Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-08-03
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY Evening. AUG. ). 1853.
Not OyprIraWn.
The Future Prospects of Olympia.

The Future Prospects of Olympia.
The letter of "Olvmpic," published
in these columns last week, has en-
cited considerable comment, and we
are pleased to state has aroused
thought which in some cases has led
to the conviction that the writer
views are III the main sound anu
logical. 1t is very generally con-
ceded by rejecting men, that there
is no tenable leason why Seattle OF
Tacoma should have secured the
start of Olympia in prosperity. Ev-
cry qualification that either has as i
commercial point, is possessed by
Olympia, besides that for greater
source of ultimate benefit resulting
from being the nearest point on salt
water at which the great lines OF
railroad may make their ultimate and
final terminus. The mudfiats would
have been the only real bar to an
assertion of this supremacy, had our
people possessed the foresight and
energy to have seized upon the gold
Ell opportunity. Even this barrier
is not insurmounta5le. Capital and
engineering skill are every day do
ing much greater works. The fats
could be filled with solid earth al
scarcely greater expense than that of
grading some sites for cities, and
less than the cost of levees which
on the Mississippi and the Sacrament
to stand as evidences of mans abili-
ty to overcome natural obstacles.
We have no impossibilities to retard
our progress when the onward move
ment begins, such as a depth of wa
ter which precludes safe anchorage,
or an exposure to southwest gales
which is a constant menace to ship
ing at some rival points during the
winter season.
"Olympic" did not allude to many
of the important aids which may be
employed to make Olympia the
"Queen City" of Puget Sound. He
did not claim, as he might have
done, that the fertile valleys of Che
halls and Lewis exceed in area any
district of similar productiveness
which may be made tributary to any
other place on the Sound. These
will become a permanent source of
trade just as soon as means of cheap
and safe transportation are afforded
and q reliable market is established
for all products and articles of sup
ply. Their rapidly developing re-
sources constitute just so much of an
aggregation of working capital for
the natural commercial center,
Olympia, when she places herself
in condition to receive it. Seattle
and Tacoma have their coal fields; so
have We, in as boundless area and of
equal quality. They have some very
creditable manufacturing establish
ments in successful operation, but
the consideration of immediate gain
from local trade and easy shipment
of their products, which doubtless
inAenced their choice of location: by
no means proves that it will be a
permanent one soon as our unrivaled
water power possesses the same ia
cilities and is thus enabled to reduce
the margin for profit. Tacoma and
Seattle are surrounded by large lum.
Der mills, but they are supplied with
their best timber from Thurston and
Mason counties. There is not ar in.
dustry which has been developed al
either of these rising cities below us
which might not just as we'll, and in
many cases better, have been inau
gurated here.
The fact is, our people have be.
come go accustomed to a state OF
stagnation that they must be pushed
ahead instead of each assuming his
place to drag the wheels from the
mire. This is not the spirit which
builds cities, as is shown by results
constantly before the eye. Seattle
would to-day be plodding village
had not her business men planned
Seattle, talked Seattle and Tough,
for Seattle, in season and out Of
season, at all times and necessarily.
Tacoma has been imbued with much
the same spirit. and has had wealthy
corporation to pat her ON the back
and sustain her dropping spirits at
times when she was faint and weary.
It is but reasonable to hope that
in the course of time, the laws OF
trade will regulate and fix the chan
nels of commerce. Then will our
position at the head of navigation
prove powerful aid for determining,
their precise limits and bounds. But
the result may be fastened by local
enterprise. We must Danish doubt.
The whole Sound is entering upon
an era of prosperity in which each
wears progress will be as GREAT nc