Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/237

1894.]

PORT ANGELES. trees, clearing plats of ground, building rude houses, working with the zeal of men intent on having a home. Secretary Noble was affected to tears at these evidences of sterling industry under manifold misfortune. His kind heart was in sympathy with these sons of toil. He gave the order for immediate survey and appraisement, so that these people could get a title to their homes after paying for their land at its appraised valuation. When the Secretary's ship tailed out of the harbor the men threw flown their axes, and have been resting ever since.

The appraisement was completed last summer. The squatters were able to get title to their homes by paying the nominal appraised value, and the unoccupied lots were advertised and sold at public outcry to the highest bidder. Here was the peculiar spectacle of government departing from its usual form of disposing of land in quarter sections, and using the methods of the townsite boomer.

Again Angeles was agitated, again disappointed; another railroad wave was sweeping over her. It came from the East this time, with the unpractical project of bridging Puget Sea. This visionary scheme infatuated her citizens. They offered half their lands and personal service to the projectors; but like all her prospective good, it came to naught.

After many Western towns pass the inoculation period, and the boom fiend has departed, they gradually assume healthy activity. Let us hope that this will be the case with pretty Port Angeles.

Herbert Heywood.