, 1877-05-05
Needs OF Port To wnsend.

a half dozen years ago, the popula-
tior and business Of Port Townsend was
As great as it is to-day. During all this
time, men of wealth and culture have
made It their home. Being the port of
entry for the whole Sound, it necessar'
ilv has been the chief rendezvous for
shipping, as we'll as the place where sail
ora largely got rid OF their money,
Only few years ago Seattle had less
general business than Port Townsend,
and not as good a situation to secure the
support of the milling towns; but Seat
lie harbor Was well situated to become
the center of the light draft steam fleet,
supplying the logging and agricultural
regions of the Sound. J. r. Robbins,
and other entcrprising citizens made the
most of these advantages. The coal
trade developed rapidly just at the right
time, So that now Seattle Justly claims
that she has fairly, yet permanently the
position of the commercial metropolis
Of the Sound. While all this is accom-
plished now, yet it will not prevent other
sections from doing great deal to i'm.
prove their own business, by making the
most in developing the region Of which
they are each u center.
In this respect much that can easily he
done, ut n triflng expense, still remains
to be accomplished 10y Port Townsend.
Her harbor is not situated for the use OF
such feet of stern wheelers as cluster
around the wharves of Seattle, nor do
her interests require this class of boats,
but rather class of small side wheel
steamers or screw propclers that would
run regularly to Dunginess, Discovery,
and each one Of the milling towns of
Seabcck, Gamble and Ludlow. so as to
draw their trade to Townsend as its
natural center.
A few days since, the fine stern wheeler,
the Otter, began running daily between
Seattle and Townsend; this, while it
will benefit Townsend, would prevent it
from putting on daily boat to Seabeck;
going there from Townsend every even
ing, stopping at Seabeck oyer night and
returning early next morning for Town
send. This arrangement would be so
conducted that people from all these sec
tions could go to Townsend in the morn
ing. and have several hours to do their
trading there, and return home the same
day Under the present arrangement
the chief benefit remains with Seattle.
The Phantom il well adapted for part Of
this trade She could supply the ferry
TO Ebey's Landing twice day, early in
the morning and late in the evening, as
well as run once day to Discovery Bny
in the middle OF the day while anew
small side wheel steamer, costing some
$1,000, is needed to run to Dunginess,
and the new settlements being made be.
low there, at least twice a week, aud if
this left any time, perhaps, try an occa-
siona trip east side of the Sound, with
An efficient commander each Of these
routes would be self sustaining from the
start, rs well as increase the business of
that place largely. Dunginess, and the
region below there. is capable OF sup
porting at least thousand new families.
Every steamer brings large numbers of
inmigrants. A few thousand dollars.
wisely Invested by the merchants of
Townsend, could settle mp this region in
o few years Its settlement would ena-
lie these merchants TO more than double
their business This would develop bu-
siness there 40 there would be some real