Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-08-12
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. AUG. Y, ly7'
THE vExED QUESTION.

concedeS It's importance, ana ackhoW-
lodges its practicability at a moderate
cost, and the prospect of its paying
fair profit as an investment; still, with
all these favorable conditions, nobody
seems confident of it's early completion,
if indeed it will be built within the
reasonable length of time which the
county subsidy can be made available
as an aid in its construction. We have
reason to believe that some of the most
strenuous opposers of the vote on county
bonds, now see the necessity of railroad
connection with the outer world. They
find that with our improved ocean ia
ciIities, even California can compete
with the farmers who live but few
miles inland, and furnish staple farm
products at less rates than they can
either haul them to town or avail them
selves of the costly and roundabout
means of transportation by rail and
steamer to market. The resu. has thus
far been just what was predicted it
would be in case of failure The osic of
events admits of no sopbistry, and those
who doubted proposition which was as
plain as a demonstration to majority
of our citizens, are beginning to admit
that the railro ID is necessity to town
and country alike, and that the progress
or decay of the one finds correspond
ing change in the other.
A suggestion made by a prominent
farmer who voted against the county
subsidy is, that special tax be au-
thorized for completing the grade and
preparing the roadway ready for the
iron and rolling stock. The bonds
when placed in the market would
nearly pay for the track and equipments,
and with the great objection removed,
that the county was in reality building
the road and giving it away, the deficit
would be very readily supplied by our
own citizens. We admit that the sug-
gestions appears to possess some merit,
and if it had been made earlier would
doubtless have Influenced the action of
the company. The difficulty now in the
way appears to be in the delay which
must necessarily ensue before tax levy
can be legally authorized.
It is preposterous to admit that a
community assessed for million and a
half of property valuation, are power
less to build fifteen miles of railroad
costing less than $3.50, 900, with GER
tainty of q revival of business which
would every year, directly and indirect
ly, pay the whole cost of construction.
1t is folly to let the matter rest a day
longer. Asingle energetic. wide-awake,
enthusiastic business man, who would
give up his whole time to the project
could build the road in less than six
months There never was project orig
mated by our people for public imp1ov-
ment but what was declared inexpe-
dent it not impracticable; still, see
what has been done by little persist
ent and we'll directed efforts. It is true
that our town Improvements have been
of comparatively less magnitude; but
not 30 much difference is observed
when we consider that we will have the
whole county for aid, with bonus of
SIS, 900 and interest, aud the credit
which the intrinsic value of the road
will command soon as the first spike is
driven which insures its completion.
Our town hall, the wharf, the street i'm
provments were not built or made with
any idea in view of deriving q direct
benefit, or that their maintenance would
involve anything but perpetual expense.
We believe that the people would not,
however, be deprived of either of these
conveniencies for what they cost, and
that the sums appropriated to keep
them in repair are the most cheerfully
borne Of any of the public debts. The
railroad would not only certainly yield
revenue ample to pay the expenses of
operating it, but probably enough to
pay the interest on the bonds; in which
case, the indirect profits derived from
increase Of trade and the advance of
property values, would be so much net
gain.
Can we not enlist enough of the right
kind of talent to literally set the train
in motion? Can we not find Moses
to lead us from the wilderness? Must
We fritter away the best years of our ex-
istence, individually and as communi-
ty, when the goal is so easily reached.
Let Us awaken. We have appealed in
vain for help from abroad. We must
work ont our own salvation. God
helps those who help themselves, and
Il We only can make up our minds to
begin right, there will be no such
thing Is failure.
s-lA =