Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-09-27
ADDRESS
To tht Citizens Of Thurston Connie IN. a,
Peoples Railroad COMMITTEE.

A month ago the public spirited
efforts OF our people to obtain railroad
connection with the Columbia river
had been rendered abortive. The
main line of the Northern Pacific Rail.
road was rapidly building northward
to its terminus at Tacoma, leaving
Olympia fifteen miles off to one side
That all the business tributary to that
road, including the products of the
SkoOkum Chuck. the Chehalis, Nor.
wankum and Doistort valleys. which
had formerly conferred at Olympia,
were cut off and lost to her forever,
there seemed to he no doubt. That
some of her people, suffering from the
inevitable decrease in business, would
he compelled to move elsewhere, was
only too apparent. That Oh ympia,
thus deserted by some of her citizens
and dcspaired of by others, might be.
come too weakened to hold her own in
the progress of the Territory, might
be stripped of the Capital, abandoned
by the public Offices. and in II few
wears sink into Significance, a collec.
ton of empty and decayed buildings,
was but too imminent.
While these facts were imprcsSing
themselves upon every one, the Olym-
pia Railway and Mining Company,
"a company organized in San Francisco
for the purpose of working the
Skookrm Chuck Coal mines, appeared
through its agents. Col. +. a. Bee and
Governor Edward 5. Solomon, and
after some Il scns.ion, submitted to the
people OF ThurSton county the follow
ing propositions to construct rail
road connecting Budd's Inlet with the
Northern Pacific Railroad at or near
Tenino:
TO GhN. MCKE$HY AND OTHERS,
Committee of Citizens Of Thrrston county!
GENyrFMEN---M answer to the proposition
Of Committee Of citizens of Ihurston county,
We agree as follows:
|. If the transfer Of lands Is made to our
Company by the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company, it will be satisfactory. if not, all con.
tracts vii! be annullcd until the same amount
of donations are made direct to us.
>. AMI ,. If The popular vote Of this county
is favorable to issuing of bonds, we will com
mcncc work within sixty days thereafter, and
when Congress lc. Allies the donation Of county
bonds, we will agree to complete the road ON
or before July 30, 1874.
4. We will locate the passenger and }ocaE
freight depo,s of OLYMPIC. and Tumwa,er with
in one-half mile of Main street on !he lfe of
our road, at such points rs the citizens of the
respective towns may designate. but reserve
the right to locate our general freight depot
and wharves.
j. The road will he f,rst class road of not
less than three feet saguc.
& We will accept Slj0.Nn0 county bonds
bearing VI per cent. interest, on the compile
ton Of the road Said bonds to be payable in
from 10 to % years, and to he delivered to us,
on the completion Of the road.
i. a. Bee,
j.. s. SAL ONION,
agents Olympia Raii'ray ana Mining Go.
This proposal was approved by u
mass meeting OF til" people held at
OLYMPIA mi tho 25th OF August, an',
this cona'nittce WAS appointed 10y 'hcnp
to carry it into effect.
The bcnelisS held forth by this offer
are patent to- every one. To the
county at large it adds half million
dollars of taxable wealth. 1t retains
and directs to Budd'S Inlet mach bnsi
ness which otherwise eventually flows
to Tacoma. Both tcrmini and the
whole length of the road being within
the com4ltv, its Whole inuacnce and
business must benefit the county
without the possibility OF taking bust
ness away as so many through roads
in other places have doue. Moreover
this. company propose To develop the
Skooknm Chuck coal mines ON large
scale, and to run steamers betwecn
Olympia and San Francisco, which,
besides their coal cargnes, will trans
port passengers and freight. Thus
OLYMPIA becomes the head of naviga-
ton on the Sound instead of sinking
into an obscure village fifteen miles to-
one side of the commercial highway OF
the country. The works at the mines
will build up place OF some import
ance, afording home market for
grain, hay, potatoes, fruits, vegetables
butter, eggs, poultry, and all the pro-
ducts of rhe farm. While the COM
PAWS works, wharves, ships, etc, on
Budd's Inlet will increase the popnla-
ton and business of Olympia. To
Tumwater and Olympia indeed it fs
matter simply OF progress or decay.
But these towns and the surrounding
country are naturally dependent
Their interests and prosperity arc
united and Indispensable. Suffer
Olympia to run down, let the Cap'ta'
be removed. and her people driven by
necessity to other and live places, and
what will become of the farmers who
now find ready market in her streets
for their products? Will they embark
in Scows and float down to Tacoma