Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-07-30
An Impending Crisis.

GONE, LEI Is REAsON loGETHER.
\ very interesting meeting Of the
Board OF Trade was held Monday
evening, in til" Council Chamber, to
consider the findings oi a committee
appointed To report upon Il proposition
of the Washington WOODEN Mill Co.
for relocating their factory at Tum-
water. But it seems that the COM
pany are not yet in a position to de-
termine just what their course may be,
and the committee recommends an
action on the part of our people which
will place Tumwater, when it is ready
to make a definite proposition, i'll the
lead as the objective point for all such
enterprises and in time command a
business which will place not only
Olympia and Tumwatcr, but the whole
OF Thurston and some of the adjoining
counties, on the high road to pros
perity. The report is published in an
other column and but little more need
be said to place the matter squarely
before the people.
In order to maintain the light and
railroad plant, and have power for
other purposes, it will be necessary to
reinforce the present fall with the up
per cascade, for the purpose of obtain
ing head that will develop larger
power in the turbines now in USE
When the water is at its lowest stage,
there is now barely enough head to
perform the work required, without
any excess to offer 10y way of induce
mcnt for enterprises requiring cheap
power as a primary essential for oper-
alton at profit. To obtain full ow-
nership and control OF the upper fall,
and to fume it in manner that will
develop its power, will require the ex-
penditure of from $500 to $4,000.
The plan outlined by the committee
to raise this sum is by sale of enough
stock to our people to place the valu-
able water-power that has so long run
to waste, at work as a means for lift
ing the car of Progress from rut and
placing its wheels again in motion on
an upward grade.
To do this requires the purchase oil
from $50 to 300 shares of stock ut $2j
per share. In good, or ordinary times
this requirement could be met by an
hours canvass, but under present con.
ditions it is but natural that we should
consider the matter in all its aspects.
1t seems to us that the Light &
Power plant has shown ample capa
bility of taking care of itself during a
long siege Of the most blighting pros
tration. An enterprise that could be
managed as we'll as both the light and
car service has been during the fearful
prostration of 1896, and show profit
on the credit side after payment of al
operating expenses, repairs and taxes
certainly deserves respectful considera
ton, when it is proposed to make it {
prime factor in lifting our community
to plane of self-support.
1t is evident that we must do some
thing, and do it quickly. It may b.
already too late for many to regain
their lost footing, but if even few
fall, like the row of tumbling bricks i
may result in general prostration
The question then is, Can we affort
not to avail ourselves of this means fol
business revival? 1t is scarcely ne
cessary to answer the question; it il
hardly requisite to state the condition.
which have confronted our peopl,
since their hopes OF a speedy construc
ton of the State capitol were shat
tered by cold-blooded, vindictive ex
ecutive, who has thwarted by his per
sonal mandate the wishes OF the people
as expressed overwhelmingly at tn
polls and twice in their halls of legis
lation.
The investment of dollar with {
reasonable hope of saving several dol
lars thereby, is sound business policy
and the poorer the community is, tn,
greater the necessity for rustling fo
the dollar to invest. 1t may partak'
of the nature of heroic remedy, bu
this is sometimes prescribed by thu
best doctors to preserve the life of {
patient.
At the low rate at which the shares
have been placed, it becomes an enter
prise in which all can help. "Many
hands make light labor; many drop
fill the bucket, and many wills directed
towards the accomplishment of sin
gle object make it posi- BILE, if not easy
Until effort seldom fails. 1t has been
at least, shown that nothing can be los
in this investment, even though il
should fail of the grand object so con
fidently expected as a result.
Let those who are called upon Il
subscribe for stock not refuse because
their means are limited. The poores
are often those who possess propert,
which has become a.burden to them
and none know so we'll as many Wit
have tried it, how difficult it is to real
ize on property of any description
He who has no property to tax is often
nowadays, in better condition to raise
few dollars than he who is compelled
to witness tie spectacle of his propert.
gradually Disappearing in the mael