Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-09-27
OLYMPIA AND NORTH YAKIMA.

called npon to determine by their
votes, the permanent location of the
capital of the State OF Washington.
The contest has narrowed down to
two places-Olympia at the head of
Puget Sound and North Yakima at a
place somewhere the other side of the
mountains.
How do these two places compare
for the purpose named? As to Olum-
pia.-ls:, Her location being at the
head OF that great inland sea, Puget
Sound, the highway for the commerce
of the world, and on whose shores are
found, even at this time, several large
cities and many prosperous towns, all
increasing i'll business and population
with wonderful rapidity.
2d-She is practically at the geo.
graphical center of the State, and alb
solutely at the center OF population.
Within a radius of 100 miles from
Olympia there is now population of
12O, 1000, and gaining more rapidly than
the same area anywhere east OF the
mountains in the State.
3d-The accessibility of Olympia far
surpasses that of any other point,
She can be reached daily from all
points, with ease and comfort, both by
railroad and fine class of steamers,
and at one-half the cost OF reaching
North Yakima.
4th-The situation and surround
ings of Olympia are surprisingly fine,
making a residence or visit to the
Capital City exceedingly pleasant.
The gentle rise of the ground from the
shores of the bay on which she is To-
Gated, the grand plateau extending
southwark for miles, affording SPLEEN
did grounds for residences and drives,
the magnificent scenery comprising
both mountains and sea, the finely
graded and graveled streets and mild,
healthy, pleasant climate, combine to
make her one of the most charming
and delightful places to be found any
where on the Pacific coast.
5th-The social and intellectual as
well as the enterprising and hospitable
character of her citizens is proverbial.
6th-The grounds already donated
for the purpose of capital are extern
sive and beautifully situated, overlook
ing the bay and city and will be the
property and pride of the State. Up
on these grounds will be erected the
necessary and magnificent public
buildings without taxing the people a
cent and without cost to the State, as
the land granted by the general gov
eminent will be ample.
The merits and advantages of Olym-
pia might be continued at great length
but what must we say of her only rival
North Yakima!
1st-Her location on an alkali desert
or plain, inland between 100 and 200
miles, reached only by one line of
railroads. place not one-half the size
OF Olympia, with water so impregnat-
ed with alkali that the supply necessa-
ry for the town and that is only
passable for domestic purposes, and
which also furnishes irrigation by
which they are enabled to raise sue
the one product-watermel-
ons-has to be conveyed from the riv-
er several miles distant, by means Of an
irrigating ditch. There lies the ia
nous North Yakima, alone and desc
late, with neither city, town or village
within 40 miles, while the country
around Olympia is literally dotted
with prosperous and growing cities
and towns every five or ten miles, for
q distance of over 100 miles in every
direction.
2d-Lke Olympia she is within .
few miles of the geographical center
of the State, which, however, is not
worth consideration, as North Yakima
has within circle distant 100 miles in
all directions, q population Of 5000,
being less than one-fourth of the pop
ulation within the same area around
Olympia and it must be borne in mind
that it is people, and not alkali deserts.
sage brush and mountains that re-
quire capital, or seat of government.
3d-So much for the location. Now
as to accessibility. North Yakima is
only reached by land travel, over one
line of railroad, amid clouds of alksli
dust and general discomfort, without
the eye being relieved or gladdened
with behol6ng either city, town or
hamlet, and that too at Q cost in
money Of double the sum that it costs
to reach Olympia, for every mile trav-
sled.
5th-The situation and surround
ings Of North Yakima bears no COM
parison with the beauty of Olympia
and its suburbs, as all that is attract
i've in and about North Yakima is on
paper, showing what the over-san-
guine hope may be, if realized in the
dim and distant future, and would ap-
ply with equal force to any other
place, while Olympia is realizing the
grand, the beautiful and attractive at
at this time and is growing in grace
and beauty every day.
5th-As to the social, moral and in.
tellectual character of North Yakima
it is not not necessary to speak, it be-
ing sufficient to say that in these par
ticulars Olympia is second to none.
The comparison between the two
places might be continued and always
to the advantage of Olympia, but
enough has been said to convince
any fair-minded person of the SUPERB
or claims of this city for the capital