, 1872-04-11
THE WEEKLY ARGUS.
THURsDAY, APRIL n. ls72.
The summer Outlook.

tion amo g bnsiness men and others as 10
the state of he times for the coming sum-
meE here in Port Townsend. 1t is a
peculiar failing with our prominent citizens
to lie idly on their oars, waiting for a
breeze that viii cone in its time, 10 be
sure, but while We are thus waiting, with
our oars out of water, we are rapidly going
to Ieeward and allowing other placesjN
more eueEgetic, to weather US in pros
perity. Old Micawber, after going through
years of want and penny, was blessed at
last with prosperous ease but who wants
to endure the hardsbips that Micawber
did. And yet, we are acting over the
same shallow policy that makes this idle,
shiftlses character of Dickens notorious.
There are several modes by which TO
enlivsn business here. The idea OF tele>
graph which is now being acted upon, and
for the cSusnmmation of which we have
the promised aid of a gentleman high in
authority. W no has gone to San Francisco,
when carried out, will add to our business
advantagess but what is most needed is TO
establish a trade Centre here for not only
the people on the strait below US, but
Whatcom aud Island counties. Port
Townsend is nearer to both than is Seattle,
but owing to better facilities for transpor-
tation the latter place at presen. almost
monopolizes the trade of both of the coun.
ties named. Until few days ago, a let
ter to WILDLY Island (six or seven miles
distant) had, by mail, to go through the
post Office at Seattle, some sixty or sew
snty miles out of the way. And almost
like discrepancy exists in the modes of
transportation Goods can be obtained of
the merchants here at lower rates than
elsewhere on the 6ound-the reason is
obvious, and it is hardly necessary to state
it, because we are the handiest as a place
Of delivery 10 vessels coming into the
Sound-but we lack the facility for ship
ping goods to our neighbors, and this is
why purchases are made up the Sound !;
the difference in the cost Of delivery at
the purchasers homes more than compen-
safes them for the difference in cost Of
their goods. Port Townsend affords farm
ers and siockraisers as good market for
their products as other places, and the
facilities for getting to and from here be.
ing made even, this pl-ce would imme-
diately monopo.ize the trade Of the lower
Sound, which has been taken from here
within one or two years past.
As to the means, little needs TO be said
By US. Heads more used to business than
ours have already fathomed the necessity.
We want steam communication, regular
and reliable, with these places. One
Staunch boat of ordinary speed, but COM
Portable and commodious, will do the
work. To obtain such, our merchants
should either form joint stock company
and buy a suitable boat and put her on
the route, or give a subsidy sufficient to
induce some one outside to put on boat.
The investment would pay,and pay largely.
With a route properly arranged, Port
Townsend would be the centre for WILDLY
Island, Port Gamble, Pert Ludlow, Dun
geness, Port Angeles, Whatcom and the
disputed islands, and this arrangement
would increase the business of the place
more than fourfold
Gentlemen, merchants: it is East the
time when buyers will come to you in
canoes and boats and purchase your wares,
when they can travel in steamers 10 other
places and get what they want. Port
Townsend is not large enough, in herself,
TO afford you all handsome yearly profits,
and in these days of hurly burly Fortune,
unaided does not lift her golden spoon 20
your lips, nor Plenty dump her horns into
your pockets. Singly, and with divided
interests, you can accomplish nothing. and
it is nov necessary for your general well
being that there be an organized joint en-
deavor to bring trade to you, Unless some
thing of the kind is done you might as well
close your doors and go fishing the rest Of
the season.
The fact of the matter is, we have been
waiting for TERMINUS; we have fed our
fancies upon it, and allowed our imagina-
tions to grow big with it; but we cannot
wait longer fer it. Not that we despair
of its location here-the RAILROAD needs
Port Townsend more that Port Townsend
needs the railroad-but it is necessary to
WAKE UP We deny that the outlook
is dull one, There is plenty of profta-
ble work to be done.
CoNUNDRUM.-Why are sheep like