Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-17
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, DEC. II, 1870
Railroad Meeting.

Al meeting OF the citizens OF olympia
held at the Town Hall en- Saturday, the
10th int, Hon. Francis Henry was elected
Chairman and Col. i. S. Pardee Secretary
The object Of the meeting was stated to be,
to select committee to confer with the
delegation of the Northern Pacific Railroad
now on visit to Puget Sound, as to the
terms upon which a railroad connection
with the Sound can be secured at this
point. The following named gentlemen
were appointed said committee: Gen. f.
p. Ferry, Col. B. s. Pardee, Judge Joseph
Cushman, Ben. Bettman and George A.
Barnes. The meeting then adjourned till
Tuesday afternoon to hear the report of the
committee.
AT the adjourned meeting, on Tuesday.
Gen. Ferry, the chairman, reported YER
bally that the committee had an interview
with Judge Rice and Mr.. Garfield, and
they we're informed by those gentlemen
that they were not authorized to select any
poiut for terminus or stopping place on
the Sound at present, and that no place
would probably be indicated for such pur-
pose before May or june next, when the
Directors and officers of the Company pro-
posed to make an official visit to this sec.
ton. Judge Rice, in free and frank in
terchange Of views with the committee,
assured the gentlemen composing the same
that the Company had no design of making
any mystery of their movements with a
view to private speculations, or to build up
one large city to the detrmcnt of all the
other practicable points upon the Sound,
but that they intended to use the munif-
cent Government subsidy in such manner
rs would promote the largest public inter-
est intended to be served by the grant; to
develope the resources and increase the
commercial facilities of the whole country
bordering upon. the Sound, instead of ia
voriug any particular place for speculative
purposes. He intimated that the Company
desired to make their first railroad connec-
ton with the Sound at the nearest practi.
cable point to the Columbia River; but
it was believed by many that having once
connected with the Sound their franchise
would not extend beyond that point and
they could not claim the land grant beyond
1t to any other point on the Sound that
In consequence of this construction of their
charter they should commence the build.
ing of the road on the Columbia River.
working this way, postponing the question
Of connection with the1 Sound for future
consideration. He intimated at the same
time, that the Company would rot object
to connections with roads to any point on
the Sound under Territorial charter, which
would obviate the objection to the n P.
road touching the Sound at any other
point than its final terminus.
After this Informal report the meeting
adjourned |. to meet next Tuesday even
ing, at the same place, for the purpose of
discussing the matter, and appointing a
committee to consider and report plan to
secure, If practicable, railroad connection
At Olympia.
From the report of Gen. Ferry, as we'll
q from other sources of information. we
are fully satisfied that every town upon
the Sound can have connection with the
Northern Pacific Railroad on reasonable
terms, and that any such town or place
1t least this side of Seattle-which gets a
connection, will have to pay for it. The
Company will not, in all reasonable proba-
biity make divergences of ten, fifteen, or
twenty miles FROM the most direct route to
their 6nal terminus, merely to improve
other peoples property, secure local travel
o. traffic, or to obtain speculative interests
II rival towns. Olympia, as the nearest
point TO the Columbia River now holds an
advantage over all the others as being the
Grst to which a connection is offered. 1t