, 1889-01-03

The Tacoma Ledger calls atten-
tion to Steilacoom is "A place formed
by nature for the building of navy
yard" The Le3ger also says that
Port Townsend will. through her
people, lay claim TO superior advan-
taSiS. Ithi,s the nail on the head !
,Iis time Port Townsend. however. /
n. only claims. but in tact has su- /
ga:ios advantages for this purpose. /
Tire need Of a good dry dock on
lie ~"1ni : every Dag more appar-
ent Dur steamers have to 90 70 rs
fg--@l, Epr gyerhauiins AMI clean
lrg: n.-e 'aka ne long Trip to San
Iga4cisco. The urm that puts N =
doe hat viii accommodate vessels
- al sizes viii build up and doubt
.ess mold big business in this line
There axe many go2d locations for
0ae here al FyTt Townsend
In 1913 Washington was set apart
rs a Territory with IL own terrific
rial government. Since that time
there nave been - governors. The
first was Isaac Stevens. from 1853 to
1871 The longest term Of service
was tha: OF +. Z. Ferry. from 1872 to
1880, The term Of VIM. Pickering.
from 1861 to 1861, was next in length.
-Four OF the 15 governors appointed
did not qualify, and other appoint
ments were soon made.
The ubiquitous and IN dustrious
cabinet maker is surprisingly nu-
/ Ioerous and active this winter-and
( is having lots Of fun. General Har-
rison confesses that the newspaper
/ writers know great deal more
about the subject than he does.
, Whether he is really ignorant or not,
it ; pretty certain that no amount of
inquisitiye ingenuity has thus far
been equal to the task Of ,..y,Ing any
state secrets ont If him.
Seattle expects to put on her
brightest smile for the special bene-
tit Of the naval commission. Her
leading citizens will be unusually
! gracious, and her wines will flow un-
der lavish hands. She intends to
/ demonstrate the advantages of Lake
I Washington for that naval station.
No particular stress will be laid on
the fact that a million dollars or
more will be required to dig out n
canal and construct locks therein. be
tween the lake and the Sound, be-
fore Il naval station could be located
there. The fact that those locks
could easily be destroyed by traitor
Gus work N time OF war, and whole
tieet OF vessels be left useless, will
hardly be mentioned. The superior
natural advantages of Port Town
send will not even be limited at. But
the beauties and glories of the Sc
attic location will be sung in dulcet
and seductive tones.
/ Whether the democratic majority
/ m the present congress will really
! pass statehood bills for the terrific
/ RES or whether they are merely "go-
ing through the motions" OF doing
! something, as one expressed it, is an
interesting question. II seems 10 us
! that the situation is resolved to a
very simple proposition. If they
| really want 10 admit the territories
the way IS open. John Sherman
said, when the great and perplexing
question ofresumption of specie pay
ment was under consideration. that
the way 10 resume was to resume.
| The simplest and easiest way to re
solve this statehood problem-so
perplexing to democratic statesman
is to just pass admission bills for
them. We commend the suggestion
to the democratic majority that is
just now wrestling with the problem
of show not to do it."
The press is certainly entitled to
all information that can be given as
to matters proper for publication. If
people would govern themselves ac-
cordingly they would generally have
less reason to complain about what
is printed. Not long ago represen-
tative of the ARGUS went in a gentle-
manly manner to Port Townsend
citizen for information. The person
enquired of, the man most concern
ed, walked away without paying any
attention to the inquiries. The Ar
GUS representative said nothing more
except to remark that there were
some street rumors that might
be published if nothing more accurs
ate were furnished. But this delud-
ed citizen thought himself on top at
that time, and went his way. When
the street rumors were given in the
paper he stormed furiously. But he
had no one to blame but himself.
He had made an ass of himself the
first time; but he made a greater the
second time We pity him for his
foolishness, and for this reason do
not mention what the news matter
was