The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-02-22
OUR STEAMBOAT SERVICE.
A Mendacious Criticism Of II from Mitch
ell Bay I'm . Seattle Paper. :.

ell Bay I'm = Seattle Paper.
The Seattle Times of the 18th inst
contained communication from Max
johnson, the herring packer of Mitch.
ell bay, making somewhat vicious
criticism of the steamboat service in
this county. Evidently the Thompson
Steamboat Company has aroused the
ire Of Mr.. johnson, as his assault is
manifestly directed against its service,
and indeed it might be inferred from
his complaint that he is ignorant of
the fact that there is any other steamer
DOING business regularly among the
Islands. The Times ought to have a
stronger sense of justice than to give
currency, without comment, tn such
mlsstatements as those made by Mr..
johnson, without apparently making
any effort TO ascertain the facts. The
ISLANDER does not presume to consti-
tute itself either champion of or an
apolOgist for the Thompson Steamboat
Company, or any other company, but
it docs resent criticisms of any enter
prise or interest which are palpably
unfair, create false impressions and
have a tendency to retard settlement
and check Investments in the county.
Mr.. johnson Gays that "here is a YER
liable gold mine awaiting the right
party, who will put on daily steam
ship service, fitted up as becomes the
times, both as to passenger and freight
accommodations" If this is true one
would suppose that Mr.. johnson, with
his genius for enlisting capital, as ex-
emplified in his herring enterprise at
Mitchell bay, instead Of "giving the
snap away would immediately set
to edo up" the Thompson. He alleges
that the steamer Is "Obsolete" and
"cannot carry anything like the
amount Of freight Obtainable," that
"the hold Is not arranged to carry any
perishable goods" that "bOth the cabin
and dining room are shOckingly un-
suitable" and that "breakdOwns on
this line are the order of the day."
none of which more or less astute OBJ
servatiOns are calculated to create a
particularly favorable impression of the
county's principal means of freight and
passenger transportation and cOnmun-
icatiOn with the up-Sound cities. AS
a matter of fact the Thompson is re-
garded as one of the staunchest steam
ers of her size Oh the Sound. She ira
verses more miles daily, over diff
cult route, than any other steamer OH
the Sound and no other has better
record for regularity or for infrequency
of mishaps. Her captain is recognized
as one of the most competent masters
and pilots ON the Pacific coast and her
purser is exceptionally popular, &C
cOmmodating and efficient. The steam
er is neat, the discipline is excellent
and neither the freight nor the passen-
ger rates are higher than those charged
by other steamers engaged in similar
service. For carrying the mails, for
which Mr.. johnson says she is "very
heavily subsidized," she receives but
little over half the amOut that was paid
by the government before she began
the service, which then extended to
Port Townsend only. If Mr.. Johnsen
had been a resident of the county
longer than few weeks or months he
would nave known better than tO say
that "it is strange to many out here
that competition has never been en-
tered into" He might perhaps learn
something upon this point, and some
Others, 10y interviewing the owners of
the Discovery, which was admirably
adapted to service on this route.
Mr.. johnson is mistaken i'm assuni.
ing to "vOice the sentiments of the
islanders upon this question. We are
not disposed to belittle his influence,
which may perhaps be large where he
is well known, but he has been resi-
dent of this county but very short
time and "the masses" don't know
him. 1t is just possible, too, that his
Sentiments" may have been influenced
a little by the circumstance referred to
in one of the items of our Roche Har-
Dor news this week.
Daily steamer communication with
Seattle would he very welcome to all
interests in the county and it will
doubtless come in time. Steamboat
men are not sleepy class. On the
contrary they are wide awake and ever
on the alert for profitable openings IN
the carrying trade. When the bust
ness of this county really offers a great
opportunity for more competition, it
will not be long in coming.