Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-17
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Olympia and North Yakima Compared

Puget Sound and North YAKIMA at
place somewhere the other side of the
How do these two places compare
for the purpose named?
As to Olympia.
1st, Her location is 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 in
creasing in business and population
with wonderful rapidity.
2d-She is practically at the geo.
graphical center OF the State-which,
however, is of small moment, and has
been disregarded by many States, as
for instance: New York, Massachu-
sets, Georgia, Missouri, Minnesota
and others. But what is of vital inn
portance, she is absolutely at the CEN
ter OF population, and it is people who
have occasion to visit the capital.
Within q radius of 100 miles from
Olympia there is now a population Of
nearly two hundred thousand which is
rapidly increasing. Being the center
of population is of the utmost i'm
portance in determining the location
of the capital.
3d-The accessibility and transport
alton facilities of Olympia are not sur
passed by any other place in the State.
The three great railroads-the North
ern Pacific, the Union Pacific and the
Port Townsend SOuthern-have each
q large force constructing lines into
the city, and eight fine passenger
steamers ply daily between Olympia
and the ports of Puget Sound. She
has become a great transportation GEN.
ter, and more than half of all the peO'
pie of the State can reach Olympia
daily and at less than one-half the cost
of reaching.
North Yakimas
4th-The situation and surround
ings of Olympia, are surprisingly fine,
making q 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 splen'
did grounds for residences and drives,
the magifcent 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.
5tll-The social and intellectual as
we'll as the enterprising and hospitable
character of her citizens is proverbial.
6th-The grounds already donated
for the purpose of o capital are extern
sive and beautifully situated, overlook
ing the bay and city and will be the
property and pride of the State. Upon
these grounds will be erected the
necessary and magnificent public
buildings without taxing the people q
cent and without cost TO the State, as
the land granted by the general gov
ernment viii be ample.
The merits and advantages of Olym-
pia might be continued at great length
but what must we say of her only II
val-North Yakima?
1st-Her location ON an alkali desert
or plain, inland between 100 and 200
miles, reached only by one line Of
rsilroad-a place not one-half the size
of Olympia, with water 30 impregnated
with alkali that the supply necessary
for the town and which is only passa-
BILE for domestic purposes, and which
also furnishes irrigation by which
they are enabled to raise successfully
the one eproduct-watermelons,-has
TO be conveyed from the river several
miles distant, by means of an irrigat-
ing ditch. There lies the famous
North Yakima, alone and desolate,
with neither city, town nor 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
a distance of over 100 miles in every
direction.
2d-Like Olympia she is within a
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, a population of less
than 10000 being less than one-eighth
of the population within tie same
area around Olympia, and it must be
borne in mind that it is people, and not
alkai deserts, sage brush and mount
aims that require a 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 alkali
dust and general discomfort. without
the eye being relieved or gladdened
with beholding either city, town or
hamlet, and that too at cost In
money of double the sum that it costs
to reach Olympia, for every mile trav-
eled.
4th-The situation and surround
ings of North Yakima bear no COM
parison with the beauty of Olympia
and its suburbs, as all that is attrac-
tive in AMI about North Yakima is on
paper, showing what the over-san'