, 1876-12-02
PORT TOWNSEND.
OUR PORT OF ENTRY AND IT'S
ENVIRONS.
THE NATCHez OF PUGET SOUND.

1t was breaking daylight. cold. gray
and raw, as the Eliza Anderson steamed
ont of Seattle week ago and moved
away towards the great and restless sea.
The stalwart figure of George MessaSee
WAS at the wheel, while Capt. Morgan.
quick and lively, hustled about among
MS passengers and ATTENDED 10 their
wants. few hours later and we had
uassed Ports Madison. Ludlow and
Gamble. and we,e rouuding Marrow
stone Point as we met the majestic Da>
kota, steaming up the Sound. with the
veteran Morse and his .tidus debates.
Billy Waite, walking the forward deck
together. The ensigns were dipped III
observance of the conrtesies of an ever
gallant profession; the hoarse whistles
pealed forth mutual greeting; the
nonderons walking beams nodded their
grave obeisance, as We parted company
from her and dashed onward to
PORT TOWNSEND.
It is in one sense of the word misuo-
mer to call this place the ''Nstchez of
Puget Sound" for Natchez. when We
we're there twenty years ago, was filled
by two classes. On the hill resided the
yery proudest of southern aristocrats-
such men as Adam Bingaman, Ratfaelle
Cho.ard and Stephen Elliott; while un>
der the HILL were gathered all the Tiff
raft and human scum OF the river. On
At, Dart Hnu,,s1na hos
millionaires who play off'a sugar Ian
tation on single hand of poker; nor
has she an army of cutthroats and river
pirates living under the tall bluff that,
clad with orchards and bowers. rises
grandly above the seetbing Sound. In
word, Port Townsend is tn snOb-
bish on the one hand nor tenighted on
the other. She may be properly called
COMMERCIAL CITY,
Of no mean importance for her size.
With scarcely thousand people within
her corporate limits, she maintains an
extensive trade not only with the up
Sound ports and the numerous islands
about ths Straits of Rosario and Canal
de Haro, hut with Nanaimo. Fort
Wrangel and Sitka. as well. She makes
very little hustle bat gets away with
great deal of business in the course Of
her years work. Her position at thu
mouth of the Sound causes her to be
the port of entry. the Custom Honse
having been taken back there from Port
Angeles some years ago. Ii never should
have been taken away from there in the
first place 1t is to the interest OF
Seattle to keep the Custom House at
Port Townsend and the capitol at Oiym-
pia for then we catch the trade which
goes both ways.
THE REVENUE SERVICE
Is managed here by Henry A. Webster,
as Collector, and L. H. Brlags as Depu-
ty Collector and Auditor of the Custom
House; the inspectors are E. H. Brown,
j. II. Price. Frank Sargent and d. n.
Hvde. The revenue cutter Oliver Vol
colt, commanded by Capt. J. NJ. Sell
den, makes this her headquarters and is
under the Collectors orders as to her
movements about the Sound. 1t Is her
duty to succor vessels In distress and
for this purpose she is allowed to cruise
as fer south as Port Oxford and north
as far as the mouth of Fraser river.
She is a steamer of abont 400 tons,
schooner rugged and dlrect-acting ver-
1ica engine to her propeller. Her
wardroom of GERS are LIents. +. W.
Kilgore, J. S. Mitchell and Thomas
Chaytor; engineers. j. Hassell and +.
NJ. Remlck Her cabins are tastefuliy
tired up with California laurel and
white cedar, thus rendering her de-
lightful little vessel of her class.
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS.
Within the past year number of no.
ticeable Improvements were made abont
Port Townsend. H. L. Tibbals. Esq,
agent of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, is putting on an addition to
his house, which will render it one of
the most commodious dwellings in the
Territory. Collector Webster is also
brild!ng a new house which is nearly
completed and will. when furnished, be
a perfect little jewel-box. The new
Central Hotel. erected by Pugh Il Dodd
1T the head of the wharf. beats anything
between Portland and Victoria, tor good
sized and well-ventilated rooms. All
this shows a spirit of enterprise that is
warranted by business established on
the slow-and>sure principle. The Port
Townsend merchants do not indulge In
extravagances, bnt keep well selected
stocks in neatly furnished stores. They
have nearly all got rich by
''MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS.
We found many warm friends there. who
have pleasant word for a hard~work-
ing editor when they see he is laboring
for the general good of the community.
1t was pleasant to see. also, that they
give good support to their home paper,
the Argus which is published by MIR. q.
W. Philbrick. He keeps neat office
and always has pleasant word for
those brethren of the craft who have
sense enough to "cut it short" when
they call on a man who does his own
work. John F. Sheehan. Esq took us
about the town and introduced US to
many who became subscribers to the
DISPATCH, through his friendly efforts.
When be dropped US to 60 back to his
work, Q. F. Gerrish. Esq, steered us
against several more gentlemen who
were anxious to get rid of their silver in
exchange for our paper.
THE BUSINESS MEN
Who are lending us their assistance in
that place are as follows: Merchants:
o. F. Gerrish. j. F. Sheehan, j. j.