The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-26
THE PORT OF ENTRY.
Indications OF Port Townsend's Early
Advance.
Port Townsend Leader

ess~-s~He~""--~ s@~~rs'~-
Advance.
Port Townsend Leader
PoRr TOWNSEND. WASH, April 25.-The
certainty OF the early completion OF the
Port Townsend Southern railroad has re-
vived many projects which have been iy-
ing dormant during the years when rail-
road companies were developing the eoun-
try east of the Sound and negiecsing tho
golden harvests that were to be reaped to
the west As soon as this line is complete
and connections are made with the Tn on
Pacific and the Northern Pacific, Port
Townsend win become one of the most
important shipping points in the country.
The place became city with only its great
harbor to back il, and only its lack oil rail-
road connections allowed Seattle and Ta-
coma 70 attain q greater sire in the last
70 W years.
The extent and character OF Port Town
sends harbor will in the future exert even
more influence In the building up of the
city than they have in the past. The har-
Dor is . gold mine, for every vessel that
enters the Sound must leave a large per-
centage of the profits OF its voyage here.
1t has been the boast Of every city on
the Sound that it was in position TO seek
q large share Of the growing commerce Of
Alaska and the trans Pacific lands, but
with railroad communication with The
East there is no port so favorably situated
Is Port Townsend, because of easy access
to the ocean. and because sailing vessels
do not require the assistance of tugs in
reaching . place where anchors may be
dropped. Vesselmen have been in the
habit OF growing at the extreme depth of
water in various harbors OF the Sound, be-
cause they either must tie up at the
wharves or fastan their chains to buoys.
Neither course Is pursued at Port Town
send, aud there Is not spot in the great
hasbor where the iargess ship may not
anchor safely, either because OF water too
deep or too shallow.
Within the near future this great factor
in Port Townsend's growth viii at one
stroke add thousands to the population Of
the city. Port Townsend will become the
headquarters Of the great whaling feet.
Years ago. when Honolulu was the
center for whalers. the haroor Of
Port Townsend was selected as the
most convenient point for the he2dquar-
tiers OF this immense industry. The only
thing which sent the fleet 70 San Francisco
was the fact that there was no railroad 10
carry the product 20 the Eastern market.
lI4S o5leEll0u ~ soon to De aftIGuLitt anu
again the advantages OF PORT Townsend
harbor have excited the admiration OF the
owners OF the feet IL is q question os
profits. and the i.i0o miles that may DO
saved on the round voyage By making Fort
Townsend the initial point instead Of San
Francisco has caused q eoxnmotion that Is
almost q stampede.
Representatives Of the owners of tia
whaling iieef have visited Port Townsend
iately and have picked out skow bay, an
arm Of Port Townsend hasbor, as the site
of docks and ways for the oyerhauiing Of
vessels This has been done very quietly.
bat those who have heard OF the prepare
siong. knowing the millions of wealth this
industry has carried 10 san Francisco.
have been putting their money into PORT
Toansend real estate, and announce that
their holdings are not Tor sale al the pres
snt tinae at any prizes. Had the headquar-
ters OF this feet been established ~ Port
Toxn.end when this harfor was frat re-
commended the city nox would have been
without rival in the Northwest. and sfnee
il has been virtually determined 10 locate
here as soon rs tie railroad Is complete.
Port Townsend Will be 8 most profitable
field for investors The road IL 10 lie pushed
through with All possible sEee<I. rs 80
men and ~ se4sas are ~ work IN the
nssxhloFsood OF the city and more Insa
and teams are being called for.