Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-09-08
Is 1t Visionary P

The articles hitherto published in
the local papers by Elias J. Payn, in
advocacy of a Puget Sound and Gray's
Harbor canal, while they have met
with very general recognition for
depth OF thought and an unqualified
belief OF the entire practicability
as well as desirability of the project,
has enlisted very little attention from
the fact that it presents some Utopian
features which stagger ordinary COM
prehension and paralyze individual ef-
: fort.
"Can it be done?" is the first query
which assails gigantic projects, and it
generally remains unanswered and is
the sledge-hammer blow that has
Knocked vitality out of many pro-
jects that might with cooperation and
q wise display of friendly interest have
led on to perfect success.
In the August number of Northeast
Magazine, Mr.. Payn has another of
his well-written and logically con-
structed articles, which places his
proposition before much larger circle
of thought than it could have attained
in any of the State journals. In this
article, MIR. p. has gathered together
many irrefutable arguments showing
the Importance of the Pacific Coast,
and especially its northern section, as
factor in future commerce. His
proposition is to bring about now that
which will inevitably come by the
slow process and progress OF advancing
civilization. He starts out with the
statement that advance in intelligent
effort which shortens the distance be-
tween competitive points for CONNER
cial supremacy is source OF profit to
intervenient commerce on the shorter
route, bringing as it does producers,
manufacturers, merchants and their
markets in closer communication
with one another and saving both
time and cost of transportation. Com
merce is increased in the degree that
space is Obliterated between unre.
stricted means of supply and unlimit-
ed markets of staples of demand. Pu-
get Sound may be made the CONNER
cial center OF the Pacific Just as Lon
don has become the commercial pivot
OF the European continent, and as
Liverpool is the entrepot of American
commerce in Great Britain, and New
York the empire city Of the Atlantic.
The limits OF this article will not
admit of presentation of the long
array of facts which show the hidden
capabilities of Puget Sound for the
seat of empire. Suffice it to say that
they appeal to reason and are unassail-
able from all points of truth and
candor. The Northwest Magazine, in
its editorial comments, admits the
strength of the facts presented, but
limits the substantial gain in distance
offered by the proposed route to ves-
sells plying between Puget. Sound and
California ports, and holds that ves-
sells sailing for the orient from the
Sound would not be benefited by lock-
ing through the canal, when the
shorter route by way of the straits is
presented. True; but it must be ad-
mitted that the possession of shorter
route for eastern trade with our neigh
bors across the sea, rs separate factor,
hastens and makes more definite and
certain the inevitable contest OF SUI
premacy for the grand commercial
center. 1t would indeed be difficult to
find any enterprise which would en-
brace all good points and be absolute
ly the best in everything. Nor is
there any necessity in this instance,
for nature has already provided the
grand qualification of shortness of dis
lance by contiguity OF the greater
marts in our favor.
There is one consideration, however,
on which Mr.. Payn has laid little
stress, which we think will be potent
consideration for enlisting government
aid, and that is the Importance OF the
canal from military point OF view.
1t is we'll known that our English
neighbors have been many years en-.
gagged in constructing extensive earth
works supplied with modern ordnance
that may be trained to command the
entrance Of the Sound, the Straits of
Juan de Fuca. If Uncle Sam ever
has brush with the mother country,
the advantages afforded by the canal,
if built, would be many times greater
Ill value than the cost of construction.
The government, it is thought, would
not hesitate to extend aid, if Congress
be made to realize this fact.
JULES VERNE's latest novel will
soon be issued. 1t is entitled "The
Last Will of an Eccentric" and the
plot, instead of involving an I'M
explored course under the sea or
throughout space, will deal more large
ly with the real than any of the au.
thor's previous efforts. The scene of
the new work is laid in the United
States, and the plot is broad enough to
cover all of them and far.off Alaska.
This fact will make the work of spe-