Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-09-13

the seat of government are narrowed
down to OLYMPIA, Ellensburgh and
North Yakima, let us compare them
with regard to their location. As
Ellcnsburgh and North Yakima are so
contiguous, they can for all practical
purposes be treated as identical.
Western Washington has an excess OF
population over Eastern Washington
OF more than $4,000 and it is certain
that Olympia is more convenient and
desirable for this large population
than any place east of the mountains
could possibly be, and that fact alone
ought to settle the question. More
over there is no place west of the
mountains that is more accessible or
convenient than Olympia for the peo-
pie of Eastern Washington. But so
much has been said by persons prompt
ed solely by selfish and speculative aims
about Ellensburgh and North Yak
ina being geographical ccnters and
also centers of population, let us see
what are the facts in the case. As to
the actual geographical center OF the
State there is only % miles difference
between Olympia and the other two
places named. An insignificant dis
lance, unworthy of consideration.
But the matter of the center of pop
ula!icn is important and let us turn to
that Tor moment and see what facts
and figures" reveal. Take circle the
center of which is Olympia and the
radius 100 miles and the population
amounts in the aggregate to 1864
while within a circle of a hundred
miles of Ellensburgh it amounts to 26,-
3S2, thus showing that Olympia is in
center of population more than four
times that of Ellensburgh and North
Yakima.
Then, too, the ratio OF the assessable
value of the property within the same
radius is about the same, being a little
more than four times as much within
the circle with Olympia for its center,
as it is in the circle with Ellensburgh or
North Yakima for a center. The ex-
act figures cannot be determined, as
the returns have not all been received
at the Office of the Territorial Auditor,
but enough is known to show that in
the case of Olympia, with its 100 miles
surrounding, it is between $50,OO0,O00
and $6O,OOO,OO0, and in the cases of
the other two places named it is be-
tween $l2 ,OOO, 900 and s15,OOO,OOO.
These facts and figures show con-
clusively that the center of population
and business is very largely in favor of
Olympia, and verify "facts are stub
born things" Much might be said in
favor of Olympia's accessibility by rail
way and palatial steamers, plying daily
and constantly in every direction by
routes pleasant, picturesque and
charming, free from dust, desert, gales
and billiards encountered in travel
east OF the mountains, as we'll as the
fact of the cheapness of travel to
Olympia as compared with that to
Ellensburgh and North Yakima. Fdf
instance: The 10000 or more popula-
ton of Tacoma can reach Olympia, Il
distance of 40 miles, by splendid
steamers daily, at a passenger fare of
so cents, while passenger from North
Yakima to Ellensburgh, the same dis.
lance, has to pay SLIGO. Just about
the same ratio of the cost of travel ex-
lists between other places and Olympia,
as compared with the cost of travel to
North Yakima or Ellensburgh. And so
we might continue to adduce facts ad
showing the superiority of
Olympia for the location OF the Capt.
tai over any other place in the State.
No other place would be thought
of for moment, if land spectators
and real estate brokers did not ardent
ly !e sire to promote their selfish pur-
POSES, regardless OF the public inter
ests, by the sale of their town lots at
the othcrt places named.