Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-04-02
FAIRHAvEN WEATHER
As TO CONSOLIDATION

com under one municipal government
has been a matter Of earnest discussion
by the residents of Bellingham bay
for some considerable time. Periodi-
cally steps have been taken looking
towards the union of the two cities
. under one government. In the local
columns of tOday's issue is published
the report of.the joint committees APP
pointed by the mayors of Fairhaven
and New Whateom as to the best
means by which the desired result
might be effected.
The first point in the report relates to
the natural benefits to arise by uniting
the two cities into one, with an apt and
distinctive name, with respect to which
there can be little doubt of a uniform
conviction at both ends of the Bay.
The cities are one already in point Of
commerce, social life, geographical for
nation, and railroad, steamboat and
street car service. Their consolidation
would constitute the new city the
third in population of the Puget sound
basin, and the fourth in the state, be-
side the benefits to accrue from united
action in all public policies, and the
standing to be enjoyed in the estima-
ton of investors and home seekers who
are looking towards Bellingham bay as
a favorable place for location.
The real question at issue, therefore,
does not relate to the wisdom of consol-
idation, but to the best and safest
means by which it may be accom-
plished without undue Partially to
either end of the Bay il the distribu-
ton of public buildings and other con-
veniences of municipal organization.
The present distribution of the Bay
population gives New Whatcom an adj
vantage at the polls which the joint
committee of the two cities has been
eager to overcome, and it is at this
point that some divergence of opinion
has been experienced. A portion of
the committee believes that the in
terests of both sections would be most
amicably harmonized by the distribu-
ton of the new city into six wards, so
adjusted as to maintain an even bal
ance of influence for the two
ends Of the Bay. The other
members of the committee urge that
the best course of procedure consists in
first annexing the Sixth ward of New
Whatcom TO Fairhaven as a prelim-
mary step, after which the CONSOLE
dation of the two cities would be the
more easily accomplished and with a
better prospect of more harmonious
distribution of the public buildings and
offices and a more even balance for all
the interests involved.
The latter proposition was made by
the members of the committee repre-
senting Fairhaven, and is hence Fair
haven's proposition. The argument
has been urged against 1t that it will
not accomplish the desired result in
that, after all, the residents in the
Sixth ward Of New Whatcom, whether
attached to one city or the other,
would still vote according to their
preference, uninfuenced by their an
nexation to Fairhaven, and that the
preliminary step would therefore be a
useless one. The argument in return
is made that such annexation would
demonstrate the good faith with which
the questisn of consolidation was sug-
gested on the part of New Whatcom
and above all else, perhaps, would sat
isfy the voting population of Fairhaven
that the matter of consolidation was
desired for the mutual benefit Of all.
Fairhaven desires consolidation. Our
people realize the benefits to accrue
from such a step. They further realize
that it must be accomplished some
time, and that there is no better time
than the present for 1t to occur, es-
pecially in view of the advantages 10
arise from advertising at the Worlds
fair as united city. In all good faith,
and with but the one object in view OF
conserving the mutual interests Of the
two ends of the Bay, has the PROPOSE.
ton been made to first unite the in
terests of the Sixth ward Of New
whatcom with those Of Fairhaven
and then proceed Immediately to con
solidation. 1t is to be earnestly hoped
that the proposition will be accepted In
the same spirit of good faith with
which 1t is offered. The conditions
proposed are perfectly frank and fail
and are offered with but the one Object
in view Of securing an equal represen
tation for Fairhaven's interests in the
first council Of the new city. If New
Whatcom's representatives are as eager
for consolidation as their offers have