The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-21
Invest in a Solid Town Like Shelton

The people from the east who are
most liable to carry back TO their
friends, evil reports OF this new coun-
try, are those who have been swim
died in the countless new town-site
booms and schemes. Town-sites have
been plated, and the lots have been
sold like hot cakes, where any one
with grain OF horse sense would
know that the building OF Il city was
not only impracticable but almost
impossible. Towns may spring up
and even flourish for a time, without
any reason therefor excepting the en-
thusiasm of the townsite proprietor,
generous use of printers ink, and the
gullibility of the speculator. But the
time soon comes, In the history OF
every town, when it must rely upon
something more substantial than
these ephemeral booming schemes. 1t
must have solid backing of some kind
Railroads, shipping facilities, access
Utility TO the worlds markets, manu-
features, or what is better still, excel
lent agricultural land tributary to il.
Unless town possesses one or more
of these advantages il is likely sooner
or later TO die.
1t seems strange that people who
have once been burnt will so readily
place their hands in the fire the sec
Ond time 1t is not less strange that
those who have seen hundreds OF
townsite schemes tall to the ground,
will so quickly bite at the bait that the
willy boomer throws out. When 1t Is
all out of reason that more than one
out of ten OF the plated townsites
can possibly ever realize or even APP
proach the representations of future
greatness pictured by the first owner,
it is certainly an unexplainable freak
of his nature that will cause a man to
take one chance in ten of profting
by his investment. The prices OF
property, too, in these speculative"
town-sites, are nearly always above all
reason-a stump covered lot on rocky
knoll often bringing hi her price
than a business lot in thriving town
of 5000 people.
To those who have an abundance of
wealth, who are we'll able to lose few
hundreds or even thousands of dollars,
without the prospect of being stared
in the face by poverty, such chances
s.re not without some inducements.
But to the man of moderate means,
who is looking for a safe investment,
the town-site boom is too frequently
the direct road to ruin.
There are thousands of people either
now On the way. or are contemplating
a trip, to this state in search of homes,
business locations, and speculation. A
good authority estimates that there
will be twenty people this year to
one OF last season. The state is fairly
plastered over with town-sites-each of
which is to be-if We can believe the
owners-the metropolis of the state
These prospective towns are all pre-
pairing to "rope in" the newcomer
While some of these embryo cities
are well-located and have a bright out
look, they are about in the proportion
of one to ten to those that cannot pos
sibly amount to an iota.
II the eastern man desires to either
choose himself good home, place for
business, or town in which to make a
safe investment, he will always select
the town with the best prospects. If
near the sea-board. with good shipping
facilities; either with railroads, or the
best outlook for securing them; if in a
timbered section probable n1anufac-
turing town; if an agricultural dis
trict the principal market; if ON tide
water, the head of navigation; other
things being equal, always at the conn
ty seat; and if possible, to settle in
that town which possesses several of
the advantages above named. And
should they come to western Wash
ington they will at once find such a
town, as above described-possessing
all the advantages Standardization
tcsano Vidette.