Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-04-24
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 81, 1875.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

has recently dawned upon them, we
cannot but draw an unfavorable con-
trast from it with the condition of our
town whenever the subject is brought
to mind. A few years ago Olympia
was the most thriving place on the
Sound, every store and dwelling was
occupied, real estate was held at fabu-
lous figures, and every commodity pro-
duced by the country found ready sale
at remunerative prices. Then those
fresh from the busy scenes of industry
and enterprise We're content to cast
their lot with us, and for time our
town assumed some of the airs of me-
tropolitan life and greatness. Then
those who held eligible locations for
business, committed precisely the blum
der that 81 Hawkins did when he de-
clined to sell his Tennessee land"
simply because SO much more was Of
fered for the property than what it was
worth the presumption at once grew
that a veritable gold-mine was some
where hid away within its bounds. If
these lots had been sold to those who
proposed to convert them into business
sites, instead of being held for mere
speculation, the town to-day would
have had twice the population, identi-
fed by interest, to aid in checking the
efforts now being made to blot it from
existence.
But as it is impossible to change the
past, we can draw from it a lesson for
guidance in the future. We must learn
that it is vain to expect Something from
Nothing; that it is not sound business
policy to refuse to aid those who can
benefit us. There are too many de-
mands made upon capital, for it to beg
field for operations, or submit to be
skinned in obtaining a foot-hold. The
man of enterprise, who possesses the
means of carrying his plans into exc
cution, should be encouraged and aided
in every manner, the public deriving
its profit from the impetus given to ev-
cry business by the development of each
new enterprise. Any other course is
precisely like killing the goose which
lays the golden eggs, as many of our
property-holders now realize to their
sorrow.
We want spirit OF enterprise, and
must have it if we expect to recover our
lost position. We must shoot or drop
the gun. We must arouse an ambition
or sleep the slumber which knows no
waking. We must wean ourselves from
pap and accept the hardy diet of strong
men, or we may be turned out to Craze
ii barren pastures. In sapp5li Ut this
appeal let facts be considered: Two
years ago, three votes cast at the NUM-
cfpal election defeated the project of a
wharf to deep water, and that policy
cost us the temporary loss of the Sound
mail service and more recently the ex-
tension of the regular trips of the Cali
fornia steamship to this place. The sell
fish and contracted views and misery
policy of few citizens, whose Bunsby-
like wisdom has been used to check all
effort, has defeated the Olympia-Ten
Railroad, and the same miserable cause
still keeps the enterprise down. The
consequence has been that the system
attic warfare of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Swindle against the town, has
been effective, and we have every week
Witnessed the departure of families,
who have been literally starved out by
dearth of business. We have stood the
bullets and kicks without any apparent
realization of the trriism that Self-pres-
ervation is the first law of Nature. Only
few weeks ago lumber company was
organized, which would have given en-
pioyment to dozen laborers and have
brought line of vessels to our very
doors, but those who were able to aid
the enterprise, not only gave it a cold
comfort but in some instances their act
i've opposition.
In view of this situation, should we
be surprised that the Seattle papers ex-
ult over the proposed removal of the
Water Pipe Factory or of Budlong's
feet to that place? Would it not be
well for us all to pull up stakes and re-
move there, or somewhere else, where
the people have caught the spirit of
progress and enterprise which charac-
terizes the age? We don't like to grum-
bic, and wonld rather commend than
censure, but we cannot see the town