Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1886-09-16

August 18th, 1886.
Editors of Pioneer:
Away from the busy cares of ones
work, free from city life and gayety in
the Summer season on the Pacific
Coast, upon a trip to the Mountains
or Seaside, is a rich treat for the busi-
ness man generally, and during such
journeys one often becomes inspired
by scenes and incidents upon the
route of travel, and feels that he could
fill columns of a newspaper or write a
volume pertaining to his exploits and
adventures. Having lived on Puget
Sound for more than three years |
have visited every notable point along
its banks, from Olympia to the Sea,
grown fond of its waters and the nu-
merous islands, the many fine harbors
and seaport cities, towns and villages.
During my residence in Tacoma, the
Western terminus of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, | have been thrown
among tourists, travellers and etni-
grants, men of means and station, and
others less fortunate in the accumu-
lation of worldly possessions. Those
from abroad as we'll as those from the
East and the South, and in my exper-
ience, some people whom | have met,
had formed but the slightest concep-
ton as to the description of Puget
Sound. Their ideas proved SO vague,
and many have stated that they had
supposed it to be a very large pond or
lake, and not capable of admitting the
largest ship that ever sailed the deep
to float in its waters. The largest ship
that ever loaded a cargo at Tacoma's
docks carried 4, 100 tons of coal, mined
in our county, to SanFrancisco, and
when loaded drawed 81 feet of water,
and even at low tide she had lots of
water under heT. Columbia river is
noted for it's bars; the first tea ship ar
rived in Portland from Yokohama,
Japan, a few days ago, after grounding
on the bar, and Tightening part of her
cargo far down the river The ship
ment of tea from Yokohama to Tacoma
arrived and was sent to New York,
where it was landed, having gone via.
the Northern Pacific Railroad, in less
time than it took to land tine tea from
Japan to Portland, Oregon.
| have just returned from two
weeks trip upon the sound, straits and
sea, an account of which may interest
a few To witness the steaming away
of powerful tug boat from our saw
mill with two ships with two million
feet of lumber on board, is a common
occurrence, and by the residents is
looked upon as no rare thing.
On board the tug Tacoma / left the
city, and behind our steamer the ship
A. McCallum was in tow with lumber
and spars for New York The sail to
Port Townsend was made by moon
light. Townsend is about 70 miles
from this city; it is the port of entry
of the sound. The Custom House is
located at this point, and its collector,
Herbert F. Beecher, the son of Henry
Ward Beecher, has been in Office for a
short period, but owing to some trou-
BILE, the facts of which your correspon-
dent will not discuss, the Senate failed
before the adjournment of Congress
to confirm Mr.. Beecher's appointment
1t is stated that during Beecher's term
in office he has made more money for
the Government than for 16 years prior
to the beginning of his term. The Of
ficers at "a recent seizure Of prepared
opium. realized about $4,000 for the
Government. The custom house in
point of tonnage is third in the United
States at the present day, and the
shipping on the Sound can never de-
1 crease.
Townsend is a pretty place; the resi-
dence part of the city is upon a high
elevation, overlooking the sound and
Fuca's wide Straits. 1t has natural
ships may lie at anchor and be free
from the rolling sea. Across the har
Dor is Fort Townsend where are sta
toned one company of U. S. troops,
and when upon the Sound this harbol
is the general headquarters for cutters,
coast survey steamers and cruisers.
On board the Revenue Cutter Walcott
l was the guest of Lieut.. Tuttle on
Sunday evening, with whom / dined.
The officers of the ship were very cour-
teous, and in short time l felt per-
fectly at home The residents of the
city are like all other cities on the
Sound, very intelligent, refined and
cultivated class. Many of the old set
tiers having accumulated great means
during the pioneer days, are free and
easy in their manner of living, and ex.