwfrom GU. Ci"', Esq, to Gor. Pickering.
OLYMPIA, Sept. Path, 1862.

10 HIS ENtElLFNCl, w VI. lii hIh'\",
Governor of Washington Territory:
ST.: At your request, respectfully sub
nit my views as to the proper location for the
Custom House Of the District of Puget Sound
whilst onr port of entry may be deemed sutfi-
'cient for the whole of those waters known as
the Straits of Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and Pu-
get Sound, embracing the very many arms,
bays, inets, &c., constituting the magnificent
inland sea of this Territory. In response TO
your personal inquiries, would state that |
am nativeo of Marha's Vineyard, Massacl,u-
sets, now.in the sixtieth year of my age.
have followed the sea since 1920, and have
been master of vessel and ship owner since
1880. own two vessels, brig and bark.
and have a ship almost constantly under
charter. These three vessels have been en-
gagged in the Puget Sound trade, since 1856
plying between San Francisco, my former res
idenct, and some of the ports on THIS, waters
or in carrying lumber, spars, or piles from ports
on Puget Sound to China. Ny first visit to
the Territory was in July ISIS. ! am at
present running monthly line OF packets be-
tween San Francisco and Olympia AMI Steil-
accom-, in this Territory, in which are en-
ployed my own vessels, the bark .ian Parry,
and tho brig Kv'ou, and the chartered ship
Gcorgiana l have entered claim i'll ga
vanish county, in this Territory, IL miles
from Olympia. upon which have commenced
the erection of dwelling house. to which |
shall surely remove my family, now residing
in San francisco.
l have been familiarlv acquainted with the
bay or harbor of Port Townsend. Till re-
>f t1o lao, Of D,,rt
Angeles or False Dungeness. | spent two
days in and about the latter harbor during the
present month, and since the commencement
Of the building designed for the new Custom
House of the District. For comparison of
the respective harbors, their soundinss and
geographical description, let me refer you to
the Coast Survey Reports Of 1850, page
Ais and 44O, and sketches No. "a and No.
3G, in same volume. AS Il ship owner, with
at least $4,000 of capital embarked in trade
upon this Sound, earnestly protest against
the removal of the Custom-lIouse from Port
Townsend to Port Angeles. If not too late,
urge Your EXccllcncy to use your whole inu-
ence to secure the repeal of the Act Of Con-
gress of last Session, whereby the said rcmov-
al was effected. cannot but believe that
Congress-, when advised of the evil so hastily
contaminated, will undo the injury to the ma
terial commercial interests OF this Territory.
Such unfortunate legislation must have been
the result Of Misrepresentation, and there is
too much reason to fear was prompted by self
ishness and private speculation. ! have not
now nor never had a dollars worth Of proper
ty in either town. My only interest in this
matter is to see the Custom House properly
located, convenient of access to the shipping
engaged in business with the trading settle
ments now established in the Territory. Let
me give practical illustration of the effects
Of such removal upon vessels compelled to en-
ter Or clear at the ncw Custom House. While
at Port Angeles, for two whole days, ten YES
sells outward bound, Which had sailed from
Port Townsend two days before l had left
that town for Port Angeles, were trying to
beat out the straits with light eastcrly
rent, and We're drifted towards Port Town
send by every succeeding flood tide. These
vessels could not get into Port Angeles. nor
near enough the shore to clear. You will
readily see the reason Of this, by glance at
chart No. "a. before referred to. There was
probably light breeze in the middle of
tho straits. but between the headland of
Tongue Point and the New Dungeness Spit
not breath of air. From my own knowl-
edge, for several months Of the year this
would be likely to be the case. At the time
I refer to. had both vessels been obliged ia
clear at Port Angeles, the delay in getting in
and out, apart from the labor of working
without wind, could not have been less than
one week.
Again, sincs Victoria has become so pom.
inent a town, and British Columbia (by the
discovery Of gold) has grown into popu!ous
province, trade in cattle, -four, lumber, pro.
duce, hay, &C., has commenced between the
Sound settlements and mills and Victoria and
the ports of British Columbia. Now by the
map, you will perceive that Port Angeles is
almost directly south of Victoria. 1t is a
fact that the winds almost invariably draw up
and down the straits. In severe weather,
a trough of the sea is of necessity formed
For this reason, vessels in that trade being
compelled to enter and clear ut tho Custom
Housc-it being at Port Angrlos-you must
readily see that great difficulties arc cntailed
by the necessity of going directly across the
straits. In several months of the year, the
delay thus occasionpd adds greatly to the OK.
pense of shippers. to say nothing of an in
creased risk aud liability to damage by seas,
to the cargoes Of vessels subjected to sucl,
voyages.
Again, vessel at Victoria, bound to any
mill o. town upon the Sound, with the wind
southwest, Ia prevailing wind on the straits, }
could not got to Port Angeles without delay,
under the most favorable circumstances, OF
from six to twelve hour. and with my knowl-
edge and experience. do not hesitate to say.
it would be more frequently from four days to