New-York tribune., 1882-08-13

not disconcert them. They are dissatisfied that tho
through line of the Northern Pacific Railroad ia IN
down the Columbia by way OF Portland, instead
OF directly across the Cascades, and do not accept
the explanation Of the railroad men that ID IL
cheaper to haul freight TO the Sound hundred
miles further by the valley route than over the
heavy grades required by any practicable road
across the mountains. The Cascade road must soon
be built. they insist Then they dwell upon the OBJ
stacle TO navigation made by the ugly bar at tho
mouth of the Columbia. point TO the broad. deep
aud unObstructed water ay Of the Sound reaching
a hundred and fifty miles inland. and argue that
the great commercial city OF the Pacific Northwest
must be built upon its shores and not ~ the Co
umbia basin. Perhaps they are right, but the cues
tion is evidently not for the near future 10 de-
termine. Portland has the start, the capital to
control trade. and the established position rs a
commercial centre. She will keep her advantages
If she She is remarkably rich for a place of
only thirty years growth, having waxed wealthy
with little labor or enterprise by sitting dt the gate
way of trade and taking toll from the wheat OF the
willamette Valley and the Walla Naa country on
It's way TO the sea, and from the goods, implements
anu supplies needed by the farmers OF those fIt!le
regions. newer and greater city may grow up on
the Sound, but It's beginnings are not yet 10 De
seen.
TOWNS on THE SOUND
The Sound towns are somewhat Disappointing.
Most OF them mere village dependencies OF big
saw-lnill, cingng to hillsdes close by the water
and overshadowed by the black forest. Only Seattle
has the busy, prosperous air that bespeaks diversi
fed industry and growing trade. 1t has perhaps
1000 inhabitants. and has succeeded by dint OF a
good deal Of pCsh in becoming business centre
without the help of any railway its little coal
road. Built on a steep slope around The semi-circe
of pretty bay its preciptous streets shaded with
naples and its freshly painted wooden houses make
a striking picture seen from the deck of ap-
preaching steamer. Three fair szed well-edited
daily newspapers find subsistence there in spite II
all laws of journalistic life known in the East The
town saws lumber ships coal sells goods 10 the mill
settlements aud to the few farmers living in the
ncighbOring valleys. runs little fussy stern-wheel
steamboats, all over the Sound and believes it will
be the ultimate western terminus of the Northern
Pacihc Railway system, a belief about which il
quarres with Tacoma and half dozen minor
places hardly to he found on map.
Tacoma is the child OF the railroad and the pres.
eDt terminus Of the line finished eight years ago
from the Columbia River to the head Of the Sound.
1t counts 200 Inhabitants, who seem to depend
upon the railroad to do everything tor them, even
to removing the stumps from their streets and door
YARDS The town has fine location on a high
plateau overlooking miles OF wooded shore and
green bays and with the building OF the link Of
railroad from Kuama, the present river terminus,
to Portland will have the benefit Of being for time
at least the tide water end of railway system per-
meating the fruitful grain region of Eastern Oregon
and Washington This with the deep water at iGs
wharveS. and the coal territory near by. ought
give it soon the prosperity Tor which it has long
waited.
Olympia Is the oldest and prettiest Of the Sound
ports, and looks like nice finished village in
Maine 1t mad its dream OF greatness like most of
the in this region, and when the railroad left
It at one side and went 10 Tacoma the citizens went
pluukIly to work and built themselves narrow
gauge connection, the whole population turning out
"a SitOEeiS
ladies making prolonged picnic for the laboTers.
There is no frontier look about Olympia Comiort-
able houses, trim lawns, Hover gardens ul OF roses
and lacs, tlOurlshlng orchards, shaded streets.
broad sidewalks numerous churches and big school
buildings are evidences of "A stable and Intelligent
society The Federal officers live here, and here the
Territorial Legislature assemblies once in two years.
When the tide ebbs the town looks ont on vide
stretches of mud covered with an astonishing guam
tty OF oysters. CLANS and musses, and the steam
boats lie high aud dry at tho wharves, but there Is
deep water two miles down the bay, at pier where
large ships could come il there was any thing for
them to come for. The town has 500 inhabitants,
and has no future, should say, beyond being what
IL is now "A neat, cOsey comfortable. New EnglanI-
village sort of place. where life IS orderly, social
ana agreeable TO quiet people.
Port Townsend is the custom house port for the
whole Sound country. and lives on the trade OF the
ships that come for lumber. flying many tag5-
British, Mexican. Chilian and American. too, AN
glad TO say. Strange as 1t may seem to Eastern
readers one often the Stars and Stripes Ine.
big. sea-gOng ships IN this far Northwestern
Mediterranean The town has an upper and
lower STORY, IKE puepec' anu between lhe t"o
communication Is kept up by means of a long tllgho
OF stars The stores and hotel are below and tho
houses and churches upstairs. There may be ZOO
people AT Port Townsend. The place looks neat
and thrifty Other Sound settlements, like Port
Ludlow Port Gamble, Port Madison and dozen
other ports creatures of the saw-mllls.
must not forget SteacOOm. a quaint weather.
baaten decavIng village which has lost the county
seat and, failing 10 secure the railway terminus,
appears to have given up the struggle tor existence
and TO have sunk into placid sleep beside ITS rot
ting wharves. Once it was the most important
pont on all the beautiful sheet of water which
hears the name of Yancouver's young lieutenant.
All the maps, by the way. cali Puget's SounQ only
the curvIng irregular head Of the great bay. the
main body of water being named Admiralty Inlet -
Vancouver named il. but local custom has dropped
the longer appelatiOn and adopted the shorter one
for the whole tidal sheet stretching from Olympia
TO the Strait OF Juan de Fuca, with all its raDlIica
tIOns.