, 1879-11-13

Port Townsend. We notice that
the "lutelugcncer' j. not satisfied
with this, but asks the legislature to
msmorlalizc in favor ~. seattle also.
Now one thing is certain. and
every reasonable man w. think must
coucsda II, and that D., trat the gov.
Sfumsut will not establish more than
one new land office nu the shores of
ihs Sound north If Olympia; and
knowing this the people of Cialiam
jefferson, Island, San joan and
Whatcom must regard the persist.
sncy Of tho "lntSligencer" in asking
for land office at SeRttle-in the
face, too, of the fact that the legis.
laturs has, three different times, i'm
partially selected Port Townsend AS
the proper plsce-as actuated by
selfish motives, rather than for the
conveHisncs aud welfare of the gen.
sral public. Suppose the Legislature
should be stupid enough to memori-
alize congress for a land office at
Seattle, LaConner. Whatcom, Sno
homish City and Dnngeness, as we'll
as at Port Townsend! The effect
would be to destroy confidence in its
good faith aud congress would pay
no attention to any one of them.
And SO the very fact of asking for a
land office at Port Townsend and
Seattle too, would result in giving
one to reither, because the serious
ness of the legislature would be Just
ly questionable. All requests for
aid of the government must evident
.ly appear to be reasonable to com
mand consideration. Such an one
would evidently be unreasonable
and would therefore be denied. l
Now, as u matter of fact, Port
Townsend is more centrally located
for land Office than any other point
for the people of the Sd judicial dis.
trict north of township "A. 1t can
be reached with less expense to the
settler, and the facilities for coming
andNgoing are very good. Petitions
from the people to accompany the
memorial have been sent out to be
signed, and large map, showing
the whole of the Olympia aud Van
couver land districts is bsing made
for our delegate in congress, SO that
he can more readily explain to that
body the great inconveniencies and
hardships our people are subjected
to in obtaining. title to their hores.
Now let every man in every com
munity where these petitions have
been sent, sign it. And We suggest
to the "Intelligencer and p. S. small"
that instead Of working against this
movement, they accept the action of
the legislature as right and just and
encourage their readers to sign the
petitions for land Office at PoRr
TOWNSEND, and we fully believe
that the object will be accomplished
with the cooperation Of our efficient
delegate Mr.. Brents, at the next
congress. This matter is OF the
greatest importance to the people,
and they should take hold of it to
the man, and strike, now, while the
iron is hot. We understand there
are persons in one or two localities
who advise the people not to sign
the petitionslssn to them, because
if land office is established so near
home the people will go to the land
Office and perhaps do little trading
at Port Townsend to the detriment
Of local stores, and that certain per.
sons will lose the job Of preparing
entries andrproofs. We hope this is
not true, and if il is, the settler will
not be persuaded against his own
interests. From the petitions which
have been signed and returned, 1--WE
are glad 10 notice that such advice is
nor given or followed in alllooaities.