, 1889-04-25
n Communication to the 8 ecretary OF the
Treasury Department..

cation forwarded to the treasury depart
msnt, by the chamber OF commerce OF
Port Townsend, and proves that the
gentlemen of that body are alive to the
interest and welfare OF this community.
OFFICE OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
PoRT TOWNSEND, Wash, April Is, SO,
10 THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, OF
THE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, ID. C.,
Dear Sir:
AT meeting of the chamber of COM
merce of this city, held on the 18th, inst.
it was resolved, that tho report of the
grand jury of the United States, made
to the q. s. district court, for the third
district OF Washington territory, relative
to the inefficiency and insecurity of the
present building, now used ss q custom
house for the district OF Puget Sound, q
certified copy OF which was ordered by
the court to be transmitted to the sac
retary OF the treasury, be endorsed by
this chamber OF oommeIc ice.
The present loose manner in which the
| books and papers of the custom house
are kept and have been kept for many
years, is n disgrace to the government of
the United States aud an injury and a
wrong to the merchants, masters OF yes
sells and others doing business at this
custom house. Recently. but 90. a
timely discovery, the building, wooden
and highly infamsble structure, would
have been burned with all of its contents
Once before in the history of this col
lection district, when the custom house
was located at Port Angeles, on Fucs
strait, mountain freshet washed the
building into the bay and most Of the
early records were lost.
The insecurity of the present building
and Its limited size, is entirely inadequate
to the present and growing wants Of
commerce, render it imperative that the
public building, which has been com
menced in this city and for the compile
ton OF which congress has already ap-
propriated the considerable sum OF two
hundred and forty thousand dollars,
should be completed without delay, and
the chamber of commerce respectfully
ask your excelleDcy's attention to this
matter and earnestly urge the great pub
iic necessity which requires that the work
on the public building in this city, be |
commenced as soon as the architect of |
the treasury can prepare specifications |
for bids to complete the construction of |
this public work. The weather at this
pace, at present, and during the entire
winter, las been eminently adapted for
outdoor work. Stone and brick masons,
carpenters, painters and other mt chanics
have continued the construction of brick,
stone and wooden buildings with but
few delays, all winter long, and now that
spring is opening and the days incrsas-
ing, il is proper that government work
be pressed with energy and not be de-
layed till the rainy season, which usually
early in the fall.
The chamber Of commerce knowing
the great importance OF having a safe
place for the deposit OF the books and
papers archives of the port of entry, re-
pecttulIy request that the architect OF the
treasury be instructed to urge this work
forward as fast as may be consistent with
other work in the treasury department.
Very respectfully, in behalf OF the
chamber uf commerce,
Attest: J. q. STETSON,
j. E. CLARK, President.
Secretary.