, 1889-06-27
The FIsherio. Of the North Pacific.


him and the other gentlemen OF the rail
Toad party some information relative to
the fisheries OF the North Pacific, and
how their development can be aided by
4 railroad to Port Townsend. The party
met in Gen. Dodge's room at the Del
monico. There was present, Gen. q. IL.
Dodge, director OF the Union Pacific /;
Hon. c. n. Lane, second yice-president
of the Z. P; w. II. Kennedy, chief en-
ginser Of the o. K. IN Co J. n. Cam
eron, Z. P; Gen. John Gibbons, Hon.
Peter A. Dey, Gov. Miles C. Moore and
Col. Oliver Wood.
Judge Swan read from the report Of
the Port Townsend chamber of commerce
| to the senate committee that portion re-
lating to the seal fisheries of Behring
sea, and the halibut, cod and other fish
cries of the North Pacific, and how the
fisheries OF all kinds can be encouraged
and developed by means II railroad to
Port Townsend At the close of the
reading Gen. Dodge said 1t was n most
able paper and gave him q better and
clearer know ledge OF the fisheries of the
North Pacific than he ever had. Judge
Swan stated that this report, together
with report nf tho chamber OF COM
special report on The fur seal fishery
bnve been ordered published by the
chamber Of commerce and are now in
the haUds Gf the pr pter. Gen. Dodge
requested that copies OF these reports
might be sent to him as soon as pub
lished. Vice President Lane, Governor
Moore, Gen. Gibbons aud the other gen.
tlsmen present also requested copies of
these documents. Gen Gibbons and
Governor Moore ssii they fully eu-
dorged everything Judge Swan had read,
and they complimentoi the Port Town.
send chamber Of commerce for their able
and instructive paper.
General Dodge said that while they
could transport fresh fish in refrigora-
tors cars from Port Townsend to the in
terror and across the continent at less
IdLF1 ludu udfC DCCh
they could not transport them as cheap
ly as fresh tish are now taken from the
Atlantic seaboard to The interior, as it
costa more for every thing at this end
OF the route, and mentioned the cost OF
ice in particular, which here, is worth So
10 $40 per ton, while in Massachusetts it
is furnished at from 80 to 80 cents per
ton. Judge Swan remarked that when
the railroad vas built. ice can be pro-
cured along the route in the winter and
stored WHICH will not much exceed the
eastern cost. We have not stored up ice
as yet for two very good reasons; there
has been no great demand which would
warrant the construction OF ice houses
along the Olympic range where plenty
OF ice can ba had, nzd there il no road
by which it can be brought in here where
ii will be required. Governor Moore
said that he thought thsre could be
plenty OF ice furnished along the line of
the road after getting iuto the interior
away from the warmer climate OF the
sound. An opinion in which General
Gibbons fully coincided. II you build
your road TO Port Townsend, said the
General, you will have no difficulty in
getting all the ice require for refrigerator
oars.
Governor Moore remarked upon the
ease with which cars loaded with wheat
can be hauled TO Port Townsend. Bring
wheat in here as shipping point and
have back loads of fish and other pro-
ducts, aud remember that here is the
point where you con best cempete with
the Canadian Pacific for the trade and
the commerce Of the Indies.
Vice-President Lane said to Judge
Swan, there is noibing to prevent the
construction of the road it the people
along the proposed route respond in their
subsidies as generously rs the Port Town
send people have. 1 think when we are
assured that the people on Hoods Canal,
Union City aud the Cbehalis valley real
erality that they mean business, that the
question OF construction will be very
soon settled. am very much pleased
with PoIt Townsend and expect to re-
turn here again before many months.
We give it as our opinion, from all
that has been said and intimated, that
the Union Pacific people intend TO come
to Port Townsend to deveiope the fish
iug business and to make this their
great wheat shipping point as well rs to
make their fight here for the great India
and Asiatic trade.
There are big events in store for Port
Townsend. She has waited long time,
bat now the clock has struck which an
aounces that the hour of the dawn of
her prosperity has arrived; til tide has
turned and is now young food.