Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-28
will not permit, and We must hasten
on to the eyentiul present.

will not permit, and We must hasten
on to the eyentiul present.
FIRST ORGANIZATION.
The Territorial Legislature passed
an act on January IS, 1859, incorpor-
ating the Town OF Olympia and pro-
viding fol its government. The Board
OF Trustees named in the act were en-
powered to organize and then appoint
a day for an election Of their success
sors. On Saturday, the 18th day Of
February following. TIE first meeting
OF the Board OF Trustees was held in
little old frame building, which stood
on the corner Of Fourth and Main
streets, and was owned by Chas. +.
Williams. The members OF the first
Council were Geo. \. Barnes, r. +.
McElroy, James Tilton, Joseph Cush-
man and Elwood Evans. An organi-
cation was effected by the election Of
Joseph Cushman Chairman and Rich
ard Lane Clerk pro tcm The first
business transacted was the swearing
in Of VIM. Mitchell a. Town Marshal
Messrs. Evans and Barnes were ap-
pointed a committee to draft bylaws
and rules to govern the proceedings OF
the meetings OF the Board. to report
at the next meeting. Thos. NJ. Reed
was appointed Committing Magistrate,
and thus the town was ready to main
tain law and order. After the ap-
pointing OF 4 committee, consisting OF
Messrs. Tilton and McElroy, to draft
an ordinance on taxation for revenue
only" the Board adjourned to meet
at the same place ON the following
Wednesday. No quorum being pre-
sent at that time, it was not until the
next regular meeting, February 24th,
that the final organization was effected.
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
The second meeting was lively
one, full of business. Joseph Cush-
man was elected President. and the
committee reported a set OF rules
which were unanimously adopted.
The first ordinance, which related to
the raising of revenues, was also passed
without opposition but a proposition
to remove the old block-house from
the public square was not so fortunate.
The question was whether the square
should be improved or whether the old
block-hOuse should be utilized. 1t was
two-story affair, which was used as
an arsenal, and it was proposed to
build a strong cell on the first floor
where the Marshal could secure any
prisoners lie should be fortunate
enough to capture. A lively debate
ensued and the question went over to
the next meeting, when n remon-
STRANGE was presented, signed by nu-
merous citizens, against the removal
and the ordinance failed. Afterward
the cell was built, and for several
years the old block-house served the
double purpose of arsenal and city Jail
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
The grading of the streets, building
of bridges and other improvements
and the revenues to meet expenses, oc
cupied the attention of the town law
makers and the citizens generally, and
the city was growing rapidly. 1t was
the seat Of government for the Terri
tory, had land Office and other pub
lie offices, and the question of a towl
hall began to assume importance. II
was argued THAT public hall was g
necessity to meet the wants of the
people; on the other hand, it Was ar
gued that it would be too much of q
burden on the taxpayers, and the
Board of Trustees hesitated. FINAL,
a public subscription was started ant
the partisans of II town hall raised
over 81 800, and the petition and sub
: scription was presented to the Boart
praying the erection of building, thu
Board to provide the necessary add
tional funds. Mr. Geo. A. Barnes wa
, at this time President of the Board
and during his absence in San Fran
cisco the question came up for action
for hall costing 81 900, or one involv
ing double the cost. Upon the. vot,
being taken, it resulted in II tie, bu
upon the return Of Mr.. Barnes tn
; proposition for the finer building re
seived the sanction of the Board, b.
his vote in the affirmative. The tow
hall was accordingly built, and still
!. stands on Fourth street. At the tim
: it was erected, in 1869, it was the mos
3 pretentious building, not only in Olym
!. pia but in the Territory of Washing
I ton.
' THE RAILROAD BOOM.
< From the building of the town hall til
J, town continued to steadily increase i
p size and importance. 1t had a larg
t trade and manufactures began to floul
ish. When the Northern Pacific Raj
J. road was projected, Olympia Wa
n selected as the terminus and tn
: news of this great event reache
v Olympia on Christmas eve, 1870. Tn
!, excitement which this news cause
t can scarcely be portrayed. A grea
4 rush to secure land took place, an
r prices advanced rapidly. Buildings {
l. every description were planned an
:, many of them built. There could n
= longer be any question but Olympi
n would become the metropolis of tn
c Northwest. The completion of tn
n railroad, which no one for a momer
l. doubted, would he the browning &C
g and set the seal to her greatness
" Thousands of dollars had feen sper
in searching for the m6st teasibl
route across the Cascade range. Ever
: pass had been surveyed and after a
i this expense of time and money, Olyn
;, pia was selected as the terminus. NJ
= only was the route the shortest bu
= the grades were easier and in ever
;. respect the route to Olympia WAS til
y superior and in fact the only natur.
= route across the mountains. Bu
, alas, for human frailty! The mo.
= solemn promises of the managers {
!. that road were made only to be brol
! en-, and the interests of Olympia an
q the people of the United States wer
|. sacrificed to satisfy the greed {
;, spectators, as-the Union Pacific man
!, ayers had before done, when that grea
y road was built. But although tn
Northern Pacific line terminated a
Tacoma, the young city of Olympi
was undaunted, and she stands to-da,
q as she did then, the possessor of tn
e same magnificent natural advantage
' which she then possessed, and the da
;. when they shall be developed is onl
postponed for little while 1t is on
q present business to portray this thriy
{ ing city and the advantages she offer
! to the investors in productive enter
prises and the home-seeker, withou
exaggeration. To give 20 to the read