, 1882-05-12
PUGET SOUND ARGUS.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF JEFFERSON co
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
E>QUMALr, May |, 1882.


steamship Idaho last night at Port
Townsend, we can hardly realize
ourself in British waters this morn
ing. But if anything were needed
to prove the fact, the sturdy English.
man swinging his cane and murder
ing his chs" around the warehouse
would be all sufficient. The air is
balmy, and we have almost yielded
to the temptation to take cal for
Victoria to meet few friends, and
to witness few of the May-day
picnic excursions. But duty bids
US stay aboard and grind out little
editorial pabulum tor our readers
over on yon Yankee shore. Ten
o'clock arrives, and, our task finish
ed, we seek to know of the myster
les around this quiet harbor and its
sleepy town. An American vessel
is being towed out by an English
tug boat in staid English way,
while II. M. S. Rocket lies at the
wharf with her gold laced mounted
officers pacing the quarterback in
such lordly way that one feels con.
strained to 60 over and ask Der
mission to look at this "blawsted
country, you know" Well, we go
ashore and enlist the kind offices of
a friend who shows US first through
the far. famed
DRY DOCK,
The scene of such a vast amount
of labor, the pride Of British Col.
umbia and the political hope of some
of her NJ. p. P.'s. This grand result
of engineering skill is situated in a
splendid location-one side being
solid rock, while in front is a spas
cious and safe harbor. This dry dock
has been the source Of more wrang
ling among the provincial politicians
than has any other public work with.
in the past twenty years. 1t is an
extensive and magnificent achieve
ment, one substantially done thus
far, and one of incalcu able value to
the whole province. 1t is evidently
the intention of the home govern
ment to create here fort, a naval
arsenal and general repairing shop
for war ships.
We next turn our attention to the
extensive dock yard on the hill just
back Of and overlooking town, har
Dor and channel; but before doing
so we must enter through the big
gate at the macadamized road on tn,
east side, and there register in big
book, after which an orderly with
the air of Roman general conde.
scendingly shows us the ins and
outs Of the establishment. His or.
derly majesty scarcely loosens his
hold upon stout sword which he
carries, as though afraid he had
charge Of fenian in disguise whose
purpose was I'd blow the repair
shops and store.houses to kingdom
come. After leading the way to the
commanding officers house, over.
looking the whole, cur state y guide
obtained permission from his higher
majesty, aud then we we're allowed
to inspect the piles Of shot and shell,
the cannons, mounted and dismount.
ed, the immense great anchors and
the ships stores of all kinds. On
a little knoll is tall flag staff around
the base of which is platform and
some old'fashioned guns (twenny.
four pounders) that were last used
to fire a salute on the day that Pres
ident Garfield was buried. Lower
down, and near the waters edge, is
a large boat house in which an as
sortment of boats great and SUI; |
are kept. Here we found several
workmeu putting 10 their time at
regular government licks. They
had evidently been geared for slow
motion on purpose. A Chinaman