, 1877-12-14
FRIDAY, DECEMBER II, 1917.
THE NEAH BAY NAIL CONTRACT.

Below we append a copy of the
petition being circulated, praying
for the mail service between this port
and Neah oay, to be performed by a
steamer. So far, the movement has
met the most hearty support from
Port Townsend; and, if the residents
of Clallam, to whom the proposed
change will bring incalculable bcne'
frs, will supplement our efforts with
theirs, a victory will undoubtably re,
silt.
The petition is addressed to the
Hon. Thomas j. Brady, I'd Asst. Post
Master General, and reads as fol,
lows:
The petition of the undersigned, resi-
dents of Jefferson and Callam Counties.
Washington Territory, respectfully rep
resent rs follows, t0-wit!
That sailing vessel Is entirely unfit for
performing the service of carrying the T..
5. mails upon route No. 43,ll6 from Port
Townsend, W. r., to Neeah Bay, W. T.,
and back; and thai the same should be con
veyed by steam vessel, for the following
reasons:
1st. The calmS of Summer and the
storms of Winter make it impossible for
any sailing craft to convey the mails with
any kind of regularity. tSee P0st-MaSter's
Register OF arrivals and departures Port
Townsend. p. o. It frequently occurs
that the mail leaves so soon after its arri-
val on account of being behind time. that
the people cannot answer letters until the
IeXt mail, greatly 10 their Inconvenience
and TO the detriment Of their business.
2nd. This is the only route upon which
population of over l,500 people. living IN
an extensive agricultural, numbering. log
glng aud fishing district, must depend for
mail facilities. aud their rights demand
that the relief herein sought should be
granted. The present mode of conveying
the mails greatly retarls the development
OF the country Ii was intended to benefit:
works many hardships to the people and
generally deranges the transaction of bu,i-
less.
3rI. The route now does not nay eX-
penses of carrying the mail upoll it.
StN"h' II ue"'l' uUt u lew Nc;if~
would elapse before the agricultural. min
ing, numbering and fishing interests would
attract 4 popnlatio to this comparative V
unsettled portion of The Terr, itory, which
would make the route selt sustaining and
source of revenue to the government.
The U. S. Lighthouses, lo-wit: New
Dunginess, Edith Hook. and Tnttno.h
tand the Neeah Bay Indian Reservatlo.. }
aie npon this route. Also, irthe mai was
carried by steam, so that its arrival ami
departure would be regular. it would be
OF incalculabIe value to the who.e com.
merce aud shipping of Puget Sound. as
owners, agents. aud consigiltes OF inwa,t Il
or outward bound vessels becaInle,l or Ia
distress at the entrance to the Straits of
fnca. about 100 miles distant from POI
townsend. the first port from the sea-,
coitd he Informed Of the sslne within "A
lew hours. Then. IN case OF shlpwnck. if
there was swirl communication upo, this
roule. IL wCuld greatly contrihnie TO the
saving OF lile AMI property, by hurryIuy
intelligence 10 Port Townsend tl,r p.ar,st
port having ielegraphic communication
win the word and with the mrs,.i. of NJ.
lief Ut hand. W ~
wherefore yonr petitioners pray that
ti'e ntxt couirat for Carrying I'M. mail
upon s4hi nrutr. shall stit,nalr tlat il n,
carried by steam. " -