The Canoe Habit: A Barrier to Progress

Leaving Port Townsend, we journeyed overland, for the most part taking up the uninteresting mission of appropriating 'shanks' mare,' until, arriving in this settlement, we found leisure to reflect upon many things in connection with the place. Dungeness has many advantages of no mean importance in the way of location near the ocean, plenty of good farming land, fresh water streams in abundance, and a healthy, invigorating climate. There is less rain at this point, on an average, than perhaps any other on the Sound. Its harbor, though incapable of accommodating large vessels on account of the narrow and crooked channel, is nevertheless quite safe. The inhabitants are, with few exceptions, good neighbors for each other, quiet, peace-loving people, but their aggregate amount of enterprise in matters pertaining to the growth of their place undoubtedly falls below the point necessary to insure great prosperity. For instance, a few years ago, when there was talk of erecting a substantial wharf and warehouse at Mr. Cline's place, there were many who, instead of assisting, insisted that they were quite well satisfied with the old way of sending produce to vessels, or bringing supplies from them in canoes or scows. This canoe idea is one which clings to these people even as do traditions to their predecessors, the natives; it is one which will hinder their progress until canoes are laid aside as a relic of the past. When the farmers of this vicinity conclude to quit patronizing canoes and turn their trade all in the way of a steamer, they will have one to accommodate them regularly; otherwise they may be deprived, for some time to come, of this auxiliary of civilization.