Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-01-20

ing winds, ant OF the currents of the
channel, the battom is somewhat more
muddy along the better protected Fidalgo
shore. The Belingham Bay coal ships
| used TO anchor right IN the middle of the
channel. where there is current of two
and sometimes three. or three and a half
miles an hour depending upon the stage
of the tide and season OF the year.
Captain Jonathan w. Baker of the
bark Amethyst, formerly in the coal SER
vice. was once asked by the writer Whist
he thought of the harbor. oh" said
Captain Baker, with nautical brevily,
ellis il good enough for anybody" And
not word more said Captain Baker, for
he had exhausted the subject.
1t has been advanced by some that the
current 10 the middle OF the channel por-
ton Of the hsrbor WAS an Objectionable
feature While this is ielt to material
extent at only one point on the Fidalgo
shore--ssttng off shore at Tide Point
it is maintained by Others that this itself
is an advantage exceeding every disad-
vantage TINT can arse from it. SeameD
uniformly testify that the current has less
do with the merits OF an anchorage
than the wind or holding ground.
At San Francisco, where they have cur.
rents Of two to six miles an hour, Captain
Eads has been invoked 10 devise method
whereby tho current along the city front
could be increased 30 rs to produce suf>
fcient scour for sanitary purpo-es and to
prevent the necessity of dredging out the
slips. To accomplish that object modif-
cations we're made in the seawall at an
expenditure oil half million dollars.
Doubtless portions of Ship Harbor may
be considered better for certain purposes
than others. That matter may take care
Of itself From all winds, and especially
from all the prevailing winds, it is enough
to say that Ship Harbor affords n perfect
shelter over space averaging 2xe miles.
There IS available for wharf frontage not
less than fifteen niles-including all in
and around Ship Harbor with the 'front.'
asc on the harbor OF Guemes Island,
forming tue north side,
Reference is made In this connection 10
the map Of Ship Harbor. with its sound
ings, on scale Of one inch to the nile.
published at this office, alongside Of a
map of Victoria and Esquimslt harbors
on the NORTHWEST ENTERPRISES PREMIUM
MAP OF the Fuca Mediterranean. price
Sc, including the ENTERPRISE, for one
year, The points above noted and many
Others equally important. but not touched
upon in this article, will suggest them
selves more forciby to the reader from q
study OF the geography Of the case thap
in any other manner. Especially true
will this statement be found on making
such examination, touching the facilities
that are afforded by Ship Hsrbor as dis.
trbuting point either by land or water.
Leaving out of consideration, ms we can
well afford to do for the present, the Is
sues of the competitory trapscontinental
and trans>occanic railwsy and steamship
enterprises which will come to a solution
few years after tho completion Of the
three overland railways now in progress
to Fuca Strait, Ship Hsrbor has, at the
present time, in Whatcom and San Juan
counties, including the lower Sound
mainland generally, SO good surrounds
ing country---already the foremost in az
ricultural resources on Puget Sound, and
destined IN avery shsrt time to be Sec
ond to neither King nor Pierce counties
in the manufacture Of lumber, iron, and
shipment Of cosl--that along with this
lower Sound country once walked up,
and made independent by the freedom Of
its communications, united In its common
interest, and aware Of the power easily
exsrted by ~ b unison OF oion. 1t
can evidently take care OF itself in the
future. It will make good showing
from year to year hsnceforward.