, 1883-12-20
The Future of Port Townsend.

The Future of Port Townsend.
To say that the future of Port
Townsend Is assured Is 20 stat, a
truism which far seeing businc--In mon
have known for 10 these many
years. Facts are said to be stubborn
things, and in this case if they prove
anything at all they prove that on
the shores Of our beautiful bay ten
years hence viii rpposa city Of
twenty thousand inhabitants. Ten
years is not long to wait. Those
who invest here today in hopes o.
reaping a generous reward ten years
hence Will have abundant cause to
rejoice. Years ago we located here
permanently, to build up a Journal
that should continue with growing
power to aidin developing the town.
Every year proves TO us that the
choice was most fortunate.
And these are not mere idle words.
but are carefully weighed as logjca'
conclusions fully borne ont by the
history of the place. We have been
accused sometimes of ''harping" on
the beauties and advantages of this
harbor and the townsite; but to have
refralned from saying as much as We
have would have been to stito the
convictions forced upon Us by the
unanswerable logic of plain facts.
We are glad the predictions of all
these years are being realized not
simply because of selfish and pecu-
mary interest, but because the care
fully formed Judgment which led to
our location here is being strength
ened day by day; because Port Town
send deserves her prosperity. At
other towns mighty influences have
been at work to force growth in spite
of disadvantages. Tacoma has had
the potent aid of land ring among
the leaders of the n. P. r. r. Co.
Seattle had her men of capital, fore
sight and energetic ability years ago
to enlist manufacturers in giving
her life; she has today among her
capitalists those whose influence
reaches the Oregon Congressional
delegation and also members OF the
Northern Pacific railway manage
ment, who have been holding her
realestate for months in the face of
an impending crash. Port Town
sends long g-headed business men
have done nothing to initiate prices
OF real property; no sham enterpris
es on paper have been started upon
which to "boom' the place; yet prices
of lots have steadily advanced, bust
ness of all kinds has multiplied and
increased, manufactures have sprung
into existence, and public attention
has been directed to us to such an
extent that next season will witness
a growth here more rapid than has
ever been dreamed Of
One important item, overlooked by
many for years, but emphatically
broughl- out between the lines in
speeches of distinguished guests in
the Willard excursion q few months
since, is the fact that no point has
yet been selected by the n. p. r. r.
Co. for a final terminus. 1.-THE OBJ
ject has been to wait for final action
determining the location of the Can
adian Pacific terminus, it will not
take long now to shape future action.
The adoption by the B. c. Provin-
cial Parliament of the Island Rail
way Bill practically settles the ter
minus question for that road in favor
of'Esquimalt We think this makes
the Importance of a Puget Sound
west side railroad loom up immense
ly. And Wa are not alone in these
views. Many a dollar will be iu-
vested in Port Townsend during the
coming six months in consequence
of the knowledge that no point on
the east side of the Sound furnishes
advantages that can compete with
Esquimalt as railway terminus.
These are not all the points upon
which We rest our ease, either. Fur.
the developments may be expected
soon.