, 1891-12-31
OLYMPIA
Closes a Year Of Untold
Prosperity.
NOTED INCREASE IN NUMBER
OF BUILDINGS.
Business Blocks, Churches,
Schools, Etc.
WONDERFUL MANUFACTURING
RESOURCES

General Hazard Stevens Shows the
Commercial Advantages Ofthe Cap
ital City, and How 1t is Attract
ing Attention as Railroad Center.
This thirty-frst day Of December, 1891,
closes the most encouraging, progressive,
and successful year ever chronicled in the
history Of Olympia and Thurston county.
Improvements have been prosecuted to
such an extent that the city present al
most an entirely changed appearance, and
many beautiful structures adorn the busi-
ness and residence thoroughfares. In this
particular especially, it has surpassed any
city on Puget Sound Dwellings have been
erected by scores, and the outlying districts
have become thickly populated. New
streets, new bridges, new stores, new
churches and new people, which mllst nee
essarily demand new homes, are sufficient
evidence Of the progressive spirit which
has awakened the State Capital during the
past year. Handsome stone and brick
structures have taken the place of frame
building to such an extent that in few
years, tits fair to anticipate that the bust
ness section will be one mass of imposing
structures.
SOME EVIDENCE
Of just what has been done may here be
given. The report Of City Engineer Mil
lard Lemon shows that since january /,
1891, the sum Of $95,OO0 has been expended
on the grading Of streets alone, While the
additional improvements, in planking,
curbing, construction Of sidewalks, and
other repairs show the total ~liture
on streets to be fully 100000 In addition
to this, bridges have been constructed,
the West side bridge deserving particu-
lar mention in being Che longest
and widest bridge on Puget Sound.
1T connects Olympia with the Westside,
is eighty feet wide, with twelve foot side
walks, and contains the track for the West
side electric railway. The total cost Of
brick and stone and wooden structures,
with dwellings, aggregate more than S3,-
100000. Prominent among these may be
mentioned the new court house, which will
be completed by March 1 at a cost Of $l07,- r.
900; the McKenny building, costing $75, 900;
the Bettman, Reed, Stuart, Hale Chilberg,
Union and other blocks, averaging $4,000
each. New dwellings, are inumerabIe.
Three new churches, the Unitarian, the
Episcopal and the Christian church, have
been built, making a creditable addition to
Olympia. This gives a church for every de-
nomination.
FOR ITS POSTAL FACILITIES
Olympia cannot be excelled by any city Of
its size on Puget Sound. 1t has hand
some new postofIice building, and tomor-
row the free delivery system will go into
operation with four carriers to deliver and
collect the mail. Twenty-Five letter boxes
are now being placed on the street corners.
THE STATE OFFICERS,
nearly all of whom reside in Olympia. now
have their headquarters ia the McKenny
building, which is rented by the state. Pro
vision has been made for a state building
to be located at Olympia that will surpass
any west of the Mississippi. Upon the adj
mission to statehood 49,, 900 acres of land
were granted by congress, the proceeds Of
which are to be devoted to the construction
Of state capitol. Already nearly 10000
acres have been selected, the average value
being $40 per acre.
The season just closed has noted OIym-
pia, the state over, for its
ENORMOUS FRUIT SHIPMENTS.
Carload after load las been forwarded to
lower Sound points. Apples, pears, pluns
and small fruits have been raised in abun-
dance, and with little attention. Tie
farmers, too, in the surrounding counties
have enjoyed a most successful crop. The
soil is rich and we'll adapted to the raising
Of cereals. IT is just six miles from THI
TRIBUNE office, where wheat was raised by
Owen Bush, which secured the golden
medal at the Centennial exposition, in Phil
adelphia, as being the finest wheat in the
world. At the Chicago exposition the
story will be repeated.
WHAT rs HERE.
In keeping with its prosperous condi
tions, Olympia can boast Of one of tlt
prettiest theaters on the Pacific coast, {
handsome hotel costing over 100000, tws
daily and four weekly newspapers, .
handsome club house valued at sic, 900, on,
Of the largest and most complete hospital
on Puget Sound, two handsome bricl
school structures costing $4,000 each
which, in point Of architectural beauty ant
substantiability cannot be excelled. Til
largest gridiron for the accommodation 0
Puget Sound steamers, immense Goa
bunkers at deep water, connected with tn
mines by-a standard gauge road, and a fl
department with all the conceivable cleo
trio details for quick and effective work
Nearly everything used in Thuston count
lis Of
HOME PRODUCTION.
immense roller mill supplies the popula
ton with flour. From the tannery in tn
south part Of the city is sent ont Ieathe