davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

The other day railroad man was
asked why the standard gauge on
railroad was fixed at 4 feet 81 inches?
What was the scientific reason for
adopting the fraction of an inch?
The reply was as follows: "There is
no scientific or any other reason for it,
except precedent and custom. In fact,
all the scientific or practical consider
atoms that can enter into the question
are against it. When Mr.. Stephenson
built his first locomotive, he, for some
reason best known to himself, built it
to the gauge of the old tramways-for
vehicles drawn by horses-in England,
which was 4 feet 81 inches. That be-
came what was known as the narrow
gauge" in England, and was naturally
followed in this country to great ex-
tent. Some of our roads have gauge
of 4 feet 81 inches, others feet 81
inches, and still others feet 8 inches.
In England they have 6 foot " broad"
gauge, and at one time for a very little
while, tried 7 foot gauge. The Erie
road, built originally by English CAPT
tai, was at first 6 foot gauge, but in
1876 the changing of it to 4 feet 81
inches was begun, and now it is all of
that gauge. The Pennsylvania Rail
road Company uses gauge of 4 feet 8
inches, because that is compromise
gauge between the former gauge of 4
feet 81 inches On its eastern lines and
4 feet 10 inches on it's roads west of
Pittsburg. 1t would be we'll if the 4
feet 81 inches gauge could be widened
a little, to enable greater width of the
fire boxes of locomotives, and conse-
quently more powerful engines, such
as it would be desirable to employ.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

The Seattle Peoples Party, which
carried the municipal election few
days ago, have resolved to extend their
organization over the county, with the
platform on which they achieved sue
cess, so far as it is applicable to a more
extended organization. Their plan of
organization is for each precinct and
ward is to elect precinct committee
of five, and each of such precincts
and wards shall be entitled to elect
one member to an executive commit
tee of the county and one additional
member for each 100 members, or
fraction of over fifty. All persons who
subscribe to the Peoples platform to be
members of the party. A committee
of eleven was selected to set the plan
in operation. The prelimary meeting,
by resolution, declared it inexpedient
to elect delegates to the Tacoma Con-
ventiOn.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30
NOTICE PRO BONO PUBLICO.

To the Citizens of Thurston county, ire.
spective of former party affiliations,
greeting:
The Territorial Central Committee of
the Peoples Party, issued the following
call, to-wit:
CALL FOR DELEGATES To THE PEOPLES TERRI
ToRIAL CONVENTION.
TACOMA, W. T., July 9, 1885.
To the Citizens of Washington Territory. greeting:
A convention of representatives from the peo-
pie, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for
Delegate to Congress and transacting such other
business may come before 1t, il hereby called to
meet in The city OF Tacoma on Saturday. September
4th. at 10 o'clock A. N.
by the old political parties are requested to meet
AT their respective county seats throughout the
Territory on Thursday, July 18th at co clock r. NJ,
and appoint delegates TO this convention. The
basis for representation will be one delegate for
every OO votes. or majority fraction thereof, cast
at the last general election in each county. Coun.
ties casting less number of votes will be entitled
TO one delegate each.
No lawyer banker or saloonkeeper will be al
lowed seat in the convention.
By order of the Territorial Central Committee.
C. BELL, Secretary. Chairman.
At meeting of many citizens of Thurs
ton county held in Olympia, the county
seat, on Saturday, July 9Th instant, acting
in their primary capacity and in full accord
with the declared object Of the above re-
cited call, the meeting appointed com,
mittee 10 be known as the Thurston County
Committee, with instructions to issue a
general call for county organization of
the " Peoples Party"
Now, therefore, we, the said County
Committee, do hereby respectfully request
the citizens of Thurston couniy-except as
provided in the said call Of the Territorial
Committee-to hold primary meetings in
their respective voting precincts on Satur.
day, August 18th. and to elect delegates TO
attend County Convention to be beld in
Olympia ON the 2lst Of August prOximO,
for the purpose Of choosing delegates t.
act for and represent this county in the
said Territorial Convention to be held in
Tacoma on Saturday, September Alb, and
transact such other business as may prop
erly come before the convention.
This committee, deeming that County
Convention comprised Of delegates from
the respective precincts, will represent the
people more equitably than by u mass
convention, this call is therefore issued, fol
Il convention of delegates, of whom the
quota assigned to each precinct in the
| county is as follows:
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

