Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-12
Progress Of the Custom. House War.


mcnts from our Delegate, Mr.. Cole. for which
he has our thanks. Among them we find
copy Of the Washington Daily Chronicle con-
tanning his reply to communication pre-
viously published III that paper, laudatory of
the TOWNSHIP Of Port Angeles, and which
was no doubt written by Victor Smith, now in
Washington. Mr.. Cole shows himself well
posted in regard to this iniquitous town site
speculation. We have convrrsed with gem
tlrmcn well acquainted with that locality all
of whom most fully confirm Mr.. Coles state
ments. We have also carefully examined the
field notes Of the official survey Of the town
ship, including the town->i,e, and find the
liable land" so much talked Of by Smith,
to be worse than represented
| 1t might have boon stated by Mr.. Cole,
that the confidential Clerk OF the Treasury
Department, was partner of Smiths in the
speculation, which might explain the back
ing he has so uniformly received from that
Department.
HOUSE OF hEFKESENININES
January II, 1864.
To tie Editor ofMe CA,onic/e:
DEAR SIR: An article appears in your is
sue of Sunday last in relation to the town Of
Port Angeles, Washington Territory. which
is SO evidently misrepresentation OF facts
that | cannot, in duty to my constituents,
permit it to pass unnoliced. 1t is notorious
throughout the Territory that the town of
Port Angeles is specu|utire scheme of certain
persons, " no are in no manner whatever idrn-
tilted with the interests of the Territory, eX-
cent to lis drtrimrnt. In turtlcrance Of that
scheme the crstomhouse was removed from
Port Townsend to Port Angeles, in 1862,
through the influence of these who were inter-
cstcd in the latter place, and they thus sought
the advancement of their own private interest
to the damage of commerce and the des.iuc-
ton of trade carried on in small vessels upon
which the people are mainly dependent. by
this rmova! Puget Sound proper is left open
and ungarded to illicit trade, while legitimate
trade is broken up. Port Angeles is situated
a the foo. of Mount Olympus. which rises
precipitously from the waters Of the bay.
The town was built upon the narrow beach
in front of the high bluff which is the foot
proper of the mountain. Upon the bluff the
:. fine table land exists only in the magina-
ton of "spiri;uazed or diso,dered brains,
as everyone acquainted with the locality can
testify to the rugged nature of the ground,
the masses of fallen timber, and the dense
growth of those mammoth fir trees sopecu'iar
to that country, making the "tablc land"
which is rugged and broken, almost impene
trablr; it being, in fact, but Il rugged bench
upon the side of pitous mountain which
rises abruptly into the regions Of perpetual
snow. There can he no question ofthc beau
ty of the port as a harbor when once entered
by vessel, but the testimony of navigators
who ply those waters is overwhelming as to
the difficulty of access to the harbor for sail
ing vessels, on account of the conformation
OF the land, which, as nautical men say, kills
the wind," no matter from what direction it
blows, while cgrcss for sailing crafts is almost
an impossibiliy.
1t possesses no advantages over Port Town
send, however, as harbor. The fact that
no vcss,l was ever lost in the latter place,
during the many years the custom house was
located there, ought to be sufficient to satisfy
the most incrcdulous on that point. The re-
moval of the custom-Eousc was in opposition
to the wishes of the people, md the views Of
experienced ship-mastels, and has done meal
cu!able damage to the interests Of the Terrific
nv as well as those of the General Govern
mcnt in the destruction of trade and conse-
quent reduction of revenue. 1t will be in
teresting to notice the prices paid for lots
"when the first sale" shall take place under
tic new law, fixed for the first Wednesday in
May next. If any dcnizen of that country
shall bid tho sum of twenty dollars for as
much front as he desires, running as far up
the mountain as he can climb, twill astonish
every one at all convcrsant With tho topo-
graphy of that locality. The torrent from
tho =" mountain gorge has efiectually" wiped
out - the only foothold at the base of the
bluff, and. it was thought by every we'll
wisher of the Territory, had destroyed all
hope of evil spirits to further impose upon
the Government, ond thereby secure its aid
to harass and impoverish an industrious, loyal,
and worthy people.
crave your pardon, Mr.. Editor, for tres
passing upon your columns to tho extent
have in this article. An ordinary TOWNSHIP
humbug might be passed over without notice,
but when the interests of an entire commune
ty are sought to be triAcd with. it becomes
the duty of those who are the guardians of
those interests to seek to arrest such attempts,
come they from what source they may.
have the honor to BE-, Mr.. Editor, your
obedient servant.
GEORGE +. COLE.
Delegate from Washington Territory.
--------------------
RESPECTFULLY DECLINED" Mr.. Brown
has handed us another communication, cx-
r I, ..s...,. .n A.. If.:.,> C1......