THE WEST 8H0RE.
173
practically inexhaustible field for the operation of
saw mills and various manufactories of wood No
better shipping facilities for such products could be
asked than exist on the bay. A superior quality of
iron ore is found in great abundance about Irondale,
and, indeed, entirely across the isthmus from Port
Townsend bay to Port Discovery bay. There are also
coal formations to be found in several places, which
promise rich results in working. A fine quality of
sandstone for building purposes is quarried near the
city. Marble is found on Orcas island, directly
across Admiralty inlet, and in the Olympic mountains
are vast quantities of granite, and croppings of gold
quartz have been observed. There is a partially de
veloped copper mine on Q aim per peninsula; also val
uable salt springs. The soil of the peninsula and of
the whole county is very fertile, Most of it is natur
ally timbeied, and clearing the soil furnishes profita
ble employment, because the timber is valuable. It
is almost useless to state the yield of products of that
locality, for many people will regard it as entirely in
credible, Several instances are reported where over
one hundred bushels of wheat were harvested from a
acre, and one case where seven hundred bush
sin
els were produced on six acres. No one pretends that
this is an average, or even a common yield. It is the
result of exceptionally favorable conditions and un
usual care in cultivation. These instances only give
an idea of the possibilities of that section, and show
that it is far from being devoid of agricultural merit
For general farming, fruit raising and dairying, there
is certainly an attractive field about Port Townsend,
both on the main land and on the islands and penin
aulas that are numerous in that vicinity. There are
choice grazing lands, and raising cattle for market
would be a profitable business. Gardening, especial
ly now that the market is rapidly growing, holds
many inducements. The attention of seedsmen from
the east is being attracted to the Puget sound country
as the best place in the world for the production of
many kinds of choice vegetable seeds. Port Town
send has a rapidly expanding local demand, and is
becoming a primary shipping point of much conse
quence. The port, in the number of marine craft report!
and cleared, ranks second only to New York in the
United States. Indeed, it is probable that the report
for the current fiscal year will place Port Towns
at the head of the list The entrants and departures
average about nine a day, and twenty men connects
with the custom house are kept busy. It should be
understood that Port Townsend is the port of entry
for the entire Puget sound district, and that lU re
ports and clearances include all vessels that do busi
ness at any port on the sound. The number of docu-
ments issued by the custom house for the first two
months of this year, compared with the same period
of 1888, were one hundred and four to fifty-three
an increase of nearly one hundred per cent An inci
dent showing the growth of the customs business at
Port Townsend is furnished by the government build
ing now in courso of construction. A few yews ago
$70,000.00 were sppropriated by congress for that
purpose, and a site was secured and the work begun.
The foundation was laid last year, but the increase of
business became so marked that it was evident the
original plans would not answer the purpose at alL
The last congress increased the appropriation to
$210,000.00, and now plans are now being perfected
which will make of the building previously designed
a wing to the main structure. The site is just to the
west of the business portion of the city, and when
completed this building will occupy a prominent po
sition and be an ornament to the city.
In order that Port Townsend may socuro all the
advantages which its position with reference to other
cities and the rich country surrounding it would sag.
gest, it is essential that it have railway communica
tion in addition to its admirable shipping facilities
by water. The capitalists of tho city came to a reall
MtioD of this fact a short time ago, and organised
the Port Townsend Southern JUllway Company, for
the purpose of building a road southward around the
head of the sound to Portland, or to transcontinental
connections. A survey of the proposed route showed
that it is entirely feasible, though it bad previously,
on a superficial rumination, been declared Imprac
ticable, Work has already been begun on the road,
and the bids for clearing and gradiog as far as Qilll
cone bay are now boing submitted The road will
pass southwsrd along the west side of Hood's canal,
curving easterly to the town of Union, thenco contin
uing to Olympia and to the connections not yet drfi
oitely arrange! for. It is dotlgoed first to build tho
line from Port Townsend to the head of Q illlcne
bay, on Hood's canal, and from Union to the south
em terminus, supplying connection between QiilU
cene bay and Union by boats. Thus through commu
nication will be etUblisbM before it would U pouU
ble to build the railway between Union and Qaili
cene, that being by far the mt difficult portion of
the route to build. This temporary arrangement will
U in operation during the construction of the road
almg Hood's canal to connect with the two ends,
which will be push! a rapidly as paiM. BUara
motor licet, to establish convenient communication
with the smaller places on both shore of the penin
sula, are projteJ from Port TowtseDJ, the prindj!
one Uirg seven and one-Uif mile long, designed to
traverse the resldetoe portion of the town, with a