Mr.. Billings friends urge his re.
nomination and election at this time
to enable him to complete 81 years Of
continuous service as Sheriff. That
sounds very nice, but what guarantee
will We have that two years hence he
may not be quite as anxious to COM
plete quarter of a century of econ.
tinous service? And then if prom.
Use is made that this shall positively
be the last appearance" of the gen.
tleman how can the people, in "judg.
ing of the future by the past" have
much hope that he will not be just as
hungry two years from date as now?
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

Thurston Co. Democratic Convention.
The Democrats of Thurston county and
all who favor the strictest accountability
In public position and approve Of meas
ures of reform that may secure the sover-
eighty OF the people, are requested to
meet by delega'es in convention, at Co.
lumbia Hail, Olympia, OH
Saturday, August 14th, 1885,
at o'clock P. NJ, to elect delegates to the
Territorial Democratic Convention and
perform such other duties as may proper
ly come before it.
The basis OF representation will be as
usual, and it is recommended that the
primaries be held in the st veral precincts
on Saturday, August 7th, at l O'clock P
M. Delegates will be admitted as follows
Olympia ........13 Mud Bay .....2
Tumwater ...... Blackriver 2
Coal Bank. ... Chambers.
Grand Mound q Union. ...... 2
South Bay. 2 Yelm. ...
JOHN MILLER MURPHY,
Francis HENRY,
A. Il. RABBEsoN,
e. T.. YOUNG,
BENZ. HARMED,
Thurston Co. Dem. Central Com.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30
READ AND REFLECT.

In this number we began the re-pub-
LEGATION of very interesting treatise
on the Chinese as a nation, and the
probable effects of immigration to this
country should the ratio increase as it
has the past decade. The essay is by
Jas. A. Whitney, LII. D., and was the
subject-matter of course of lectures
delivered in the East aboutsix years
ago. At this time, when the question
has been presented SO prominently to
the public by the agitation of the past
six months, information that will give
a true estimate of the character of
this peculiar people, is eagerly sought.
We have never met with a more plain,
comprehensive, yet succinct, account
of the situation than is presented by
Mr.. Whitney. 1t begins with a refer
ence to the history of the Chinese EN-
pire, which is necessary to form cor
rect estimate of the character of a
people but very little understood, but
which, when fully comprehended af-
fCrds a solution of many of the diff
culties experienced thus far in dealing
with the subject and exposes the dan
gers yet in store, unless timely means
are used to avert the calamity. Those
who read these articles from week to
week, will discover that the conclus-
ions are irresistible. As it will take
several issues to complete the publ
cation we suggest that each number of
the STANDARD he preserved until, at
least, the article is read by every adult,
member of the family circle. The
China question will probably be lead
issue in the next campaign, and every
voter should possess enough informa-
ton to vote Understandings ON the
subject. We who are debarred from
making our influence felt in the ma
ton by an expression at the polls,
may exert some weight in other ways,
and the facts cited in these articles
taken in connection with those derived
from personal observation, will qualify
us in an eminent degree to give a cor
rect opinion ON this subject.
1t will require as much space as we
can spare in about seven issues of the
STANDARD to complete this publica-
ton, but we may safely promise any
body who will carefully read the arti-
cles, that they will obtain knowledge
of the subject which will be invaluable
and which is now possessed by very
small proportion of our people.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

1T is said that Judge Lewis has
turned honest granger. He may be
theoretically a granger, but as to the
honesty or the practical nature of the
proceeding, many will have a very
grave doubt. 1t is currently reported
that he does the harvesting of his bar
ly crop under an umbrella, and he will
probably sell it to brewers to be made
into that soul-destrOyjng beverage he
did so much to "prohibit" in the last
LEGISLATURE.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

