, 1881-02-25
TIE FUTURE OF PUGET SOUND.

Incidents iunumerable are trans
piring every day, tending to show
that the development of Puget
Sound in the near future will be
something entirely beyond the ex-
pectations of many Of our most san.
gulne and public spirited citizens.
Many OF these 60 unnoticed by all
save discerning ones who are anx.
iously watching for hopeful signs.
As an illustration of our meaning,
we will briefly refer to flying visit
II the Sound last week of Mr.. Sprin
ger Harbaugh, of Minnesota. Mr..
II. was for years one of the largest
iron manufacturers in Pittsburg,
Penn, furnishing a large amount of
iron to the Central Pacific road. He
has since retired from that business,
and Interested himself, with others,
in railroad building in Minnesota
where he owns some fine agricultur-
al lands. Being on a visit to the
Pacific coast, and representing a
large amount of capital that is seek.
ing profitable investment, he came
up TO see and learn Of our iron man
ufacture and other industrial re-
sources. Upon arriving at Port
Townsend, seeing the pig iron pro.
duced by the furnace on our bay
and learning that it already com
manded about Sl3 per ton more
than the best of Scotch pig landed
at the foundries, Mr.. II. was fairly
delighted. He at once obtained
specimens of ore and statistics as tc
cost of producing charcoal, obtain
ing lime rock, etc. Armed with
these and what little he could see
and hear, he returned on the same
boat that brought him here. Before
leaving, which was on Saturday last
he called on us and passed 4 few
minutes time in discussing the pros
pect. Said he; "There is no reason
why iron cannot be produced here
at as little cost as anywhere in the
world. Its superior quality, too,
places 1t in successful competition
with the very best in the market.
AS you undoubtedly have immense
deposits of ore yet untouched, and
as there is vast margin to go upon
before the iron market of the world
will be glutted, you may look for a
very marked development of this in
dustry on Puget Sound in the near
future" We ventured a regret that
he could not remain and see some of
the extensive deposits of coal, lime
rock and other elements of wealth
or the Sound, whereupon he said ::
"Oh, I've no doubt they exist, and
that your lumber, fish and minerals
form the basis of enduring prosperi-
ty. You are in the direct line of a
commercial and industrial growth
that has never been surpassed in the
United States" After assuring us
that within four years there would
be railroad connection between Pu-
get Sound and Lake Superior, our
guest started off fully prepared to
tell his friends how much better the
business outlook out here was than
he had expected.
1t Is to opinions of travelled and
experienced individuals like the
above that ives attach the most
weight, though the incident is refer
red to incidentally as straw that in.
d'cates the drift of the tide. Immi.
grafton to this territory increases
year by year, and we shall soon stand
upon the eminence of statehood.
from which po.nt We can command
our share of national assistance and
thus accelerate the speed with which
we will outstrip competitors for com.
mereIal glory and Importance. This
Is not mere rhapsodical combina-
ton of words, but candid review O.
the situation, endorsed by the think
ing public of the day.
The "Oregonian' notices an agi-
tation of the subject of educational
qnalifation for ballot privileges. In
connection with this question, the
recommendation in one of President