Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-11-05
Olympia Enterprises.
WARREN, Pa, Oct. 81, 1856.

RoET. FRosT, Esq:
Dear Sir: / am just in receipt of
letters and papers from Olympia
which convey to me the pleasing in
telligence that at last our people have
awakened from their Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep, and are going to work in earn
est to make Olympia what she should
be, one of the business centers of Pu-
get Sound. Let the good work go on
as it has been commenced, and the
most sanguinc expectations of our citi-
Zens will be more than realized.
Pluck and energy can accomplish
wonders when wisely directed. So far
as the cost of the contemplated i'm
provements are concerned, that should
not weigh a feather in the scale, so
the work is done honestly and well.
| would not hesitate Gf others would
do the same) to give one-fourth of the
real estate | own in Olympia for the
advancing of harbor and other needed
improvements, provided the people see
to it that no monopoly is thereby Gre
ated. Let the city control the whole
matter, and whatever revenue is to be
derived therefrom go into the city
treasury, and thus inure to the benefit
of the whole people.
In connection with this subject,
wish to call your attention to the i'm
portancc OF the creasoting process for
protecting piles and other timber
against the action Of the tercdo and
other marine insects, as well as from
natural decay from the action of the
clements. This process has now been
in Use Il sufficient length of time to
fully demonstrate its value, and there
are to-day few piles driven on the At
lantic coast which are not first treated
with crcosote. Railroad companies
are subjecting bridge timbers and
cross-ties to the same process, and it
cannot be doubted that within Il few
years all timbers exposed to the wealth
er will be thus treated as a matter
of economy. 1t will thus be seen that
the business must in the near future
become one of the leading industries
OF the country. The company which
my son organized few months since,
at Norfolk, Virginia, has all it can do,
and they expect next spring to greatly
enlarge their works.
feel confident that such works
Is one of the pressing needs of Puget
Sound, and that Olympia, when her
harbor improvements are completed,
would be a desirable location. have
been looking into the practical details
OF the business, and propose to famil-
iarize myself with the process with
view of giving our people all the in
formation possible. Should l remain
East during the winter, 1 shall return
to Norfolk, and shall be glad to CORE
spond with you or others interested in
this matter, and if We can see our way
clear to organize company, l will do
all in my power to aid in such an en-
terprise. have little doubt that
good part of the stock could be sold
here, but l would prefer home COM
pany. / will ascertain the probable
cost of the necessary machinery and
report at a future time. l would like
to get the views of yourself and others
as to what could be done in Olympia.
1t would probably require capital of
$4,000 to erect the necessary plant
and run it. This, however, is only
conjectural, rs have not figured on
it carefully as l propose to do before 1
return west. My health is greatly im-
proved, and l may return within few
weeks, depending on advices from my
son, at Norfolk, who is anxious /
should remain longer.
Talk this matter up, and should
remain will inform you within a
week so that you may write me;
otherwise l will meet you at home.
With kind regards to all our friends,
AS ever, yours truly,
SMITH FREEMAN.