, 1877-10-13
A CANDID OP1N1ox.-W. Byron

1ndependent. VINO nas focon'Ay ooou
making q tour of the Puget Sound
country, in his paper of the 4th
inst, thus intelligently alludes to
our resources: 1.-The Sound folks
are proud to see such ocean behe-
moths as tho steamship Constitution,
moored at their docks, and have
considerable to say about the shall
low channel of the Willamette.
They are proud Of their deep water.
and they have many other things
over here of which to be proud.
Their big mills, their coal mines,
and their men of business energy
are all indicative of the future great
ness of this region. The city of
Seattle, located on the right bank of
Puget Sonnd, about half way be-
tween Olympia on Budd's Inlet. and
San Juan, the once disputed Island
at the head of Fuca Strait. is the
principal city of Washington Terri
tory, and has great expectations for
the future. The location is on the
side hill and the the surface is un-
even and broken, affording pictur-
esque places for residences. There
are many large business houses
here. They are anxious for connec-
ton by wagon road with Yakima
and Walla Walla counties, and to
this end have recently organized
toll road company and will ask the
legislature for an appropriation of
ten thousand dollars to assist in the
work. am informed the people
in Yakima county are willing to
assist the project. The people on
the Sound north of Seattle, are gen.
orally desirous that Seattle should
be the metropolis of Puget Sound,
as against New Tacoma or any other
rival"
For SITKA. The U. s. Revenue
Cutter Wolcott left Port Townsend
Thursday for Sitka to be present at
the festivities to be given during the
last Of this month by Sitka Jack, to
some four thousand Indians of va
rious tribes Of Alaska. The report
in the Oregon and up-Sound papers
about serious trouble at present in
Sitka, is without any foundation, as
the las: accounts report everything
quiet. As a means of fighting Iu-
dians, the Cutter in ner present con-
dition, is a lamentable farce. She
has but one gun and that not in first
rate orler, her other gun was thrown
overheard when she struck the reef
at Cape Nudge last winter, and al
though the Department have been
repeatedly informed of the inefi-
cheney of the vessel. they have not
fitted her out, but have promptly or
dered her to Sitka with no means Of
either offensive or defensive warfare.
H. L. Tibbals. has loaned Capt. Sell
den the battery of guns which were
purchased at the Custom House sale
of the effects Of the old cutter jeff.
Davis. Fortunately, the shot for
this battery, now forms part Of the
ballast of the Wolcott. and Capt.
Selden has collected all the oyster
and meat cans in town to be filled
with old scrap iron and sand, as can
mister shot. If any danger is ap-
pretended, on the arrival of the
Cutter at Sitka, she will return and
man of war will be sent. She will
return in about five weeks Argus
BROKE Down. Saturday evening
willie the little steamer Phantom
was coming up from Port Townsend
with about twelve passengers on
| board, a portion of her machinery
broke down when justin sight of Port
Madison, by reason Of which the
little boat was entirely disabled.
As there was Eigh sea running al
the time and strong wind blowing
the position OF the steamer was
critical in the extreme. After bobb
ing around in the trough of the
sea, the Phantom finally managed to
get within three miles of Port
Madison and come to anchor. Aftel
blowing her whistle as a signal O.
distress all night, she finally manag
ed to attract the attention of the
steamer Ruby. which towed be-
into Port Madison, and her passen
gers come over from. that por
yesterday. 1t was q narrow escape
for storm might have arisen, dur
ing the night and the little boa
been carried out to sea, and all OF
board perished.
| To INSPECT First Lieutenan
Jos A. Sladen, 14th infantry. aide