The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-21

OF Juan De Fucs. Admiralty bay or Eoo4's
canal that can n any way interrupt their
navigation by a 74-gun ship ] venture
nothing IN saying tina. there is 10 cour-
try IN the world that possesses waters
equal TO these. they cover an area os
about 200 square miles: the shores Of All
It's iniest and bsys are remarkably bold.
50 much so that ships side would strike
the shore before her keel would touch the
ground
The country By which these waters are
surrounded IL remarkably saiabrious. and
affords every advantage for the accornrno-
oa-soa q a vast commercial and military
marine. with convenience Tor docks and
great many sites for towns and cities.
at all times well supplied with water,
and capable OF being well provided with
ysrythizg sby the surrounding country.
which Is well adapted for agriculture.
The straits Of Juan De Fuca are IS
miles In length and have an average
width OF eleven miles At the entrance.
eight miles in width, no danger exists.
and Il may be safely nayigated through
out
mo part of the world affords finer IN
lands. SOUNDS. or a greater number OF
harbors than are found within the straits
OF Juan de Fuca, capable OF receiving the
largest class OF vessels, and without
danger In them that is not visible. From
the rise and fall OF the tide teighteen
feet every facility IL AFFORDED for the
erection OF works for a great maritime
nation.
The country also affords an many sites
for water power as any other"
Mr.. President. these lines were penned
many years ago by distinguished ofiieer
of the American navy. and since the time
when those lines were written. when that
country was almost an unknown region,
Eafk Ia Inv N
and only investigated by persons trav-
cling about In canoes from place 10 place,
that region has become better known
II now has cities OF importance ana
great population. / well remember when
! came 10 Washington City, In the winter
OF 1854. I met Gen. Philip II. Sheridan
He was very much interested In the coun-
try from which then came. i then hap
psned 10 hold the office OF governor OF
the territory He was interested and
conyersed with me on the subtsct.
He described his trip from Fort Stella
COON, on the shore OF Puget sound, TO
various points, including Seattle. Beiling-
ham bay, and Port Townsend he told
me he went ia a canoe and trayersed hun
dreds OF miles into that Sound with only
one Individual besides himself; and he
was then. as he stated 10 me, Impressed
with the great future Of that. country.
AS I talked with him Gen. Terry came IN
and asked me about the productions or
that country. He said he had done me
the honor 70 read the report which had
made as governor OF the territory. In
which / described the character OF pro-
ductions: and then he said TO me. when
you tell me that that country raises lima
beans | know what that means. That
one statement gives mo glimpse Into
it's horticultural capacity"
II is a country rich In resources, heauu-
full in all that relates TO prolific culture
OF good crops, vegetables. grasses.
fruits-the most delicious fruit In the
woBld-and the climate there is something
almost SURPRISING belief. / have gone out
into the lobby OF the senate chamber ara
examined the weather charts from d3y to
day during the long period OF distress
from storms and severe cold here ana
elsewhere in the East and other parts OF
our country. even extending as far as
Florida. / have noticed on the charts
during ali that time when we were suf-
ferlng from billiards that the tempera-
tura on Puget sound has not been below
the point OF freezing. yet IL Is In the latl-
tude OF Quebec, on the Atlantic coast,
and all this winter, or most or the lime
the temperature was reported from ~ 10
Il degrees above zero. 1t has the most
eQuable climate In the world, as the sum
mer heat Is not excessive.
Mr. President, / seize this opportunity
OF saying TO the senate and TO the people
OF this country that - is country
where men can keep out of doors more
DAYS in the year than In any other part
of the United States. i have passed
whole winters there wearing ordinary
clothing. without an overcoat, and no
ticed the workmen working on buildings
and other outdoor enpsoyments In the
midst Of winter. in the months OF Janu-
airy and February. when the roses and
violets were blooming in the open air.
and we would send these flowers some
times encased IN some appropriate way
10 show the people OF the East the eli
mate OF Puget sound during the midwin-
ter months.
am told that / am at liberty 10 speak
frankly and plainly on this subject to
night: | do not wish 10 take up the time
of the senate unnecessarily, but | think
the people Of our country ought 20 know
something about 1t, and when | am talk
ing about this great Improvement. II oc-
ours 10 me Incidentally TO Introduce some
OF the points OF Information which might
otherwise 20 unnoticed-
We have a class OF people there who
come from all the states Of the Union,
from the states Of the South-from Geor-
eta. from Alabama, from Kentucky.
from yirginia-and from New England,
and the Middle and Western states. II is
composite people. and a progressive
people. representing the best elements OF
American life.
Mr. President, there are to be great de-
velopmcnts on Puget sound. lf we are
TO believe the views OF officers OF the
army OF the fortiHcations board. OF the
general OF the army the secretary OF war
and the general commanding the depart
ment. We are 20 have great Notifications
there. There IS TO be a great military
post established on the coast OF Puget
sound for the defense OF our country.
As'I stated before, we Join the posses
slons OF Great Britain. Great Britain has
her development already. She has her
dock yard there al a place tailed Esdui-
malt. near her city Of Victoria, on Van
couver island. As you all Know. the city
OF Victoria - the capital OF British Column
bia. That Is the great rendezvous for the
British naval squadron on the Pacific.
There Is already established there a mag
nlfcent drv dock and naval station. We
want 10 attend 90 our interests alongside
OF this great power. II Is already devel-
there. so near 20 Us that Tire modern can
non could convey a shell from their
shores 10 ours across the strait OF Fuca-
Rv the action OF congress II is also set
tied that We are 70 have a ship canal con-
nesting the waters OF Puget sound with
the waters OF Lake Union and Lake
washington. deep fresh water lakes. This
Is a work of national importance, a work
which VIII call for an expenditure %
about s. I'D. ooa one Of the most magni6-
cent works which has been contemplated
IN any country a work which eiil make
the harAor az Seattle equal % that of
Liverpool. perhaps l may say equal II
capacity % the harbors OF London and
= ts.a~r,o.,f ssnwehfrea sfn0n which harh0rs