The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-28
DUB GATE WIDE OPEN
The Guns of Esquimalt Echo in
the United States.
RICH CITIES WITHOUT DEFENSE.
Foreign Fleet Could Sail Up 60 Seat
tie Unopposed-Modern Forti.
fications Impregnable.

| From Watson c. squire's Speech IN tho Senate
Mr.. w. II. Seward made the prediction
| that the Pacific ocean vii! be the scene Of
| mans greatest achievements. If we treat
| them wisely our own Pacific states will be-
| come the main factor in this improve
| ment.'
| In fact, this Coast is an empire in itself
| worthy of all the consideration and care
| that our government can give it.
| That the statesmen of Europe take the
! same view of the future of the Pacific as
| did Mr.. Seward. is evident from the eff
| forts they are making to consolidate and
| strengthen their possessions on its shores.
| Russia is creating great naval and mill
| tary station on the Siberian coast and is
| building gigantic railway many thou
| sands of miles in length TO con-
meet it with her European dominions.
| England is creating another Gibraltar
at Esquimalt. on Vancouver island, in the
very gateway of Puget sound. Speaking
| OF this in his testimony before the senate
committee on coast defenses Maj. Gen.
| Nelson A. Miles said: 1T would be prac-
ticable for the British feet at Esquimalt,
near Victoria, British Columbia to take
absolute possession of Puget sound and
the cities and towns and destroy their
| commerce and property in twentv-tour
hours. In fact the morning and evening
| guns at Esquimait can be heard on our
| shores
| in the face of these facts it is only
matter o. ordinary prudence that We
should take every precaution to protect
and defend our magnificent heritage on
the shores of the Pacinc.
| For many years past the defenseless con-
! dltion OF our northwestern coast has been
| brought TO the attention OF the national
| government. During my tenure of Office
as governor of Washington. then terri
tory, in the years 1854 1885. 1856 anu 1887,
! IN my annual reports 10 the secretary OF
| the interior, | each year made statement
OF our defenseess condition. and recon-
mended the erection of defensive works on
| Puget sound. The military officers who
have commanded the department have
| done the same. ana have gwen their testi-
| mony before the comm ttee on coast de-
, lenses: but so far without result.
| While year By year our cities are grow
| ing. railroads reaching the Coast, and
wealth and property are accumuiating on
| our shores. we remain "naked and de-
| fenseless to our enemies"
|
| supply abundant testimony to the rapid
. increase of American homes and hives of
industry. and the corresponding necessity
| and urgency of aifording them adequate
| protection.
| In the year 1880 the city of Seattle con-
| tanned 1888 inhabitants; in 1899. A., s37:
| while by census taken by the county
| assessor in June. 1892, the population had
| increased to 81 ST.
In 1880 Tacoma mad LOS inhabitants; in
$780, &c. 006, and IN June, 1892 Is 76S
New Whatcom 1880, none; in 1890. 6. 1919.
Olympia in 1880. 1882 inhabitants; in
| $780, 469S.
Port Townsend in 1880, Oh inhabitants;
in 1890, 4.55S.
Fairhaven in 1880, none; in 1890 4077.
These places have since thes dates rap
idly increased in popuia ion, but have
not the figures OF this year.
| All of these prosperous and rapidly
| growing seab ard cities and towns and
many others depend for their safety on
| the proper defense of Pnge: sound. a great
inland sea without an equal in the world,
| having coast line, including the Straits
of San Juan de Fuca and the Gulf of
Georgia, of 2,016 miles in the state of
| Washington, unsurpassed for the safety
| of its harbors and convenience for COM
| merce.
The regularity Of this inland sea is
| that a vessel can effect landing almost
| anywhere within its limits. differing in
| this particular from an ordinary seacoast
| So that by all means an enemy should be
| prevented from gaining an entrance.
| When its entrance from the ocean shall be
| properly fortified it can bid defiance TO
any attack from an enemy In addition
to this the state OF Washington has 4I5
miles OF coast line on the Pacific ocean,
on which are found Wilapa harbor and
Gray's harbor with its tiourishing towns
OF Aberdeen, Hoquiam and others.
The county in which thew are located in
$50 contained 92l inhabitants, in 1890,
| 9.2H. Ihus, without taking INTO account
the 100 mi es OF deep water navigation on
the Columbia river or the coas line Of the
islands IN Puget sound the state OF Wash
ingtOn has >, i3l miles of seacoast. the
whole OF which Is entirely without de-
lenses.
| The Columbia river Is also practically
unde!ended. It's thriving towns ana cit
les. Vancouver. III the state II Washing
ton. which had in 1>S0-Sl 722 inhabitants.
and IN loJ) 3.5i3; Portland and Astoria in
the state OF OREGON. the former OF which
| increase! from i7577 in 1850 to 16 80 not
| luC.ud tng + 'st Portland, IN 1890 and the
latter from 2S)3 in 1850 to {. lsi II $3.50. lie
! open and unprotected ami inviting attach,
from any power wlth whom we mag be IN
| y9lved IN war
California. with its great CITY of San
| Francisco which in IsSO had 235 go in
! hab ttuts. and 2lS.y97 III $50 and san
| Diego, which in the same time increased
| from 2.531 L. rs. il4 J. also LOOKING u con-
sreSs 10 maze adequate provision Tor her
| defense.