, 1883-03-29
Weekly Argus.
EDITORIAL RAMBLINGS.
A FEW ITEMS CLEANED BY OUR sENIor

Several passengers and Il large lot
of freight formed a part of the
Hopes burden when she steamed ont
of our harbor, on her way to S;emiah-
moo, Business on this route is get
ting to be quite important, and ere
long a larger steamer will be required;
though the new regulation allowing
semi weekly mail to Anacortez will
relieve the pressure for time by
causing more frequent trips. All
along the route we found hearty ap-
probation Of Rev. L. j. Weekes, of
San Juan. for his earnest efforts in
securing this semi weekly mail. His
labors in this direction, though an
example of "bread cast upon the
waters" will be fully appreciated in
time. 1t is not learned officially yet
how soon the increased mail service
will go into effect, but it is pretty
nearly settled that the schedule time
will require the steamer to leave Port
Townsend on Mondays and Thurs
days.
Our first stopping-place was Blunts
Island, where Mr.. d. W. c. Dennison
earns his $500 a year flashing a light
to the hardy mariners. Mrs. Denni
son came aboard to visit Friday Har-
Dor.
At San Juan post Office we find
few persons waiting for their mail.
Mr. Israel Katz sold his property here
to good advantage. We learn that
he will erect q large store building at
Friday Harbor. 1t is also limited that
Waterman & Katz will put in a large
general merchandise establishment
there, and may put Mr.. Thomas
Drummond, of Port Townsend, in
charge of it. Mr.. Drummond is a
worthy young man, and will manage
the business to good advantage if
entrusted with it.
The government coast survey could
not do better than to buoy the chan
mel out at Lopez. There is water
enough for an ordinary steamer go
ing in or out at half tide, but the
channel is long and crooked.
The San Juan Archipelago pre-
sents scenery that is varied and
grandly beautiful in clear weather.
1t will be favorite resort in the near
future, when Puget Sounds rapidly
increasing population attracts those
OF wealth and leisure enough to afford
picnics, pleasure excursions, and 9th
or summer sports. Its varied and
valuable resources are gradually
building up u populous and wealthy
,mmunity.
The silver mines of Orcas Island
are interesting capitalists, we learn;
and may soon be worked to good ad
vantage. Numerous assays have
been made from groupings, resulting
in showings of from three to thirty
odd dollars per ton in silver, with
tracings Of gold and other metals.
Capital is the great lever required to
move these lodges into productive
commercial factors. Let us hope that
it may be literally applied.
Moneyed men have recently been
prospecting Fidalgo Island, evidently
urged on by the railroad prospects,
real or fancied, of that locality. We
learn that some property there has
been purchased at fancy figures.
When the waters of Puget Sound
get about half dozen railroad ter
mini there will be lots of happy folks.
We found Capt. Gilmore very gen
tlemanly and obliging. He is deter
mined to make the Hope popular
craft. Postal agent Fouts is son
deck" incessantly with Uncle Sans
mails.
We learn that meeting of the
Presbytery Of Puget Sound will con-
vene at San Juan Island during the
first week in April, remaining over
Sabbath, April Sth I'd Sunday on
which occasion two services will be
held at the Presbyterian church;
morning service at IL o'clock; after
noon service at 2:30. Our friends of
the islands may look forward to a
feast of good sermons on that day,
the deserving reputation of the attend
ing clergy being we'll and favorably
known. By the way, Rev. r. j.
Weekes has been selected to attend
the Presbyterian General Assembly
which will meet at Syracuse, N. Y,
during the coming summer. He will
start sometime in May.
The announcement that a new
weekly paper is to be started forth
with at Whatcom elicits eager com
ment all along the route, and the dis
tribution of sample copies Of the pro
spectus is RAPIDLY followed by sub
scriptions. The new candidate for
public favor is called the Whatcom
Leader. 1t is a column folio,
the outside pages to be printed in
Port Townsend and filled with fresh,
condensed, Puget Sound news, while
t local department will be presided
Over by competent and enterpris-
ing quill pusher. A printing office
outfit nnrna Nm from San Erancisco