Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-09-06
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. SEPT. 6. 1913.
RAILROAD cI NO RAILROAD.

gaging the attention of the people of
Thurston county. and which. by their
votes, they will soon lie called upon to
decide. 1t is, therefore, of the utmost
importance that the matter should lie
clearly presented, and carefully consid-
cred. before that decision is finally rem
dered. 1t should be regarded purely
as q business project. and based upon
precisely the same considerations which
influence private enterprises. If an in
dividual embarks in an undertaking, it
is with the expectation that he must
assume the ordinary risks incident to
it. He must rise OF fall upon the de-
gree of tact and enterprise displayed i'll
his special calling. If others possess
better advantages, or improved facili-
ties for the transaction of the same bus
mess, he must increase his own, or
be accorded a subordinate rank. This
is precisely the condition of the COM
munity at the present time. Nature
has done good part by us, and it re-
mains but for us to help ourselves.
Situated at the nearest approach to tide
water. surrounded by large tracts of
arabic land easy of access, with water
power unequalled in location for man
ufacturing purposes, and hundreds of
thousands of dollars already expended
in building up our present growth, we
need but a united effort of our citizens
to maintain the advantages we possess
over any port below us on the Sound
for becoming Il great commercial center
That we shall have railroad connec-
ton, we believe is already the will of
the people-but as to the nature of that
connection many honestly differ. The
narrow gauge project has received our
support, not because we believed it to
be the wisest policy, but because the
company who propose to build it, sug-
gested no other alternative than the ac-
ceptance or rejection of that proposition.
Col. Bee stated at the several conferences
held with our citizens that the difference
in the first cost was not the main obiec-
ton to the broad gauge or reason why
the company had decided upon the
narrow, but because it could be main
tanned at about one-half the expense of
the former. 1t is doubtful, therefore,
whether an increase of the subsidy in
proportion to the cost would have been
accepted by the company's agents.
To meet these conflicting views as near
as possible, and secure the best bargain
for the people, the railroad committee
In their recommendations to the County
Commissioners, suggest the authorize
ton of special election to be held on
the 22d of September, at which voters
who favor 5000, 900 subsidy, to any
company, or firm, who will construct,
equip and operate q railroad of the
standard gauge, or of q subsidy Of
$50, 600 for narrow gauge, will vote
"Railroad-yes," and those opposed te
the measure will vote " Railroad-no. ;
1t will remain, of course, for the Count,
Commissioners, if the vote is favorable
to contract for the broad gauge, if they
can find parties willing to construct il
for the subsidy offered, and if not te
close with the terms proposed by the
Olympia Railway and Mining Com
pany.
The advantages the broad gauge pre-
sents over the narrow, are apparent
after little reflection. The latter ma,
be able to carry all the freight and pas
sengers, and may be constructed CHEAP
er and maintained at less cost than tn,
former, but will it, in the end, meet tn,
requirements as well, or give our tow
the present importance that circum
stances require it should possess? Elk
perence proves that the cheapest com
modities are often the dearest in thu
end. May it not likely prove so in this
instance? The distance between Teni
no and Tacoma is nearly three times O..
great as it is from Tenino to Olympia
and the cost of transportation by rail i.
governed by an arbitrary rule based
upon the actual expense per mile fol
running and maintaining the road
That this is not an uncomfortable item
when compared with the cost of trans
portation by water, it is apparent to al
who are informed upon the subject
The broad gauge, for these reason,
would give us an unreasonable and
lasting advantage over Tacoma, while
the narrow gauge would necessitatt