The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
THE CITY OF OLYMPIA.
State Capital Center of Active Rail-
road Operation.
Over $50 New Residences and 1900
PeopIe-New Hotel, New Opera
House, New school Houses.
OLYMpIA. wash. Dec. IS. 1seO.


Before the people of Washington had de-
termined that Olympia should be the per-
manent capital of the state, the old city
had begun to feel the good effects of the
development of the Puget sound country
Long before Tacoma was known or Seattle
had gained distinction as the largest city
in Washington, Olympia was the distribu-
ting center of Puget sound and the end OF
navigation for steamers and other craft
which came irregularly from San Francisco
and elsewhere. The city was founded by
+. Sylvester in 1S47, whose widow, now
resident of Seattle, but lately resided on
the old homestead in the heart of Olympia
directly opposite the new hotel. Some time
before a settlement was made here, Tum-
water, two miles south. the oldest town in
the state, was settled and called New
Market. Back of Olympia, on the beauti-
full prairies, settlers who had braved the
perils of trip across the continent in
prairie schooners had settled. Some of
them are still living, hale and hearty, to
tell of their thrilling experiences to their
children and children's children.
The beautiful location of Olympia and
its delightful surroundings have been so
often described that it is not necessary to
refer to them here. The city may be said
to have been the metropolis of Washing
ton before the busy railroads brought
activity and wealth to this magnificent
state, and before this end of the Sound
began TO be appreciated by the capitalists
From its foundation thirty-three years ago
up to the beginning of the present year its
progress was slow. Today it is bounding
ahead with new blood in its veins and
new impulses to push it along the path of
progress. The old settler and the new
conner have joined hands in this work.
The narrow gauge railroad sixteen miles
in length, which joined Olympia to the
Northern Pacific road portland branch)
at Tenino, for some years past, has been
supplanted during the year by standard
gauge road-the Port Townsend Southern.
New stations have been built in Olympia
and at the junction at Tenino, new rolling
stock added and q double connection made
daily with the great transcontinental line.
The Tacoma, Olympia & Gray's Harbor
railroad, a branch Of the Northern Pacific,
has just been built into the city. It's COM
pletion was announced day or two ago,
and the whistle of its locomotives heard,
and its passing trains, from Seattle and
Tacoma, ON to the Pacinc ocean. make
Olympia the halfway point between the
Gray's Harbor country and Commence
ment bay, and the southernmost point of
navigation on Puget sound touched by
railway.
The Union Pacific forces are now busiIy
at work within the corporation limits tun-
neling and grading, and before the close of
the new year its passenger and freight
trains viii be here.
Thus three great railway lines are at our
doors, two of them in active operation
When the census takers were through
with their work in June the city had in
round numbers 1850 people. So steady
has been the influx of new settlers since
that time that the sun Of the new year
shines upon fully 1900 happy people.
Upwards of $50 new residences have been
built during the year, many of them of
me architecture A new hotel with brick
and stone basement, 11sx140 feet in size,
four stories and an attic, has been built and
opened to guests at a cost of 10000,
lighted throughout with gas and electricity,
and with every appliance of a tirst-class
hotel A new government land office was
opened in August for the Chehalis district,
which brings many people to the capital
city. Two splendid brick school,
houses have been erected, on the
east and west side of the city, at cost Of
$25,O 600 each. They will soon be ready for
occupancy. A third dam has been erected
at Tumwater TO furnish power for the
Olympia Light and Power Company to
give additional electric lights to the grow
ing city. The streets are lined with its
poles, and the flashing lights will be turned
on in two weeks time. The county voted
TO issue bonds at the November election in
the sum of $4,000 TO erect here an inn
posing courthouse, the plans Of which
have been adopted--drawn by Seattle
architectural this structure will orna-
ment the city this year. Substantial
brick blocks have been built in 1890 on the
Main street by General T. /. McKenny,
Mrs. III. III. Stuart and others. The First
National banks beautiful building has
been occupied. and two additional banks,
the Capital National and the State bank
organized and put in operation. Two
daily newspapers, the Tribune and the
Capital, were established and are success
fully running The Olympia Water Com
pany, an organization Of capitalists-all
young men from the East-have put In an
entire new water system and built new iron
mains, erected forty ire hydrants, with
new reservoirs and pump house, at cost
of $4,000. The pressure is so great that
the plug streams" throw water at
greater distance than steam fire engines.
The Olympia Street Railway Company
have horse cars in operation, and are max
ing arrangements TO put in an electric rail
way. John Miller Murphy bas er~~t-9 q