Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-11
PUBLIC BUILDING FOR PORT
TOWNSENO.
Port Townsend Argus.

The welcome news comes that recent
Developments in the progress of the bill
now pending before Congress to apprO-
pirate $G6 600 for public building at
Port Townsend. indicate the early and
triumphant passage of that measure.
IN December last. Collector Bash ad-
dressed An official letter to Secretary
Folger. of the Treasury Department,
asking that officer to make investiRa-
tion into tho needs of the port Of entry
and the district of Puget Sound. in the
matter of a pablo building, and make
such recommendation as seemed to be
warranted. A reply to this letter con-
tanned the promise that the subject
would be attended to. A dispatch from
Mr.. Kuhn, received here last evening,
briugs the news that the Secretary has
made favorable recommendation on
the pending bill. Below we give the
report of tho committee, which was
unanimously agreed to by them. Every
indication points 10 the early passage of
the bill:
The Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds. having considered the
bill (H. X. 29t9) for the construction of
a public building at Port TOwnse nd,
Washington Territory. beg leave to re-
port as follows: In its relation to com
meroe, Port Townsend, the Port Of en-
try of the Puget Sound Customs Dis
trict, occupies place of considerable
importance. Its location is such that
all vessels from sea to any and all ports
on Puget Sound must pass said port !;
its barbor is easy Of aoo, ~ at all time g..
is oommodious and large enough to
float all the vessels Of the world. with
good anchorage from five to fifteen
fathOms, free from bar. rocks or reef.
Tho shipping Of this district already
exceeds that Of four fifths of all the
customs districts in the United States.
During the quarter ending September
30, 1893. there were 1913 vessels doCu-
mented III this ri,t--.,S steam and
% sail-with An aggregate tonnage of
". .iai5 IL tons. Daring the year ending
June 30, 1888. the number Of vessels
entered and cleared ut tho Custom
House in this istrict WAS 1914. aRRre-
eating Sl3,962 tons. Dining tho last
fiscal year the tonnage Of American
vessels ia the foreign trade which tn
tered aud cleared at this port WAS eX
ceedsd by only four Of all the ports OF
sutry Of the United States, and the
tonnage OF foreign vessels In that trade
WAS succeeded AT but six of sid ports.
Only one port in the United States ex-
ceeds Port Townsend in American
ocean steam vessels in foreign trade,
an d tho tonnage Of foreign ocean steam
ers in said trade is exceeded by only
ssven of said ports. 4 large number
of vessels engaged in the cOastlnR
trade are also entered and cleared At
this port. Over JO,UOUO feet of 'um-
Der. 100000 tons o: coal, lO.UO.OOo cans
of salmon, large quantities OF produce,
aud various domestic commodities are
annually exported from this district.
The value Of these exports Tor
the last year Is estimated at not
lees than twelve million dollars. The
amount of duties and fees collected At
this port for the year 1870 was *ls. tso. =
-, and for the year of 1883 It was $7S,-
92l .05. The amount nf rents paid an
nualIy BY the United States for custom
b use is 1890, not including the build
ines used for the United States court
room and clerks office, or post otiioe.
Thss statistics. derived from official
sources, mark this as port OF entry OF
no small importance to the commerce
and revenues of the country. Constr
tutine the entire pot Of the "Mediterra-
mean Of the Pacific" with its numerous
bsys, estunries, and islands, with It's
1854 miles Of inland shore line, its an-
excelled timber. its extensive fisheries,
aud other fast expanding industries and
resources of its adjacent country, and
with the completion of the Northern
Pacific Railrosd. that terminates on ito
shores, il has taken its rank among the
| frat ports of the nation. II now II the
third in importance on the facinc eoas,
| The ports OF San Frsncisco. Portland
Astoria and others have received munif-
icent appropriations for the construc-
tion of public buildings, while this port
has received none. In view OF these
facts YOUR committee recommend tue
passage Of H. X. 1,49.
Referring to the Star Ham advertised
nv IA in these columns, We have nov "
/ ssy. that in accordance With custom
instituted bv rs some years since, W
shalI on or about March first commence
our sixth annual ham sale, which CON
sists of selling the very choicest Caii
fornia hams that can be mapufacturet
Al price only covering first cost aht
expense Of placing same before ou
customers, when bought and handled Il
yery large quantities. This sale vii oni!
last 30 days. when priccs Will De advAno
| ed To the usual 6gurs. Q. r. SroNx'
Grocer and Provision Dealer. Cones
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