Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-09-02
FEEE PROPOSED ISLAND AND MAIN
LAND FERRY gptEX.

Some weeks since we published an
article relating to the above subject,
and advocating the taking Of some
steps toward the establishment OF
mail route from Seattle to Victoria,
connecting at this place via the in
side route, wherein were set forth
some Of the advantages to be de-
rived by Whatcom and San Juan
counties; but owing to there being
no port Of entry on the route, moth
ing could be accomplished in the
premises. From letter written to
US by TIE Secretary of the Board
of Trade at Victoria, it appears that
the only objection to their aiding us
in the matter was the absence Of
port of entry at some point on tbs
route. The Secretary says:
| placed your letter of the Goth
ult., together with map showing the
proposes route, before the members
of the Board, and the matter was
referred to the Executive Commit
tee. In addition to tho matter be-
fore them | verbally conveyed your
ideas on the subject, as expressed
by you to me several weeks ugo, and
regret to say that at present
they are of opinion that the Board
could not further the undertaking
until such time as the United States
Government establish another port
of customs entry or clearance at An
arcortes or other available port.
We are pleased to state, however,
on the Authority Of the Port 4own>
send Argus, under date Of August
18th, that bill has been passed by
Congress giving power to the local
customs inspector at San Juan to
enter and clear vessels. The Argus
says:
We are in receipt of the gratify-
ing news that Congress has passed a
bill empowering the deputy collec-
tor stationed at San Juan Island, in
Puget Sound District, to enter and
clear vessels and collect duties,
which, besides saving the necessity
for the creation Of new district,
will enable officers to collect great
deal Of revenue that otherwise
would not come into the treasury,
and prevent great deal of snug
Cling over the line between the
northern counties Of the Territory
and British Columbia. The strong
point is made that while it does all
this, it does not increase expense.
If the above be correct, it will
undoubtedly be a source of much
qualification to the citizens Of San
Juan and Whatcom counties, as yell
as to our neighbors across the line,
and will be one step gained toward
the establishment of the route
above referred to. The people of
Victoria have for some time past
been contemplating the advisable
ity of putting a line of steamers
on the Sound to run between Sc
attic and Victoria. We would sug-
gest that as clearance house is
about to be established, and as
the outside route, via Port Towns
end and Admiralty Inlet, is already
well supplied with good steamers,
that the new line, when established,
should run through the archipelago,
and thence to Seattle, making cons
nection at this place with the boats
on the inside route. A light-draft
stern>wheel steamer would be suffi>
GENTLY adequate for the purpose, for
the routeis comparatively well shell
tered, being one unbroken chain of
channels, with innumerable small
and safe harbors, whore vessels
could put In during heavy weather.
The rapidly with which the
counties of San Juan and Whatcom
are settling up, particularly along
me lite Of the proposed route, and