Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-01-09

,illion 600, OOO, 100000 feet. II Is i'm
possible to make a correct estimate, how
yer The value of our ccdars for ship
building has been thoroughly tested and
5 receiving close attention from import
RS. 4 vast quantity of our timber Is
yearly by railroad and steanl-
ship companies. On account OF the
abundance and CheapnesS of wood and |
bark, it forms. and has formed for years, /
he PRINCIPAL staple of fuel III this state. /
Seemingly incxhaustible as these forests /
are, each year, nevertheless, marks a
decrease, cased by the lnroad /
of the woodman and the fierce ravages OF
the forest fires, which yearly sweep over
our timber tract, uncontrolled and almost
Portions of Clarke, Skaila- !
MIA, Mason and King counties are strip
ped; the timber cut of Lewis county has
been greatly diminished; Thurston county
has been we'll cut over; and other portions
of the state have nothing left of their
once magnificent forests but backened
stumps.
In his subdivision OIL state capitol and
other buildings, the governor discusses
the status Of the unsolicited land grant OF
Is2, 900 acres, but makes no recolnmen-
dalton. He, however. gives us this racy
comment and wise recommendation As to
the temporary houseing of the state
officers:
Since the organization of this state,
and pending the erection of permanent
capitol building at Olympia, the various
officers of the state have had no settled
abiding place. Their offices are scattered
about the highways and byways of the
city of Olympia, and are located where
ever rooms could be secured. The bust
ness of each department i'll its inter,
course with others is, in consequence
materially INSTRUCTED. The taxpayer
and citizen are put to great inconverl-
ence and annoyance i'll doing business
with the state; the execution of public
duties with the required dispatch Is pre-
vented; and the accommodations are
totally inadequate for the requirements
of the times. The written business his
toIy of our government from its earliest
territorial days, consisting of the records
in the custody of the various department
tai officers, is much of it stored for sup
posed safe-keeping i'll sheds and out
buildings. Valuable documents affecting
the vital interests of the state are unpro-
tected. Their total destruction by fire
would be but the work of moment, and
their insecure condition offers premium
for peculation. We have no vaults for
the preservation of our valuable land
plats, or for the safe-keeping and storage
of numberless other valuable documents,
the loss of which would seriously iIn-
pal, the business standing OF those lnstl-
tutions whose organization dates from
the earlier territorial days. Many of
these books and papers, if lost, could
never be replaced; and many could only
be replaced by the expenditure of large
sums of money. The safe-keeping of the
state funds is also inadequately provided
for.
The dignity of the state is compro-
missed by the humiliating spectacle of the
supreme court, its highest judicial tribu-
nal being obliged to hold its sessions
wherever chance or accident of location
permits. Its mandates Of record are Of
the greatest Importance, yet their safe
keeping is hazarded. The state library,
All important adjunct of the supreme
court and necessary to the proper dis
charge of its business, and whose shelves
are stored with books costing many
thousands of dollars, should be located
i'll rooms contiguous to the supreme
court and other departmental offices.
The geological and meteorological depart
ment, with its valuable exhibit of ores, is
perforce located in neighboring city.
The legislature, with due regard for
tue convenince of the people, and with
decent respect to the judicial, executive
and ministerial Offices of the state, should
see that accessible and ample accommo-
dations for the coordinate branches of
the state government are provided with
out DELAY.
Under the most favorable circumstances
at least five years must elapse before a
permanent home can be had for the trans
action of the states business, and the
safe-keeping of its archives.
| Most wisely his excellency recon-
mends: earnestly urge, therefore, that
you Immediately appropriate sum of
not less than 500, 900, to be expended
under the direction of such an ct-obfciO
board of state officers as YOU may deem
best, in the purchase of plat of ground
contiguous to the business center of
Olympia, upon which to erect suitable
structure, properly furnished and equip
ped. for the accommodation of the bust
ness of the various departments of state;
/ for the preservation of its valuable
records and archives; and for the safe
keeping of its funds. Under the present
condition of rapidly enhancing values,
and taking into consideration the
amounts of money appropriated an
nually for rental aud other expenses,
this recommendation cannot fail, in my
opinion, to meet your approval, if from
no other than from a purely busineas
standpoint; as not only the expenses of
maintenance would be materially re-
duced, but upon the completion Of per-
manent capitol buildings, such improved
property could, without question, be
disposed of at considerable advance of
its original cost.
! Under section of article of the con-
stitution, the states Indebtedness is linz
tied, at any one time, to 500, 900. Bonds
to the amount of $500, 700, maturing i'll
fifteen years, have already been issued,
pursuant to the provisions of an act APP
proved February 26, 1890. In my opin-
ion, it would be wise policy to submit an
amendment to this article of the consti-
tuition, fixing the limitation of our bond.
edindebtednessa at a reasonable percentage
| of our assessed valuation.
He finds the salaries of the county Off
GERS in certain cases ridiculously small,
and suggests thorough revision of the
law fixing the same.
He deprecates the present system Of
appointment of commissioners of the
public institutions by the governor.
Thinks the system bad.
He recommends the publication, by
authority, of the laws in the newspapers
of the state.
He recommends the publication of
1000 copies of the proceedings of the con-
stitutional convention.
He gives this summary of Puget Sound
shipping and commerce:
ENTRANCES OF VESSELS.
Number American vessels from for
eign ports. .......... &C.. ............. 100
Tonnage American vessels from for
eign ports. .....-.-- ..--... S14,120
Number foreign vessels from foreign
ports ,,.......... ..-........>.. 1Oi
Tonnage foreign vessels from foreign
ports - .-...-......'' si4I2
Number cOastwse vessels. ............ 2,ij
Tonnage cOastwiSe vessels. ............ 2O1 ASS
AS sailing vessels under "coastwise
documents" are not required to enter and
clear al the custom house, the statistics
relative to the coastwise trade are incom-
plete.