Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-08-07
THE WHARF CONTROVERSY.

THE WHARF CONTROVERSY.
In our last issue we placed before the
public all the facts relating to the wharf
project, and promised to keep the peo-
pie fully posted in reference to each
movement thereafter made. We have
been and shall be explicit, because we
regard it as the means of inaugurating
a new era in the history of the town, as
the entering wedge which will separate
the barriers that impede progress, and
let in q little of the enterprise and
thrift enjoyed by sister towns. Feeling
the deep interest we have had in the
subject, regarding the project as an es-
sential measure if we would preserve
anything like our prestige as commu-
nifty, believing that the object could be
easily accomplished by the simplest and
most direct means, we cordially joined
with o few of our wide-awake citizens,
and secured survey and sounding of
the harbor, donation of land and right
of way and presented petition to the
Board of Trustees of the Town for an
appropriation, signed by nearly all the
business men and heavy property hold
ers of the place. This much had bean
done before the West Olympia Home
stead scheme came to the surface. It
was the work of few citizens interested
only in the welfare of the community.
Not dollar was to go into private
purses, and the disbursements were to
be made by the town authorities, who
had had but little to do and manifested
but small interest in the project up to
that time.
The project of the Homestead Associ-
alton appears all at once to have aroused
these gentlemen from their lethargy.
While an ordinance was pending before
them, favorable action on which is re-
quested by their constituents, they have
not hesitated to become officers of an
association, whose objects may conflict
with those of the corporation they are
pledged to support. If wharf con-
structed so far from the center of trade
must necessarially be free to offset the
disadvantages of location, it follows
that one constructed by company for
their own profit will defeat the ends
for which it is designed. This was the
view entertained by many of our saga
cious business men and their opinions
finally led to the REIMBURSEMENT of so
much Of the scheme as apparently con-
flicted with the public interest. At a
meeting of the officers of the Home
stead Association held on the evening of
the SOth ult. the following proceedings
were had. We copy from the original
minutes in the handwriting of the
secretary:
"Mr. Giddings moved that committee of
| four be appointed to draft articles of incor-
officers, and providing for donating to the
| town the road and wharf after completion
Motion carried. The chair appointed NJ essrs.
Giddings, BUR-, Rice and Treadway.
tappeared from this action that there
was q desire to harmonic conflicting
interests, and that the town would re-
ceive, for the consideration held in
trust-the land and right of way con-
veyed by Schneider-a free wharf to be
owned by the people forever. The in
corporation act, fled yesterday, is
however, silent on the subject Of dona-
ton. Whether there is anything which
will bind the association to turn the
wharf over to the town authorities on
completion or not, is beyond all effort
on our part to ascertain.
We hope the Association will not
leave this matter in doubt. The bare
assertion of any man or body of men is
not law unless placed in legal form,
and it is not GO business" to regard it as
finally until all necessary formalities
are complied with. We can see no
reason why anybody should object to q
fair and square understanding placed
upon the record that che who runs may
read" Until this is done we shall re-
gard the movement with suspicion.
IMMIGRATION CoMNa.-The Express
learns that twelve wagons, drawn by