Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-28
The First Love of the y. 7. Railroad.
JLrep THROUGH THE Power OF MONEY.
But Entering in the Prime of life \
Career OF CnbOunded Prosperity.

upon the enchanting scene OF sea and
shore, amidst which the fair Olympia
sits, like queen in Fairy-land. We
can imagine him as he sauntered
through the giant primeval frs that
studded the hillside, filled with the
solemn awe Of the forest, until he
came to the brow OF the hill, and the
full beauty of the scene, in all its
grandeur, burst suddenly upon bis
view. There lay the quiet bay, stretch
ing away in the distance, it's clear wa
ter glistening in the warm sunshine,
fringed on either hand by the dark
green of the forest-covered slopes,
while in the distant background the
white peaks of the Olympic mountains,
reared their giant hea DIS into the very
sky, and stood like rock-ribbed sentinels
to guard this mistress of the inland
sea. How the mellow rays of the Au-
tumn sun fall in purple and gold on
the snow-clad SUBMITS! What feel
ing of peace, solemn JOY as of one
communing with the unseen spirit!
The all-pervading presence, the Divine
Creator of the universe, must have
filled his soul. What wonder that his
soul swelled with pride as he contem-
plated the magnificent scenes and re-
allied that all this was his for the TAX
ing. What wonder that he dreamed
of the future great city that would one
day stand upon this spot and that a
desire to connect his name with it for
ever should fill his heart. With what
exultant pride he must have exclaimed,
Wonderful, beautiful, Heaven-kissed
spot. Thou art mine and thou shalt
be called Smithfield." Fate willed that
the city he dreamed of should have a
name as beautiful as the scene over
which she presides and we call her
Olympia, but we venerate the memory
of Smith because he first saw and ap-
preciated her beauty.
EARLY DAYS.
The unfortunate Smith died before
the city was even begun, but from the
records of his thoughts left behind
in the shape Of a dairy, it is apparent
that the beauty and sublimity of the
scene in which he lived made a con.
slant and deep impression on his mind
He seems to have lived alone and been
a dreamer. In 1850, Edmund Sylves
ter, having succeeded to the title te
the Smith claim as surviving partner
laid it off into town-lots and called il
the town of Olympia. 1t was jnsI
beginning to grow. A general store
was running and a few houses were
built and considerable activity begar
to be manifested. The brig Orbit be
gan ma king trips between Olympi.
and San Francisco, taking out lumber
and bringing back goods.
THE FIRST STORE
Was of the most primitive character
1t embraced in its stock but few arti
cles, and those all necessities. Tht
shelves were few and of rough boards
and the counter was tall table, side(
in with rough plank and fearful,
and wonderfully made" The stool
consisted of sugar, coffee, molasses
flour, beans, and a few bolts of cheal
calicoes and domestic, some cheap bu
serviceable clothing, and beads an,
trinkets for traffic with the Indians
The advent of Mr.. Geo. A. Barnes, il
the fall of 1851, with general assert
ment of merchandise, marked a ne,
era in the commerce of Puget Sound
then confined to this growing mart a
the head of this great inland sea. 1
short time afterwards, Parker, Coulte
4 Co., A. ]. Moses, L. Bettman, Gold
: man & Rosenblatt and Louisson & Co
established stores, a large propoI
ton of their trade being derived from
the Indians. Several hundred of tb
aboriginees had permanent habitatio
on Chinook Street, now known as Co
umbia, the central wigwam beiA
about where the Carlton House n6s
stands. In 1852,
THE FIRST SCHOOL
At Olympia was taught by A. W
Moore, and regular services were he'll
Sundays by Rev. Benz. Close. Il
February, 1851, Congress establishe,
the Puget Sound Collection Distric
with the Custom House at Olympia
Simpson P. Moses, Collector. In Jul,
OF the same year, the first mail rout
was established, with a weekly service
and A. B. Rabbeson as contractor
Shortly afterwards A. B. Stuart estah
lished An express route with termina
points at Portland and Olympia. Thi
was afterwards maintained BY Parker
Coulter d Co., and subsequently, b,
Charles E. Williams. The Columbian
was
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER
Published in this place, by J. w. Vile,
and T. F. McElrOy. TWAS printed OF
q *Ramage press formerly used by tn,
Oregonian and the Alta, when the,
had just dOnned the robes of infancy
THE FIRST LEGISLATURE
Met in Olympia, in January, 1854, 9TH,
bill seggregating the district north o
the Columbia river from Oregon, ant
forming of it the Territory of Wash
ington, having been passed by Con
gress March 3, 1857 and located tn,
capital at this city, on a ten-acre trac
donated by the town proprietor, Ed
mund Sylvester. In 1855 the few
hundred residents of Olympia wer,
subject to infinite peril from
HOSTILE sAvAGEs.
VIM. White had been killed or
Chambers prairie, and the few settler.
had either taken refuge in block
houses or came to this village for the
protection which numbers affords. A
stockade fifteen feet high was built o.
four-inch plank, along the line oil
Fourth Street, connecting with the
two arms of the bay. At the intersec
ton OF Main Street, a block-house was
built, and two large gates swinging to.
gether at night, with the Revenue Cut
ter 10 Lane lying abreast of the city
and an armed patrol detailed for con-
slant service, gave assurance of safety
from raids of the savage foe.
Many amusing incidents might be
narrated of the pioneer life of the
hardy settlers of Olympia. indicating
the close feeling of fraternity that ex-
lsted between people Injured to the