Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-04-01
NORTHWEST FNTER9RsR
ANACORTES, APRIL I, 1882.

mish, Samish and NoolisaclS, includ-
inc the sloughs and rivers Of the
section in the rear cfand adjacent to
this point which are accessible
only at high tide, some hundreds Of
thrifty farmers, merchants and log>
gers live, whose total freight and
produce in and out amounts in
value, at o moderate estimate, to
half million dollars year, and
ever. The farms in question are
the richest in soil, and the finest
yielding in crops in the worid-our
knowledge and experience to that
effect for what it may be worth,
whereof more anon. Now it is a
caution to savages for a stranger to
experience, just for once, for the
first and probably the last time, the
inconviencc and the hardships that
our farmers ploddingly endure in
getting in and out over these tide
fats, to the regular channels of CON-
munication, and the existing depots
such as they are, on deep water.
1t is a caution to the civilized citi-
zen to witness the sublime disre-
gard Of regularity and punctuality
in the services by steamer to which
we have heretofore uncomplaining~
submitted, a latitude OF twelve to
twenty>four hours always entering
into every calculation touching con-
nections for passage and freight
And it is caution at our expense
against immigration, against settles
ment and against progress in What
com county as long as this state of
things shall last.
That farmers could thrive, as
many have done, under such draw
backs and untold worries, risks and
ruinous expense, is good enough
evidence that the situation demands
attention at their own hands, if no
other Strangely up to this time,
There mas been no unanirAity Ut
action to overcome the difficulty, ex-
cepting in the limited section OF the
fats adjacent to Laconner. In part
this may be owing to the want of a
clear comprehension of the situa-
ton, but it is perhaps mainly TO be
accounted for by the isolation of
our intelligent forces, the newness
of the country and the transition
state occurring in every country be-
tween settlement and permanent
development.
Firstly it stands US in hand to
take cognisance that only such
trunk lines of communication as are
anembarrassed by tidal passages,
and by tide waiting, can be depend
ed upon for speed, regularity and
economy in transportation. One
tide waiting On a trunk line des-
treys its utility for the accomoda>
ton of every other tidal passage,
or farming section accessible only
at high tide, beyond the first.
Branch lines from convenient points
on deep water, are the only means
available for overcoming these draw
backs. Points on any trunk line
which can afford relief by means Of
branch lines for the largest num-
Der of independent tidal entrances,
should be seized upon by the
parties concerned. If you would
get out Of the mud and be master of
the situation, Independent and sue
cessful in your particular undertake
ing; if you would keep for yourself
the money you earn, or get your
honest moneys worth back in the
goods you buy, see that you stand
on free footing if possible in the
transportation question. In allud-
ing thus briefly to local transporta>
ton, we sound the key note of pre-