The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-08-28
BiILY INfELLIGENCER.
Sunday, Aug. IS, 1881.
RAILROADS TO PU.ET .ouSD.
EpIroR IxrELLIoExcEE:

the concentration of several of the great
trsnscoutinentsl railroads, as well as
local lines, at Portland set med 10 argue
that from that point alone would The
vast commerce OF the Willamette VAL
ley ana the large districts east of the
Cascade mountains pass of TO ocean
transportation by the Columbis river
II was further supposed that Mr. Viii
lard. having control of the Northern
Pacific Railroad. would center the vast
business Of that road ~ Portland. But
how shall the immense tonnage from
Portland find sufficient vent TO deep,
safe ocean navigation? Portland 10 an
inland city. and however great her
wealth, enterprise and general i'm
provements may be. still she Is uaIaAd.
do not wish to write q word that
woald in any wise detriment or retard
our emporium, or detrsct from her
growing commercial importance There
must be great channels for Conveyance
OF the mighty commerce from that city
to the great highway Of nations, the
Pacific ocean. How can this be accom-.
plished7 Dredging can be done at the
mouth of the Willamstte river, at
Tongue Pcint. and on the great sand
fats below Astoris, and TO the Column
bis bara This process. II annually car :
ried out, may insure safe navigs ton
for ocean vessels Of very moderate too
mage.
But for large ships. which must be
haA 80 nnpr- nH 4uw frur
deeper water must be had. The ques-
tions arise, when and how much
money can be had from Congress? and
how long time would it require 30
make ssa walls and ietties, so ss to
carry out and of the endless bodies OF
fine sand, Continually accommodating at
the mouth Of the Willamette and Co.
lumbia Rivera
II such large appropriations from
Congress had not been obtained for the
public works Ut the Cascade Fails,
which will be of small worth after the
railroad shall be completed from the
Dslles TO Portland, we would have q
better chance for an appropriation now
to make the vast Improvements on
those rivers which are necessary, if onr
ccnmerce amust ell paas off BY that
route. Y $50 EsfEH eFs
Unfortunately, nature has placed
very great obstruetions at the mouth of
both those rivers which must be over
come ty art. to make them safe ct all
times for ocean craft of large tonnage.
VIE. efficient measures must be adopt
ed speedily for an extended and safe
outlet for our tonnage from Eastern
Oregon and Washington Territory, as
well as from Western Oregon.
How can this be effected? II would
seem that the Willard syndicate have an
eye to this very matter. Hence sur
veys are being made to locate a STAN
dard gauge railroad from Wsllulu. via
Snoqualmie pass. to some point on
Puget Sound as its terminus. Another
line is determined on to lead from Port.
land to some point on Puget Sound.
Whist other measure than this could
be devised is hard to point out. Puget
Sound, with all its vast hsrbors, hays.
inlets and channels, 10 o wonder in ma.
ture unequsled by any other such in
land sea in the world. Its great depth
and safety to vessels in time of storms
are matters of wonder aud worthy OF
high regard. may be pardoned for
uttering the assertion that, in the near
future. the Chicago of this northwest
coast will spring up ct some point on
this Sound. Where this point will be
is O problem yet to solve. There are
several points now of great note and
commercial and manufacturing import.
ance on the Sound. There are Seattle
and Port Townsend fifst on q
splendid bay on the upper sound va
tiers. and the other on Q large, extended
bay. or rather bays. on the lover
Sound watera These are PLACES al
ready of very great note.
The price Of zeal estate at and around
Seattle womb iadicats he estimate
placed upon IL BY capitalists. New Ia,
coma. ct the south end of the Sound, ID
also coming int note. To spy or sli a
th~o poiAt6 the largest clans in tke
ecsa - ooos u al slagss OF vster
in safety and find sAfe anchorage. And
there are scorss of othsr points on the
Sound and its waters. that have similar
adsantages0 witk those named. The
sgress 10 the main OCEAN, through the
Straits of Fuca. 10 perfectly safe at all
times.
With this view Of the case, il is wise
and commesdsble for the o h & N Co
to build. a. soon 90 possible. these two
railroads to Puget Sound waters. With
these and with the vast natural re.
soarees sef Western Washington Terri,
tory, and rs wondsrfnf rayieation. q
bright future awaits Il.
The unfounded preiudice against the
Willard syndicate. because Of its i'm.
inense capital. railroads, steamers and
other intsFnal ,enterprises, 10 unfourd-
ed. The Interests OF this company are
interwoveu wieh those Of the pubic al
large. What will encourage and build
up this eompeaya will build up the pub
lie. Thsse foads Aud theee lines oi
ships and steamers viii rapidly brine
into great note. wealth and population
vast districts on the western slope OF
our American continent. which withou,
them would have remained compare
lively IN unhroken wilderness-the
abode of savsges.
The future Of this vast Pacific sm.
pine who can tell?
DAVID NEwsoxr.
RAILROAD NOTES.