Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-08-08
AT DECEPTION PASS ON THE
4TH OF JULY 1885.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PossIBILI-
TIES OF FIDALGo ISLAND.

Mr. Bresee said:-"I have been requc sted
to speak on the future Commercial and
industrial Possibilities of Fidalgo Island.
This subject though not interesting now
to the outside public, is evertheless i'm
portant to us who live on his island, and
is therefore suitable for discussion here
today, on this anniversary of the nations
birthday, since it involves the welfare
and prosperity of our portion of this great
country.
The peculiar location of lFidalgo island
and its adaptation TO commercial and in
dustrial interests of the greatest and most
far reaching importance becomes evident
when we investigate its remarkable posi-
ton between the mainland Of Washington
Territory and the Straits of Fuca, til c
great gateway to the ocean through
which must pass the commerce, not only
OF the great Northwest, with its wonder
ful system of transcontinental railways,
but also that OF Asia, Australia and
large part OF that which flows between
those continents and Europe This
beautiful island, indented with evergreen,
sheltered bays dotted with fresh water
lakes, rugged with mountain scenery, and
sun ounded with deep, landlocked har-
bors, is separated from the mainland of
the continent only by narrow slough,
practically bare at low tide, back of
which lies the fertile valley of the Skagit,
and the most important river of Wash
ington Territory, with the great iron,
coal and timber interests of that valley.
Farther eastward, across the Cascade
range, and seeking an outlet here, IS the
Great Bend country Of the Columbia riv
err and the Occur deAlene mines. And
the Northern Pacific railroad, the Union
Pacific railroad, and a branch of the
Canadian Pacific railroad are all seeking
direct routes Of approach to the sea
through this great ocean gateway stretch
ing before us. This island occupies a
position midway between the cities of
Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and other
places, on Puget Sound, on the South
of it; and Coal Harbor, Port Moody
and Westminster, on the Georgian Gulf,
north of it; while Victoria is thirty miles
due west, this being the nearest point on
the mainland from that city. The Pc
iar NJ eli inv
it does the northern limit OF the waters
of Puget Sound, and being a projection
of the mainland westward, where it forms
part of the shore OF the Fuca Straits, be-
ing the only point of approach from the
eastern mainland to this great highway
to the sea, causes many eyes to be turned
toward this place as the objective point
and final terminus of the great northern
system of all the transcontinental railway
enterprises, beyond which the railway
builder cannot go. These rugged shores
and towering bluffs are at the same time
the eastern limit of ocean navigation
They are the barriers which turn back
the mighty sea, and limit it's farther
progress in that direction. Southwark
and northward, through the winding
passages of Puget Sound, and into the
Georgian Cult. deviating from the direct
east and westward flow of trade. the ships
may sail in their zig gag courses, but here
in these peaceful and sheltered waters of
Fidalgo island the white sailed and storm
tossed commerce OF the sea may meet
and kiss the busy and noisy traffic of the
iron horse and steel rail. Thus does FL
dalgo island assume importance as the
keystone of a mighty arch, whose bases
are in the Chehalis valley and OH the
Georgian Gulf, but with this central key
stone correctly placed in the arch, no
pressure in the universe, from any di>
rection whatsoever, can ever break down
the solid and symmetrical superstructure
Now while men may differ about this
matter OF location, all will concede that
position or location has much to do with
the value of property. Who would have
supposed twenty years ago that any
one building spot in the city ct Minneap-
oils would now be worth two hundred