, 1883-09-27

or successful journalist to build up
d prosperous and permanent news
paper. and when it is done the job of
getting such advantage or leadership
away from paper, except by pur-
chase, is a sull harder one. We have
frequently i'll the past announced
that we were here TO stay, and that
declaration Is strengthened more
each year But the public must take
part of the responsibility. This is
their paper and its value and intiu-
snce must depend largely upon them.
We can give them as good paper as
the OregonidH whenever they will
support it literally enough
With booming prosperity on all
sides, and such a brilliant prospect
ahead of Port Townsend, it behooves
our leading business men to look
about them carefully lest they lose
advantages that might properly be
used to further our interests. Other
towns are keenly alive to their inter
ests, and are straining every nerve
to gain ascendency The key note
was sounded recently in speech at
Seattle, in which reference was made
to the fact of that city having built
steamers and come down the Sound
and diverted trade to herself, that
really belonged to Port. Townsend
As we have repeatedly urged, there
is no reason why goods cannot be
sold here as low as in Seattle-in-
deed they are for the most part
but Seattle merchants a few years
ago commenced to undersell, and
they thus created reputation from
which they continue to enjoy i'm
mense benefits. By sending out their
steamers, capturing mail routes and
centering steamboat lines at Seattle,
and discriminating in favor of that
place in the matter of freight charges,
they have attracted trade that would
never have gone there nnder ordinary
1t is true that the
old state of things is being gradually
done away with; Messrs. Morgan q
Hastings, to their credit, started out
pioneering IN this line, and secured
the mail contract upon, and control
of, one of the principal local steam
beat lines naturally tributary to
Port Townsend-since which time
our town has been greatly benefited
by the change. Messrs. Waterman &
Katz are worthy of mention as no
table examples, also, of enterprising
merchants reaching out for the trade
of the surrounding country. They
have maintained a branch establish
ment In San Juan county, and more
recently began supplying a store in
Island county. In SO doing they in
cidentally purchase large quantities
of country produce, which fact in it
self largely influences people to trade
here. We have no desire to make
invidious comparisons, merely refer
ring to these gentleman as notable
examples, and to illustrate our point.
It should require no argument to
demonstrate the fact that these are
the most effective legitimate methods
of centering an outside trade here,
and holding it. Port Townsend is
the natural shipping point for all
products going foreign or eoastwise
from at least four of the lower Sound
counties. If business men here buy
up all the available produce in those
counties and ship it from here, the
persons from whom they purchase
viii be far more likely to trade here
than elsewhere, We have spoken
thus plainly because it is the prov
ince and duty of "a public journal to
point out such matters, and because
there has been manifest lack during
past years in regard to the Items
mentioned herein. Seattle has no
natural advantages as com
pared with this place; indeed she
has disadvantages under which we
do not labor see what her vide
awake citizens have accomplished?
We are not croaking, or finding fanlt,
but simply illustrating well known
of trade. Port Townsend
is alive and on her feet, and she will
make the most of her chances here
after or we are no prophet.
The recently announced sale of
the S. F. Alta to be political party
organ, or rather to be the personal
organ of few aspiring politicians,
suggests line of thought that may
properly find expression. As rule,
partizan or personal newspaper Or
gans do not meet with the success
that attends unbiased individual eff
fort. The person or party using an
organ of this kind rarely if ever finds
it such help as expected and often
it proves a detriment Its utterances
are received as coming from hired
or preiudiced standpoint Free and
enlightened Americans detest moth
ing more than the efforts of a news
paper that is nothing more than a |
hired lackey when it should be an
independent leader of public senti-
nent. The individual or partizan
cause that needs bolstering up by
newspaper is looked upon
With doubt and distrust. Almost any
)ther kind of n maid a0anf Y,..- MN,