The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-03-05

The report is again being circulat-
ed that the steamer Dode, of What
com, is soon to be placed on the Is
lands route to make a daily round
trip between Whatcom and Friday
Harbor. The report probably has
some relation to the project to es-
tablish daily mail service between
here and the bay cities, a petition
for which; bearing about 45O sigma
lures of residents of this county, has
been presented to the Bellingham
Chamber of Commerce. The route
outlined in the petition could not be
covered on the five hour schedule
proposed and as nearly all the Offices
on the proposed route already have
the advantages of daily mail service
six days a week it hardly seems
probable that the postal department
can be persuaded to consider the
matter favorably. Without a mail
contract or subsidy of some kind the
operation of the Dode or any other
suitable steamer on the route sug-
cested would be far from profitable,
however desirable it might be from
the standpoint of convenience. The
volume of freight and passenger
traffic to and from the islands is not
yet so great as to demand greatly
increased facilities for handling it,
Some improvements are desirable on
both routes and there is no doubt
that they will be made within rea-
sonable time.
The Buckeye service has never
been better than it is now and it's
table service never so good. Mr..
Newhan is pushing work on his new
steamer, which is to take the Buck
eys place, and hopes to have her in
commission early i'll June. She will
be a very staunch vessel, with six
comfortable staterooms and good
table service and will cover the
Buckey's present route and in addi-
ton run between Anacortes and Bell
ingham, 'lying over" in the latter
city every night, making the run in
about twelve or thirteen hours.
On the Seattle route the Garland
will soon be succeeded by the Lydia
Thompson, which is being thorough
lv overhauled and remodeled to meet
all the requirements of the steam
boat inspectors. The Thompson is
one OF the staunchest vessels of her
size on the Sound and few have bet
ter record. A larger vessel on the
straits route would be very welcome,
and fastidious travellers, especially
summer tourists. would of course ap-
preciate more elaborate accommoda-
tions. The company undoubtedly in
tends that its service shall keep pace
with the development of the county
and the legitimate demands of busi-
ness. It's own interests require this.
| It suffered serious loss in the wreck
of the Clallam, upon which no marine
insurance was carried, and If it seems
a little slow in improving its service
on this route, except, perhaps, in
some details noted in a recent com
munication from an esteemed CORES
pondent, there may fairly be assm-
ed to be some good reason for it. We
are so dependent upon water trans
portation in this county that the
people are naturally desirous that
the facilities provided should be as
good as possible, and that every pre-
caution should be taken to insure
safety. They have no patience with
violations of navigation laws and they
hope that government inspection will
hereafter be more strict and frequent.
.. 4 e
One of the most substantial i'm