Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-28
THE FUTURE METROPOLIS


1t is generally conceded by those
who are at all familiar with the ques-
ton, that the Pacific coast will witness
the growth Of a second San Francisco
within the next few years, and that in
the very nature of things that city
must be located somewhere along the
shore line of Puget sound. It's nearness
to the markets of the Orient, as well as
to the commercial islands of the Pa
cific, combined with its location in con-
nectlon with the central and eastern
points of trade in the United States,
alike strengthen the argument in favor
OF this belief. Then, too, the fact that
Puget Sound is the first available point
for commerce between Alaska and this
country also endorses the conviction
that San Francisco will, before long,
find powerful rival to its supremacy
growing upon the shores of Puget
sound. The internal arguments in
favor of this belief are also of the
strongest character. No other state of
the Union has so prolific and varied
an amount of natural wealth as that
which abounds in the state of Wash
ington. In fruits, berries, grain, and
all other products of the farm and or
chard the Evergreen state is nearly, If
not quite equal, to California, while in
the more substantial gifts of nature
Washington stands without peer.
Just where this future great city is
to be located is the point at which the
concensus of opinion may diverge, but
IL the DEGREES of nature are obeyed,
there can hardly be a question but
that the conditions are more largely i'm
favor of Bellingham Bay than of any
other portion of the Sound. The capt.
tai and enterprise behind Seattle and
Tacoma have given them a good lead,
but their present supremacy, however,
is not so much a matter of natural re-
sources as of other conditions. That
they owe their present prosperity to
the energy and wealth of the people
who have located there can hardly be
questioned; but, while capital and in
genuity may for a time divert COM
merce and business into an unnatural
channel, the laws of trade must event
ually assert themselves, and these are
nearly all in favor Of Bellingham Bay
as the future metropolis of the Sound,
and hence Of the Pacific coast. BY the
common consent of all those familiar
with the subject, the harbor fronting
Fairhaven has no equal, either ON the
Sound or upon the entire coast. The
lumber, mineral and timber re-
sources of its tributary country are
unsurpassed by any other section of
the state. The islands lying adjacent
to 1t, when at their normal condition
of development, are sufficient to war
rant the growth of large city. Fair
haven lies nearer the ocean than either
Seattle or Tacoma, besides being easier
of approach and offering greater facili-
ties for anchorage, and is consequently
the most natural point to command the
trade of the Orient as well as the is
lands Of the Pacific. 1t Is a strategic
point for the erection of smelters and
other industrial enterprises, command
ing as II does the immense resources of
Skagit and Whatcom counties as welIas
large and important section Of British
Columbia. It's railroad facilities COM
prise the Great Northern and the
Canadian Pacific, with the Northern
Pacific only fifteen miles away, and |
making strenuous efforts to gain right
of-way into the city. These favorable
conditions are but few Of the many
which combine to strengthen the be-
lief that when the time comes for the
rival Of California's great city to stretch
forth its hands for the commercial and
industrial supremacy Of the Pacific
coast, Fairhaven will not be found lack