, 1882-04-28
FRIDAY, APRIL 2S, 1882.
RAILROADS..

MANY SihiVos AZ Wv" Va thio aho
the rivalry that naturally springs up
between ambitious towns seeking
prestige or advantage nearly every
community of any Importance on
the Pacific coast is found straining
every nerve to form railroad com.
pany that will be able to induce the
employment of capital in construct.
ing a railroad to connect it with
some other part Of the country. The
Archimedean lever is all potent, and
where it can be attracted commercial
blessings are sure to follow, in spite
of the howls that sometimes go up
about monopolies.
On Puget Sound this strife has
been carried on at such lively gait
that a dozen different points could
be named, each confidently expect.
ing to become the grand terminus
OF trans-continental railway. This
sa0guine expectation, often born of
mere anxiety or pecuniary interest,
has in many cases become toned
down to lower grade Of ambition,
ii is true, since the fever created by
the passage of the N. P. r. r. Bill
in Congress some years ago began
to sbate. Indeed many are by this
time giving evidence of returning
sanity to the extent that they do not
now expect more than branch line.
However, all realize the value and
importance of railway communica
tion with the interior, and all public
spirited citizens are ready and will
ing to aid in securing such commu.
nication at any time. In many in.
stances, though, this disposition is
hampered by short-sighted policy
of immediate pecuniary gain that
prevents people from looking far
enough ahead and exercising lib.
erality that would be real economy
in the long run.
Port Townsend business men are as
anxious as any for railroads to favor
their locality; and indeed there is
no good reason why they might not
exercise such laudable ambition.
This locality has advantages in com
mercial matters, in point of geo.
graphical location, shipping facili.
ties, &C., the Importance of which
is not even yet fully realized by all
of its residents. Indeed there is no
good reason why we may not have
railway connection with the outside
world in the one direction as well as
water communication ocean ward.
At least there is no obstacle in the
way. unless a mistaken policy should
induce some who have it in their
power should expect the railroad to
be built and its owners to pay them
two or three prices for their land be-
sides. II the right kind Of business
enterprise is manifested all round,
the coveted railroad will be an ac-
complished fact in very few years,
in spite all sneering illusions to
''building railroads on paper" etc.
A short time since few business
men of this place organized under
title of the "West Side Railroad
Co. mot for the purpose OF creating
any ethereal land "boom" or to gain
notoriety, but with bona 6de in.
tention of carrying their svowed OBJ.
;ect into effect, they having definite
assurances from capitalists that the
road would be built in due season If
property owners along its proposed
terminus would grant the right of
way. Since then, however, few Of
these property holders, whose gra.
cious assent to being bothered by
iron tracks and screaming locomo.
lives, was so much needed, have fans
cied they saw unlimited coin in the
near future, and have asked