The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-08

because there is not sufficient variety to the
prospect nor . sufficient number of persons
at the post, to break the unavoidable mo-
notony of short days and the exceptionally
long winter evenings of this high latitude.
Riding and music, no doubt, offer great
solace; but they, too, must fail to fill the
void. However, our own stay of "a hours
appeared very short and our reception fairly
made us regret, with feelings of thankful
ness that we could not make longer stay
with our kind entertainers Fort Townsend
will be associated with fresh remembrances
for all time
Port Townsend is said to have excellent
anchorage. The place appears quiet, but
the inhabitants appear to be comfortable
enough; although stranger is naturally
puzzled to understand from what sources
the inhabtallts,contrive to get their support,
as there does not seem to be any active re-
sources either in mining, manufacturing,
agricultural or even commercial industry
to sustain a town here. One is driven to
the conclusion that the town lives partly
upon trade with the fort and partly also on
hopes of something turning up. They also
have lots of clans at low tide, to be had for
the digging, and probably an abundance of
excellent fish. 1t cannot be denied that the
prosperity what they may. Port Townsend
never can become great entrepot; its po-
sition on the western shore of the Sound
precludes the possibility. The great marts
of commerce, of which there will be at least
two, perhaps more on the Sound, must be
situated ON the east shore and on the MAIN
land. One extra handling of produce and
merchandise tells fatally against any locality
and therefore neither Port Townsend nor
Victoria have any chances against Seattle,
Tacoma or even Olympia in the race for the
great prize: continental and even trans
continental trade. 1t is not necessary to be
prophet to foretell that some day a great
emporium of trade, a city rivaling the great
marts of the world will some day spring up
on the shores of the Sound. Neither San
Francisco nos Portland; neither wealth nor
railway magnates can prevent it. The great
city of the future on the western coast of
the American continent, the Queen of the
Pacific Ocean, will be built on the Sound,
and the time is not distant, three or five
years at the most, when the ball will be set
in motion and the great metropolis OF the
coming ages wllstart on her brilliant career.
On the SOUND in the proximate future, will
be exchanged the productions and commod-
ties of the whole world. On the Sound, within
a half century, will be seen representatives
of every section of the habitable globe as
now in London, Paris or New York, brought
here, as they are there, by the pursuit of
wealth or pleasure. At present, everything
is quiet here; nothing seems to indicate that
these quiet waters will soon be whitened
with the sails or rather be darkened with
the smoke Of a teeming commerce.
Having undesignedly extended my mar
rative in a n,fierent direction from thatOripi-
nally intended, l must defer my remarks
about Tacoma one week longer, hoping that
our friends at that place will excuse us for
putting off the fulillment of our promise to
speak OF that place this week.
C. n