The citizens of the respective precincts
arc recommended to nominate candidates
for precinct officers, at their precinct
meetings.
Fellow citizens, owing to circumstances
the time has more than fully arrived when
the industrial classes are called upon to
organize in defense of their equality Of
rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, to resist the crushing Oppres.
sions imposed upon them by special and
general legislation, enacted at the behest
and under the general influence of fran
chised corperatOrs and organized capital.
Prominent among the many enactments
requiring modification or repeal stands
the Chinese Treaty, which should be abrO.
gated or modified as to restrict the influx
of monaghan slaves TO compete with the
free labor of American citizens
The wholesale squandcring of the pub.
lie dOmain-God'sh heritage TO man-which
should be held in reserve, for the direct
use Of the people, in limited quantities
suitable for personal utilization.
Extensive railroad corporations (whose
roads were built by the munificent dona
lions Of the people, pool their business to
Systematically absorb from the industries
of our common country, the uttermos,
farthing at which the people can barely
live, besides perniciously discriminating
between persons and localities, and fol
the purpose lin many instances) of sustain
ing and paying dividends on another sys
TEN of robbery, i. e. anatered stocks.
These great evils, although among the
most prominent, are but few of the
many by which the people are being
robbed and oppressed. In number and in
tensity, the evils complained of have for
several decades been gradually augment.
ing from year to year and arc now so con.
spicuous and powerful that to resist the
oppressive encroachments Of corporations
and organized capital, nothing will avail
but united organization on the part Of
the industrial classes. The elective fran
chise places the means of redress in the
peoples own hands, and their relief dc
ponds on how they use the means.
People OF ThurstOn county, time and ex
perience prove that in the Legislative halls
and on the judicial benches the interests
of the people have becn-and are being
sacrificed 10 the selfishness and unjust de.
mands Of corporations and organized can
ital, and that the people need expect no
equity or rights from either of the old par.
ties. As American citizens your duty to
y
ily, is clear. Unite, organize, hold your
primaries and conventions, select as can.
didates such only us are known to be in
full sympathy with the general interests OF
the people and the public welfare. Give
your candidates your support ut the polls,
remembering that God will help those who
help themselves. You have the power,
use II and your success is certain, May
the right cause win.
John NJ. Swan,
Alex. Farquhar,
Thos. Connolly,
VIM. Hildebrand,
j. G. Conine,
Benz. Laughlin,
Stephen L. Ruddell,
James Mills,
Thurston County Committee of the PEG.
pies party.
Olympia, July q, 1886.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30
WRECK OF THE ". n. BESSE.

Another wreck is added to the long
list of casualties of the Columbia
gateway" the trcachcrous currents
and shifting sands Of the lar at that
mouth Of that river. Last Friday. the
bark W. r. Besse arrived of the bar
and signalcd all the afternoon for a
pilot, but for some cause none respond
ed. Capt. Gibbs statement gives the
following particulars of the disaster:
About 6 80 p. NJ. Cape Hancock bore
northeast, distant about two and Il hall
miles While wearing the ship to
stand off shore the ships stern struck
and the vessel swung round ON what |
spit Of the middle sands. According
to accurate cross-hearings on my chart
the ships position then was one mile
distant and outside the bar. imme-
diately braced the yards around to
work her off. As soon as the ship
struck she commenced pounding
heavily. There was heavy swell on,
hut light wind. Ten minutes after
she struck sounded the pumps and
found four feet of water in her hold.
The ship was humping so heavily
that it was impossible to stand upright
Oh deck. The masts were shaking vio-
lently and the rigging falling. All eff
forts to save the ship We're evidently
useless, and as the life of the whole
crew was endangered l gave orders to
clear away the boats. The port boat
swamred alongeide, losing the ships
chronometers, nautical instruments
and all my personal effects. All hands
took the starboard boat, the only boat
left scrviceable, and abandoned the
ship about Z Pm. We landed at Fort
Candy at $50, and got the lifeboat
and crew to 60 back to the ship with
me and some of my men to see if We
could save any of the ships effects
We found the ship listed to windward
the seas making clear breach over
her. We could do nothing, so We re-
turned. At daylight of the Oath the
ships masts were gone by the board
and the vessel breaking up fast. Al
IL NJ. Captain Flavel, having come
down, took all hands on the tug Co
lumbia to Astoria" The W. II. Bess,
had then nearly disappeared. TIL,
vessel sailed from New York, Febru
airy 18th, with cargo of rails, spikes
etc, for the Oregon Railway and Navi
CATION Company, to be used on tn,
Pennington branch, now under con
struction. Her cargo was valued a
$4,000, and was no doubt insured
though the Office in Portland is no
advised as to the fact. Her owner
are CAPTAIN w. II. Beese and asso
ciates, and her value was between $40,
600 and $4,000. The loss of the irol
will probably delay the completion o
the Pennington branch. The Besse i
wood, and was built at Bath, Maine, il
1873. Her dimensions are as follows
Length, 1893 feet; beam, 32.2 feet
depth of hold, 2O-6 feet. Her rcgistert
tonnage is 1927. The vessel was sur
veyed at Boston in January, 1884, ant
was rated A l. Her master, Captain
Gibbs, was on the third voyage t,
Portland, and is accounted a very com
petent seaman.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, July 80, 1886.
LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

