, 1886-04-22
She at'rrkln Arsu5.
THURSDAY. APRIL %, 1ssG.
Port Townsend.

from the pen Of W. W. Ferricr. Esq.
formerly editor Of that paper. hut
who for the past month or more has
travelled over Puget Sound for health.
recreation and information. Like all
newspaper men, Mr.. Ferrier travels
with his eyes and ears open. and his
impressions seem TO be the result OF
Intelligent deliberation. We give
his letter entire:
PoRT TOWNSEND. March 10
This is a beautiful place. and
shall attempt that which viii give
the readers Of the KepUJiic0H some
conception of the town and country.
The traveller down the Sound finds
something to admire at Tacoma and
at Seattle, both destined to be i'm
portant cities. and IS charmed with
the scenery all along; but when Port
Townsend appears in full view. pre-.
senting its beautiful green slopes
dotted with cozy homes, there comes
the impression that, other things be
ing equal, this must be and remain
the garden spot of the Puget Sound
country.
In some localities there are not to
be found the sites for towns and
cities that eastern people anticipate;
but in this respect Port Townsend
can disappoint no one who has any
proper idea of the country. The
business part Of the town Is on the
land level or nearly level with the
waters of the bay; the residence part
on the hill above that slopes, save at
point directly above the business
portion, gently toward the bay
Nearly half mile back, the brow
OF the hill is reached, and here begins
another slope that extends away into
valley about d mile in width and
two miles in length. All things in
dicate that the not far distant future
must see here busy little city. At
present all travel must needs be by
water; but the time is not far in the
future when a railroad from Portland
up along the western side of the
Sound to this point will be necessi-
ty, and an excellent route haa already
been surveyed. But in the mean
time no town out here can so we'll and
prosperously be without q railroad
as Port Townsend This being the
port of entry is headquarters for all
navigation of the Puget Sound waters
and with the large number of Ocean
crafts of all kinds touching here, the
railroad IN many respects is scarcely
missed. However, it would be an adj.
ditional advantage; and, as is usual
Tor all places, from its completion
would date a new e,a, marked by
more rapid growth and increased
prosperity. The citizens are glad the
place has never had a boom, that the
place has never had a boom, that the
growth has been steady, and that as
consequence financial crisis and the
hard times of the past and present
have affected but little.
The beginning of work on the new
custom house building is looked for
with eagerness, and when completed
on the splendid site on the hill, com
mandIng fine view of all parts Of
the bay, it will stand as an enduring
monument to the faithfulness of
enterprising citizens, and as an earn
est OF what the wisdom and states
manship of the present and future
must plan for and establish here at
the commanding point of the waters
on which snail float a large part of
the commerce of the world. Con-
gress has already appropriated so,
OOO for this new building. Here also
- located q. S. marine hospital, and
on tine tracts of land reserved for
this purpose prominent government
official said recently there would
some time be erected new hospital
building costing from 100000 to
100000
In various ways the q. S. govern
ment disburses at Port Townsend
each month not less that $4,000. The
hiring and paying of ship and boat
crews, and the furnishing of supplies
Tor expeditions into the fur and fish
ing regions and for trading with the
Indians, put into circulation other
large sums of money and render
profitable various branches of bust
ness. Of course the saloon is here
and 2S IN number, they rake in the
hard earnings of the sailor and other
laborlng men. Indeed the first
building one sees after touching the
wharf is saloon. 1t is impossible
to tell just now what the local option
privilege will accomplish in the larger
places on the Sound. I expect after
q few weeks to give the readers of
the Republican letter on this one
topic.
On point about a mile from
Fort Townsend, the government will
IN the not far distant future erect
extensive coast Notifications. Sena
tor Sherman was here not long since
on an inspection tour, said that he
should recommend an expenditure of
$500, 600 for this purpose at first. and
that finally not less than two million
dollars would be necessary. Across a
cornor of the bay, distant about three
miles there is 1t present small fort
or encampment where a few troops
are garrisoned; but the nations in
terests demand something extensive
here.
The iron interests in this region
will be important as the country Is
settled and developed At Irondale.
few miles along the bay, immense
furnaces have already been establish
ed at cost of rot less than 100000.
The bog iron ore, so abundant there,
is mixed with the Texada ore brought
from just over the British Columbia
line, and very fine quality of pig
scon is the result. These are the only
smelling works north of Osweg5,
Oregon. These furnaces will be in
operation again soon, and extensive
Improvements and additions Will be
made as the times and demands OF
trade admit.
The climate is delightful nearly all
the year-and the scenery grand.
Since We have been here our friends
tell US they have had as cold and as
disagreeable weather as at any time
during the past winter. and of thc