Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-07-18

sufficiently convincing.
Olympia is not the spontaneous out
growth of rich farming district. The
Territorial capital and the public offices,
with the numerous officials drawing
their support from the Government,
and the large amount of public money
disbursed here, have contributed much
to its progress. As the head of navi-
cation, tho constant stream of travel
and traffic between the Sound and the
Columbia passed through it, and in
creased It's business. A few manufac-
tories, chiefly at Tumwater, promising
enough but not yet risen into impor-
lance, constitutes third element of
strength. The logging works in the
vicinity add another. The surrounding
country contributes much, indeed, but
is, itself, almost wholly dependent upon
the towns, for the farmers of Thurston
county raise no staple crop to export.
They can compete neither with the
wheat of the Willamette nor the cattle
of the Columbia, and must depend large
ly upon raising hay, potatoes, vegeta-
bles, fruit, poultry, butter, eggs, ETC.,
ETC., articles which require a good mar
kct at their doors, and for which the
numerous tracts of excellent lands scat
tered through the country are admir-
ably adapted. The interests of all Sec
tons, then, is involved in the growth
and prosperity of Olympia and Tum-
water. Contrast their fourishing con-
dition in 1S71-2-3, with the present
state of depression, and when before
have the farmers realized such low
prices, or met with such difficulty in
selling their products? The effects of
the building of the Northern Pacific
Railroad to Tacoma, we're felt immedi-
ately in the loss of a great part of the
trade and travel between the Sound and
the River. The lower Sound mails
were then taken from Olympia, and
forwarded ria Tacoma. The business
of the stages and hotels fell off, and
stores and dwellings, became vacant.
But the contest is with influences OF
which VIC know nothing until we feel
their effects. The whole powers of the
Norhren Pacific Railroad Co., which,
however poor and unpopular here, has
evidently money, friends, and influence
in Washington City, may even now he
working to remove the Land Offices, to
Tacoma. The steamer North Pacific
halls from Tacoma, and the owners are
among the principal owners of Taco
ma (the old town.. The Sound mail
route between Olympia and Victoria,
after the opening of the bids, is again
advertised in order that an alternative
between Tacoma and Victoria may he
bid for. BY the building of the North
ern Pacific Railroad, Tacoma has be-
come the real head of navigation on
the Sound. Olympia is cut off, is no
longer centre, but a mere branch,
and, unless she restores her connection,
must inevitably fall back in the race.
Cut off by land, and deserted by wa
ter, how long can she retain the Capt.
tai? Her own representatives would
be left without IN argument. Judge
McFadden writes:
Il am glad to see that YOU are moving
strongly in OLYMPIA for railroad connection.
1t is the only thug which can save us. Rail
road connection at Tenino will enable us in
short time to project narrow-gauge down
purpose, Olympia is the natural outlet. With
out railroad connection. Olympia cannot
stand still. She must rctrograde and i'm a
few years her dilapidatcd dwellings will
become the fit abode for owls"
The benefit of the road, in fostering
the nascent manufactures of Tumwater,
upon which the real growth of the
place must ultimately depend, is of even
more importance than the retention of
the Capital. One hundred thousand
dollars is invested in the Touring mills
at Tumwater. They can grind 5000
tons of wheat per annum, and their
capacity can be increased four-fold with
slight outlay. Situated within forty
miles of the wheat-fields of Lewis coun-
ty, and with the whole Sound for a mar
ket, they stand midway between produ-
Ger and consumer, and nearer to both
than any other mill. With the building
of the Olympia-Tenino Railroad, they
can defy competition. Yet now they
are compelled to ship all their grain ria
Tacoma, paying for forty miles of rail
transportation and forty miles by water,
with two extra landings, instead of
one short transport of fifteen miles by
rail. A first-class mill ut Tacoma, to-
day, would cut off the Tumwater mills
both from their producers and consum-
ers, and would simply destroy their bu-
siness. Are not the lumber mills, the
wagon and cabinet shops, the furniture,
door and sash factories, the tannery.
the book bindery, the water-pipe facto-
ry, the boot and shoe shops, exposed to
the same danger, although to less ex-
tent? Now is the golden opportunity,
while Tacoma is depressed and the
Northern Pacific Railroad Co. is weak
from mismanagement and unpopularity.
By restoring her connections she will be
ready to share the returning tide of
prosperity which follows every period
of business depression.
If the road had actually to be sup
ported for the first few years after its
completion, it is not the less necessary.
But the best informed men entertain no