Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-05-23
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. AiI.2S ISL.
PASSAGE OF OUR RAILROAD BILL.


On Monday last, the glad tidings
flashed across the continent that the
Olympia Tenino Railroad bill had passed
Congress, and only needed the signature
of the President to become law. The
information came in the form of dis
patch from Judge McFadden 10 the
Olympia Railroad Union. Its reception
was the signal for general rejoicing, and
the booming of cannon at!ested the
Joy felt by our people to the surround
ing neighborhoods.
The bill is the Senate substitute, pub
lished by us several weeks ago. in con-
nection with the discussion upon it in
the House of Representatives. 1t is
well guarded in its provisions, and re-
quires two-thirds vote of the entire
voting population of the county to en-
able the Commissioners to issue bonds
These bonds connot bear higher rate
of interest than ten per cent. per an
mum, nor can the principal exceed seven
per cent. of the value of the taxable
property of the county, rs legally as
scssed for Territorial taxation, nor
5000, 600 in amount, in any event. The
The act requires bond of 500, 600, to
be executed by the company, secured
by first mortgage on the road, condi-
toned that it shall operate the same
with freight and passenger trains, for
the period of twenty-five years. It is
difficult to conceive how the interests OF
the people could be better guarded than
by these provisions. The amount is
limited; the service and benefits to be
derived from it are guaranteed, and the
measure is made the deliberate act of
the people, to accept OF reject as they
may deem proper after thorough can
vas of the subject.
1t is not believed that more than half
the amount of bonds authorized will be
required to complete the work, after the
people have prepared the road-bed
and furnished the ties, while every days
work performed until the track is laid,
will decrease the amount it may be
found necessary to take from the public
purse. If the response is as general
hereafter as it has been up to the pres
ent time, probably no greater amount
will be necessary than is required for
the purchase of iron and equipments.
All the labor and material needed for
the construction of cars, stations, engine
house, platforms, water-tanks, etc,
will, we believe, be readily furnished by
our citizens, now that the enterprise has
received the aid which guarantees it's
speedy completion.
The success of the bill is due to the
patient, untiring industry of our Dele
gate at the National Capitol. He has
followed it through the circumlocution
of business, with an energy that has
never tagged, and a devotion to the
interests of his constituents in contrast
with the slothful negligence of many of
his predecessors. In the face of the
most bitter opposition of influential
members, he has stood unswerved, con-
fident in the justice of his cause and its
ultimate triumph. At each step he has
borne down opposition by his earnest
appeals for full consideration of the
subject before it was pressed to final
vote. The result has been that which
is seldom obtained by community so
small as ours and for interests of no
greater magnitude, thorough under
standing of the merits of our claims,
and recognition of the justice of our
demands. We believe that his efforts,
SO far, have met with the hearty sup
port OF the people of all political creeds.
That he has been successful beyond
precedent in securing legislation benfit
ing almost every community in the Ter
ritory, is conceded. In these times. the
people can afford to loosen party tram
mels far enough to applaud faithful
and efficient advocate of their vital in
terests. That they have done so will
serve, in no small degree, to soften and
tone down these asperities of political
feeling which sometimes interfere so
materially with social harmony. Let us
hope that this will be the effect now,
and that all will agree to extend cordial
support to every measure that enhances
our prosperity as people.
@ MIR. Bilhngs's brick dwelling is
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