Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-08-02
N'ashinotun Standard
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. AlG. :. 1E;.
THAT TERMINUS.

Everybody was surprised when Taco
ma Was announced as the point chosen
for the western terminus of the North
ern Pacific Railroad. and Of course eve
rybody tried to study out how the
interests of the railroad would he pro-
NOTED by that selection, but the public
mind has not been satisfied that the
oh DICE is wise one, and therefore, in
plain words, it does not believe it bpnd
hde. Those who own lands anywhere
in the neighborhood have. of course, a
sufficient motive for wishing the termi-
nus firmly settled ,here and it is natural
that their own interests should make
them active advocates Of the theory that
it is permanently fixed at that point.
1t is said to be the opinion of the Paci-
ic managers of the road that the land
grant does not necessarily terminate
with the location of depot at Tacoma,
but that this may he merely construc-
ton point. vlc~r the waters of the
Sound are tarlsl tol supplies and ma
terial with While: tie main line is to lie
carried on northward. This view. in
connection with the fact that the COM
pany suddenly discontinued its grading
northward, abandoning work said to
have cost $4,000, or more, in order to
60 back to point from whence it vas
supposed Tacoma could be reached,
scary y indicates the great future which
is claimed for that place by its proprie-
tors. Even surprising Tacoma fixed as
the western end of the road. there is 10
reasonable prospect that the town will
amount to much of a place for long
time to come, but if it is to be mere
construction point, from which the road
is to continue on down the Sound, either
Tacoma Or the other terminus below
must fail, as both cannot lie very great
cities at the sane tine.
We again advise those who have de-
sire fer corner lots in the future city of
Puget Sound, to wait until they see
indications " here that city is going
to he before laying out much money.
We doubt very much whether it is in
the power Of any eating board, though
1t have carte blanche from the North
ern Pacific Railroad, to determine that
matter. Such a board can, of course,
select the place that suits them, and
command the commerce to flow and the
city to rise with flourish that may
even deceive themselves, and so Hamlet
could call spirits from the deep; hut
should they make the mistake of select
ing point not on the shortest, quick
est, safest and cheapest route, the tide
of commerce will not voluntarily bring
its tribute, and the city can never rise
This great city We all like to dream
about, will not spring up like thing o.
magic. 1t must be the effect of natura
causes; if it comes at all it must be the
result of trade and commerce that a:
yet has no existence. The only sudder
change that can be produced by rail
roads like that between the Columbi,
river and Puget Sound, which tap non,
of the great arteries of commerce, is t.
effect division of such local trade a!
there is, and to make two sickly towns
where there is now tolerably healthy
one. It would seem, from all that la.
transpired thus far, that We need no.
expect the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company to be at any trouble to foster
our local interests, or to build up oul
towns for us. If we get any great
growth from it, it will be in that far Of
future when it draws blood from Indis
and the uncultivated region east of us
and then because commerce makes it,
own laws and enrichcs only those who
obey them and follow It's raths.
VALUE OF PROPERTY. total as.
sessed value of private property in the
United States, according to the census Of
1870, was $l4, 178 1856, 1872; the valuation
of real estate being SO, 914, 7sO, 1926, and
personal estate 81, 264, 2O5 ,9O7. The
true valuation of real and personal es.
tate, according to the same authority
was $50, O68, 518, 5O7. In 1860 is was
estimated at SIG, 159, GIG, O6s, true val.
uation, and in 1850, 81, 1876, $50, 22s.
SE The English armor-plated steam.
ship Republic, probably the most power
full vessel that has ploughed the waters
OF the Pacific, arrived at Victoria last
81.