Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-23
CrsrON HOSE AT PoRT TowN.
SEND.

Through thu instrumen.aiity OF Re-
preventative DeMotf, of Indiana, Dele
gate Brents has secured the introduction
of the bill following:
Be e enacted By The Senate and House ~
Representatives. y the United States 81
.dgseytrn in Compress assembled. That the
Secretary of the Treasury be. and IS
hereby, authorized and directed 10 pur-
chase n site for. and cause 20 be erected
thereon, a suitable building, with fire.
proof vaults therein, for the accommo-
da,,on of the custom house. bonded
warehouse. postotiice. and other Govern
nent Offices, at the city of Port Town
send, Washington Territory. The plans.
specifications and full estimates for said
building shall be previously made and
approved according 10 law. and shall
not exceed for the site and building
complete the sum Of twenty seven thou
sand oollsrs: PyoriAed. That the site
shall lstvs the building une1poscd 10
danger from fire in adjacent buildings
| b. an open space Of not less than forty
| feet, including streets and alleys: and
| no money appropriated for this purpose
| shall be available until valid title TO
the site for said building shall be vested
in the United States.
The bill was referred TO the Com
n;ttee on Public Buildings and Grounds
who reported upon it is follows. the re-
port being prepared for the committee
by Mr. Brents:
In its relations to commerce, Port
Townsend, the port of entry of the
Puget Sound customs district, occupies
place of considerable prominence.
The shipping If this distric. ALREADY
! exceeds that of more than one half 81
tho entire States. and of nearly four
fifths of such districts in the Unitee
States. During the year ending Jun'
20, 1873, los vessels, with a carrying ca
pacity of over 81 900 tons, were docu
men.ed at this place.
During the same time the tonnage o
American vessels in the foreign trad
. which entered and cleared ut this por
was exceeded by that of only 4 of th,
i25 ports of entry of the United State
the tonnage of foreign vessels in thi
trade WAS exceeded by such Tonnage a
less than one fifth of these ports: tn
tonnage Of American ocean steamers il
this trade was exceeded at only two 0
4. 1
eign ocean steamers i'll the same trade j
! exceeded ut only 10 of thsss. A yer
large number of entries and clearance
were also made of vessels engaged in til
general cOastinp trade.
Over 3O0,00O,000 feet of lumber, 200
900 tons of coal, 100000 cans of sal
mon, large quantities of farm and or
chard produce, and various other do
nestle commodities are annu; lly OK
ported from this district. The value o
these exports for the Inst year is est
mated at not less than S5,0OO.O00.
Within the last i've years the collec
} tious made at this port have besn: Gus
y toms. $6S, o36.45; marine hospital tax
xl3,22l. 93; steamboat tax. $l0.6595 81
fines, penalties and forfeiturss. SAID.
03; cmolument fees, S6,3S5.02; making
total of $l09,5Sl01.
Il These statistics, derived from officia
sources, mark this AS a port OF III
small Importance to the commerce ant
revenues OF the country. Constituting
the entrepot of the g Mediterranean OF
the Pacific" with its numerous BAYS
estuaries and islands, with its 1891 mile.
OF shOreline, Its extensive fisheries and
other fast expanning industries, witt
rapid development of the mineral. agri
cultural and manufacturing industries
and resources of its adjacent country
and with the unreasonable advantages
soon to flow into its lap from the com
pletion OF that great transcontinental
railway which terminates upon it,
shore, 1t must soon stand among the
frs. ports of the nation. II now ranks
as the third i'll importance on the Pa.
oigc coast. The other two, San Fran
cisdo and Portland, have received mu
nificent appropriations for the con
struction OF public buildings, while il
has received none.
In view of these facts, your com
mitte recommend the passage of tn,
substitute for said bill herewith pre-
ssnted.