Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-09

smoAlwArER BAY Axs .a..
Pacific JournaI.1


The bar at the entrance of Shoal
water Bay is sadly in need of An ade
quate buoy system, and it should be fol
lowed mp over the entire bay. There il
much dissatisfaction among tug men
and Others who are compelled to 90 in
and out frequently. with the manner in
which the buovs are laid. The outside
buoy Is three miles out of the way.. and
II would not be surpri sing for strauR-
er coming in. IN follow ing the course OF
such buoy, u meet a 81 milar fate of the
Lamerlav. 1t IS considered by Cap
tains Who are thoroughly familiar with
the Columbia. Gray's Harbor and
Shoalwater. that the latter bar is far 50
perior to the others for several reasons,
the principal one of which is its straight
channel and depth Of water. We have
twenty feet of water at low tide. and If
the channfl was marked in a proper
manner. there would be no possible
danger arising from any cause. The
paid to look after the interests of its
some one who will or can in their stead.
The Shubrick is supposed {. look after
this district with watchful eve, but no
with a sight of her comely shape. We
are aware that the hardships heFedita-
BILE to the command of that ancient
craft are appalling. The intricate nav
ieatiou between Astoria, sand Island
and Cape Hancock is indeed trying. but
We doubt not that man could be found
who would withstand the pressure. We
have remedy whereby the difficulty on
Shoalwater bar can be obviated and at
the same time not be compelled to call
on the OvertaXed Shabrick. If permits
sion can be had from the department,
the tugs now plying on the bay will
properly mark the channels by placing
ihe buOys in their proper positions.
Shoalwater Bay is but little known to
the outside world, and in the majority
of GASES where it is known, it is looked
upon as body Of water of little or no
Importance. In reality it presents
greater facilities for shipping purp 'ses,
and Is easier of access than any other
like bay On the coast. Its channels are
wide and deep. allowing vessels draw
ing eighteen feet of water ample sea
room. Many of the channels, however,
are not buOyed, and their course is only
known to those who are thoroughly
familiar with the bay, and even to such
persons it becomes hazardous to uavi-
gate at times, without any marks Of
guidance other than the lead line. These
channels should be marked by buoys.
and the outside bar buoy should be
changed to the right position, also a
number of others indicating the chan
mel more distinctly all the way in. The
shipping interests demand it, and it
should he seen to forthwith, by those
detailed to look after this district.
The 90 nmerce of this entire bay will
double if not treble within the next few
years, and our population will grow in
like proportion. There is no use of dis
0uisinQ the fact, or in other words.
"hiding our light under bushel," in
regard to the future importance of our
small inland sea. Our county. with her
numerous rivers and fertile valleys, all
having an outlet on the bay, has enough
undeveloped resources to last An indefi-
mite period. lis a county not easily
approachable, and its varied resources
are likely to be deceiving to a stranger,
in fact they are beyond ones compre-
hensiOn until one becomes familiar with
their surroundings. Not long since We
had the pleasure of meeting a gentle
man from the East. who had been
spending considerable time in looking
over the Northwest, and especially this
Territory. Among other things, he
paid our county a very graceful COM
plimeat, ana coming from the source it
did. is decidedly fattering. He says
that although he had visited every
county in the Territory he had failed to
find one that compared with Pacific
county for abundance of resources,
scenery, climate, or future business
prospects. We have long been Of the
opinion that this county presented more
advantages than her sister counties, but
we're not inclined to make publicity Of
our conviction OstentatiOusly. but were
disposed to allow the claims of this SEQ
ton to speak for itself.