The Democratic Central Committee
of Garfield county met at Pomeroy, on
the 18th instant, and appointed three
delegates to represent the county in
the Democratic Territorial Convention,
to be held at Tacoma on the 18th
prox., and ordered county conven-
ton to be held September 18th, to
nominate county ticket. This action
of the committee is arbitrary and I'M
just, placing in the hands of the COM
mittee unwarranted powers, the exer-
else of which is un-Democratic and
subversive of the rights of the people.
1t has given rise to widespread disaf-
lection, and we find in the Pomcroy
Times, of the Oath instant, a call
signed by many Democrats, which af-
ter reciting the cause of complaint, de-
clares such action as unlawful, in
formal and void" and requests Demo-
Gratis to meet in the respective pre-
cincts, on the 31st instant, and elect
delegates to County Convention to
be held ON the 7th day of August, for
the purpose of electing delegates to
the Territorial Convention.
1t is to be regretted that anything
that savors of ring rule should have
been engrafted upon the Democratic
organization at this, the first, contest
after the party has come into power.
It was just such arbitrary proceedings
that led to the defeat of our opponents,
and would deprive the Democracy, if
it went unrebuked, of its brightest
prestige for continued confidence.
When the suggestion was made for
setting the political wheels in motion
several weeks before the usual time,
the STANDARD portrayed the inevita-
bic result, and so far its prediction has
been verified. The difficulty of secur-
ing united action Of the people, before
they have fully made up their minds
for definite line of policy, opens
the way for jealous partisans, interest
ed in the success of some favorite, to
put up jobs just such as the action Of
the Garfield committee is said to have
ben; and from the fact that in Skagit
and several other counties the same
tactics have been, or are to be en-
ployed, it seems that the course must
have been dictated or at least outlined
from some clique or party manager.
A proceeding that departs SO radically
from party usage, could not have been
the result of spontaneity of senti-
ment in such widely separated parts
OF the Territory.
Whether Mr.. Voorhees, is RESPONSE
bic for this action of his henchmen or
not, it was certainly by his urgent so
licitation that the Territorial Conven-
ton was called several weeks before
. the customary time, and as stated, it
is owing to this cause that serious
trouble has ensued. His friends
should realize that it is only with
united cOunsels and harmonious ac-
ton that he, or any other man, can
hope for success, and that such TOM
ioolery can but lead to the most disas-
trous results.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

IT is reported that a weekly newspa-
per, to be devoted exclusively to hop
culture is to he started at Puyallup.
The price of hops is hopping just now,
it is true, but it is more than probably
that the new journals mission will be
to hop the hop-king, Mr.. Meekers, into
the position of Delegate to Congress.
1t will be hopping against hope.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

