The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-12
Friday Harbor AS
A Customs Port

Some persons profess to believe that
there is little customs business trans
acted at this port and that the posi-
tion of deputy collector here Is a sin
ecure. 1t apparently does not occur
to them that the collector of Gus
toms at Port Townsend and the Treas
ury Department at Washington know
good deal more about the necessity
and convenience of an office here and
the WORK done here than they do.
As matter of fact. while the receipts
of the Office are not large, there being
comparatively few importations of du-
TABLE merchandise. the port is one
OF the most important of the smaller
ports of the district and is growing
in Importance each year. Although
the present year has been a rather
quiet one in most avenues of business.
there have been between forty and fifty
foreign entrances and clearances of
vessels here. besides quite a number of
entrances and clearances coastwise- -
to and from Alaska points. For the
latter no fees are charged. There have
also been large number of reports
of small craft going to and coming
from British Columbia points-prin-
cipally Victoria and Sidney. All are
required to report at the customs
house but no fees are collected from
vessels of less than five net tons bur-
den. There have been numerous en-
tries of merchandise and commercial
products. most of them free of duty,
and receipts from various sources have
amounted to some hundreds of dol
/ lars. Exports of domestic products
during the year have amounted to
many thousands of dollars in value
and imports also have aggregated a
considerable sum. There are frequent
changes of masters of vessels and
changes of documents and numerous
admeasurements of vessels for the
ascertainment of tonnage. For these
services no fees are collected. No
measurement made and certified by
the deputy collector here has ever
been changed or questioned in any
respect. Previous to his appoint
ment IN the service in this county the
work was done at other ports. prin-
cipally at Port Townsend. or officers
were sent for the purpose whenever
occasion required, which was seldom.
as few boats large enough to require
measurement we're then built in the
county.
Friday Harbor was made a sub port
of entry by order of the Secretary of
the Treasury during the latter part of
October. 1900. and the Office was open
ed for business Nov. l. Mr.. Culver
was not an applicant for the position
of deputy collector. but the appoint
ment was voluntarily rendered him
by Col. Huestis, then collector of the
district and one of the most capable
and honorable men who has ever been
in the government service in this
state. A strict disciplinarian. ab-
rupt. direct and outspoken. be is one
of the most kindly, generous and just
men whom it has ever been the privi
lepe of the writer to know. When
he left the service. because of ill
health. the employees of the district
made him a present of leather cover
ed furniture valued at several hundred
dollars. Before his administration
there had been many charges of cor
ruption and incompetence in the dis
trict and its reputation was at low
ebb. Since he took charge there has
been a vast increase in the volume of
business. and no district in the United
States has had higher rating in res
pect to honorable and efficient admin
istration.
He was succeeded by Hon. G. w.
Ide and be by Hon. F. G. Harper. who
served together as members of the
state senate in the early nineties. Like
Col. Huestis they are "teetotalers"
and men of the strictest integrity,
highest moral character and fine bus
mess qualifications. who are most
highly esteemed by all who know
them, either in public or private
life.
It has been the good fortune of the
deputy collector here to serve under
them all and so far as he knows not
the slightest complaint relating to
his official work has ever been made
against him.
The Valley Presbyterian Church is
in excellent financial condition and
most gratifying spirit Of liberality
and helpfulness is being displayed
by the members and others who at
tend the services there. A special