Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-03-21

ROAD.
To the President and Trustees Of the Olympia
Railroad Union:
In accordance with the wishes expressed
by you, have endeavored while in San
Francisco lately to collect snch informa-
zion in relation to railroads as might be of
interest to you, aud have bearing upon
the enterprise contemplated in connecting
Olympia with the n. P. Railroad ut or
near Tenino. The information which
obtained in pursuing the above named OBJ
ject, will be found reliable aud worthy of
credit. In making estimates of the proba-
ble cost of such road as we need, was
materially assisted by Messrs. Williams,
Blanchard 4 Co., dealers in railroad sup
plies, L. B. Benchley, Vice President of
the Pacific rolling mills, I. c. Woods,
President of the San Francisco Wood Pre-
serving works, J. E. Magary, President of
the California Central Narrow Gauge Rail-
rood, Mr.. Hutchinson, Secretary of the
Seattle Coal Co., Mr.. Montague, of the
AL LII vi xIOChC ~ AuOHttB AuA uluuy
others. 1t gives me pleasure to acknowl-
edge the kindness and urbane treatment
have received at the hands of these gentle
men, while representing our company.
Shortly after my arrival in San Francisco
l made inquiries in relation to the 0. r.
Il. & M. Co. The result may be stated in
very few words: Mr.. FELTON, and Mr.. Dodge
are gentlemen who stand high in the es-
TEEN of their ncighbors, have abundant
means to carry out any enterprise they may
undertake and ore looked upon as men of
their word, but are not supposed to use
their means rs much to create revenue
for profits. as to realize their profit by
speculation and reinvest in some other en-
terprise. Col. Bee seems to stand de-
servedly at the head of his profession,
namely. that of railroad engineer-but
that information seems to be about the
sum and substance of what is known of
him. except that Re acted a. agent for sew
eral important transportation companies.
Under these circumstances must come to
the conclusion that this company would
have built tho railroad between Tenino and
Olympia, if the people of Thurston county
had accepted their proposal of giving them
subsidy in county bonds of $3.50, 900,
and the lands offered to the N. p. Il. II.
This amount would have been more than
sufficient to pay the cost of the entire road
In consequence of the refusal of the peo-
pie of Thurston county to accept said pro-
posal, the o. r. r. 4 NJ. Co. saw the
chance of making money fast dwindle
away and to an extent dropped the matter,
intending no doubt, by keeping ou1 peo-
pie in uncertainty, to force their consent
or not build the road. There is no doubt
that the gentlemen composing the o. Il.
II. 4 NJ. Co. are excellent men in their
walks in life. occupying prominent posi-
tions in their respective spheres, but this
very excellency is the cause for disappoint-
ment for us, as their time, means and abil-
ity command such compensation rs q COM
paratively poor community like ours is un-
able to pay.
I am strengthened in these views by the
remarks of gentleman, prominent capi-
talist, to whom mentioned the proposal
of the O. r. II. & NJ. Co. and the refusal
of our people, as also the hope of our peo-
pie to find some other company to build
the contemplated road on less exhorbitant
conditions. He says "Your people look
upon this fifteen miles of road as if it was
a whale, while We compare it to minnow.
Our capitalists have neither time nor in
clination to invest money away from home
unless they can make largely thereby, and
a asmall affair like this railroad promises too
little, unless we can pocket the whole road
as bonus for our pains"
The result of these examinations was the
conclusion that if the people of Thurston
county wanted railroad to connect Budd's
Inlet with the N. p. R. R., they would
have to build it themselves, the only differ
ence being to pay for the road in county
bonds and lands and give it as a present to
the O. II. r. & NJ. Co., or to pay for it
and give it to our citizens. In the first
case. We would have to pay the interest
and principal to foreign company which
would drain our county continually of the
very means which we need to develop it :;
while in the second case, with our own citi-
zens as creditors, the very tax which is
levied upon us to pay them is used for the
development of our resources and retained
in the county as substitute for o circu-
lating medium.
My next inquiry was directed to the
probable cost of building such q railroad
as was necessary for the contemplated con-
nection, and in laying before you the differ
ent estimates. will state that in all the
estimates, the estimate of clearing, grub.
bing and grading, bridges and trestle work,
as made by our Chief Engineer, T. b.
Morris, was taken as the true and only cor
rect haSiR for that vork AuN,,1a,~o.x NJ