AN exchange prints the following
item Gina B. McLane has secured the
contract for carrying the United
mails between Eureka and Palisade
New, on days when the train, which
leaves tri-weekly, is laid off. She is
having a tricycle. constructed in San
Francisco to run over the Eureka and
Palisade track between those points.
The distance is ninety miles and the
fair Ina expects to make the run in
six hours"
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

AMONGST the new political words
that are not born to die, the South
contributes "joobahaw." A joobahaw
is man who thinks with his jaws, and
shoots of his mouth just because he
has one to shoot off. A full brood OF
the pests exists in this Territory, and
they will be sounding their plaintiff
walls from every stump before the ides
of November,
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

The steamer Eliza Anderson was
sold, at Seattle, last Monday by Mar
shall Hamilton, to Capt. Geo. Wright,
mortgage, of New York. The mort
gage amounted to SIT 600, and the ex-
ecution in favor of ]. d. Lowman, for
$500. The vessel is being placed IN
thorough repair for active service.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

Now that dollar will buy at least
thirty per cent. more than it would
five years ago, the laboring men should
insist upon a general reduction of sal
aries of Territorial and county officials.
Make it an issue on the legislative
ticket, that all fees and salaries shall
be reduced to correspond with the
wages of labor.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

Total representation. ......... la
The Committee earnestly suggests the
vital importance OF thorough and aggres-
sive organization in each of the several
counties in the Territory.
Dated June 5th, 1856.
J. A. KUHN,
GEORGE FULLER, Chairman.
Secretary.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

lP FISHER. Advertising Agent 81 Merchants
Exchange san Francisco, ia authorized TO receive
Advertisements for the columns OF THE paper.
&C. DAKE Advertising and General Agent
Nos. rs AID It's Merchants Exchange, 10 au'ho
rizrd TO receive subscriptions for the STANDARD
IN sail Frau, iscO.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

REV. d. N. Utter, few years ago
Unitarian pastor at this place, now in
charge of congregation in Chicago
at $S,OOO per annum, is making tour
of Europe on bicycle.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

THE Lewis County Democrats hold
their primaries tomorrow; the Repub-
licans do not hold theirs till Sept. 4th.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

A SLIGHT eruption of Mount Hood
occurred a few days ago, says the
Dalles Mountaineer.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

SOME of the papers announce that
Messrs. Haines and McMicken, of Sc
attic, are making canoe voyage
across Lake Washington up Squak
Slough and down Snohomish and Sno-
qualmie rivers, in crafts "built of
Spanish cedar, finished in black walnut
with nickel-plated trimmings which
leads one to moralize and wonder if
more solid chunks of comfort can he
found in these aristocratic pieces of
marine architecture than in the pie.
bian, yet still more graceful Chinook
canoe. 1t seems strangely out of
keeping for these nickle-plated trap
pings to crate upon the coarse sands
of the Snohomish and Snoqualmie, or
to become furnished by the mud and
ooze OF the still less euphonious Squak
Slough; but then there is some COM
pensation in the fact that the newspa-
pers give an inventory of the trappings
whenever note is made of the where
abouts of these intrepid voyagers.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30

The C0mDOner, which was started
as voorhees, organ nine months ago,
after enumerating dozen or more Re
publicans who it declares aspirants for
the Congressional nomination of their
party, says On the Democratic side
no candidate has appeared in oppos-
ition to Mr.. Voorhees," Why, oh why,
will men allow zeal to not only blind
the Judgment, but to deliberately per-
vert facts; a course, that cannot 10y
any possibility he made to serve a
useful purpose for their cause, The
Commoner knows that there is as good
material for congressman in the Dem
ocratic IA the Republican ranks, and
that the names of several prominent
gentlemen of that party have been
suggested quite as often and in us good
faith as have those of their political
opponents. The Commoner cannot
blind the vision of others by thrusting
its head in the sand, and though it may
fill its eyes with dust, it knows that
the dread probability of somebody be-
ing chosen in the place of its little
god will not down at its bidding. Fair
ness would ensure much more likeli-
hood of success for its cherished project.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-30
OBITUARY.

Olympia, July q, 1886.