The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-24
SOUND NAIL ROUTES.
The Chamber of Commerce
Trustees Take Action.
LETTER TO MR.. wANAMAkER.
He IL Urged to Have Route Connecting
Islands Directly with Seattle
Freight Discrimination.

At Yesterdays meeting Of the trustees Of
the Chamber of Commerce A NJ Brookes,
A P. Burwell, A. R. Ballard, Jacob Furth,
E. 0. Graves, Major James R. Hayden,
Thomas W. Prosch, Perry W. Rochester,
L. +. Whittier. Griffith Davies and Senator
w. X Forrest were present. The princi-
pal matter considered was the postal
routes between Seattle and the islands of
the lower Sound.
At the last meeting Of the trustees, q let
ter was received from A. D. Blowers, post
master at Coupeville. who criticised the
proposed change in the mail routes. After
July i, the route from Seattle TO Whatcom
by way of Coupevilie and other inside
points, Is to be discontinued All points
north OF Utsalady viii be served by rail,
and the route from Seattle TO Utsalady
will be divided into three: first, from Port
townsend TO Coupeville; second, from
Coupevilie by way of San de Fuca and Oak
Harbor to Utsalady; and third, Phinney,
Useless and Sandy Point to be served from
Mukilteo. Mr.. Blowers suggested instead
Of that plan, the cutting off of all points
north of Utsalady on the present route,
and making Seattle and Utsalady terminal
points. Then . boat could leave Seattle
and make the round trip in day. In
that way mail could reach Coupeville as
soon as 1t could reach Port Townsend;
but if the mail for Coupeville had to go by
way of Port Townsend, it might reach
Coupeyille twenty-four hours late. and
would certainly be late when the weather
was stormy. The plan for three routes
would delay mail at all Island county
Offices
This matter was referred to a committee
of the chamber, consisting of A. P. Bur
well, A. NJ. Brookes and Thomas W.
Prosch. After investigation, they reported
in favor of sending to the postmaster
general the letter of Mr.. Blowers, together
with the following communication, which
was approved by the trustees:
The enclosed communication from Mr.. A. D.
Blowers OF the Island County Board of Trade,
and who is, and has been for many years, post
master of Coupeviile, is respectfully referred to
you for consideration. Your attention is also
called TO like communication from Mr.. Clark,
of San de Fuca, sent TO you nearly two months
ago, endorsed, we have understood, by the Seattle
postmaster as fair statement of facts and con-
ditions The members of this committee are
prepared to confirm fully the assertions OF
Messrs. Clark and Blowers from their own
knowledge of the situation, gained by long
years OF residence, by intimate connection with
commercial affairs, and by the personal expert
of two OF the subscribers, OF matters in this
section of country.
The route suggested BY Mr.. Blowers is q direct
one, north and south of less than sixty miles in
length not quite one-half the old Seattle W hat
com mail route. 1t is the only natural and de-
sirable water route and the Offices referred TO by
him must necessarily be served by water. All
past communication, postal and otherwise, has
been by this route, and none other can be so use
full TO the people, so convenient and speedy, and
so cheap 10 the goyernment 1t is also easy. re-
liable and safe, neither wind or wave interior
ing with the running OF boats on schedule time.
Since the first settlement of the islands the
dealings Of the people there have
been with the country to the south, and
chiefly with the city of Seattle. No boat
has ever run on any other route from Coupeyille
ana Oak Harbor, and that any boat should run
to Port Townsend from them or San de Fuca or
Utsalady is impracticable from q business stand
point. BY the present route, which il Is sought
to end the people there have direct and quick
rail connection with the sixty-odd million
American citizens to the south and east, or what
they want By the route or routes proposed
they will have substituted for this an irregular,
undesirable and slower rail connection with the
1000 American citizens TO the west, with
whom in the past they have had little in CON-
mon, and that little in g strained, artificial and
compulsory manner, the great southern and
eastern mail requiring from twelve TO forty
eight hours more time. Where one conveyance
now supplies Utsalady from points near by, say
Stanwood, Tulalip, Mukilteo or Edmonds, then
FIVE means of conveyance win be reQuired-rail
20 Seattle, boat 20 Port Townsend, boat 70
WILDLY island, horse or stage to Coupeville and
boat again to Oak Hsroor and Utsalady. That
this can be done for less money than at present
-. a L..
cheaper * should not be- to the detriment of the
people concerned, in defiance of their wishes
and 20 the destruction of old, long -estab lshed
business relations
There are many steamboats, here that can
make the Seattle Utsslady trip daily, calling at
the other Offices, and we are convinced that
some of them would gladly perform the service
for reasonable compensation, $4,000 or 5000
per annum, or less, maybe
The time 10 prevent the threatene! change and
consequent injury is short and your immediate
action is urgently requested
The committee was continued and di-
rected TO bring the matter to the attention
of several postoffice officials who were in
the city yesterday. Mr.. Campbell, assist
ant-general superintendent of the railway
mail service; Mr.. Flint, of San Francisco;
the superintendent of the Eighth division,
and F. Taille, assistant superintendent. A
copy of the communication was also sent
TO Senator Watson c. Squire, with re-
quest that he urge its consideration.
FREIGHT DISCRIMINATION.
Thomas w. Prosch presented some facts
with regard to freight discrimination. The
cases seem to indicate that the Seattle,
Lake Shore a. Eastern has Disseminated
against Seattle, and in favor of Tacoma
and Portland, in shipments from mill
points along the Sound TO points out o.
the state, by way of Seattle. or Tacoma
The matter was put in the hands of Mr..
Furih for investigation.
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
Professor Frank ]. Barnard and Pro.
fessor c. P. Richardson appeared before
the board. and urged that an effort be
made TO get the association to meet here
in July. ss92 A special meeting of the
board will be held tomorrow night TO con.
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