Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-26
CONNECTING LINK.
Mr.. PAYN, THE STATlSTlCiAN,
GIVES SOME FIGURES

III support OF Ills GrOJeSt Tor (IOV.
ernmcntal Aid i'm the COnstruc-
ton of a Canal Connecting the
Head of Puget Sound with
Gray's Harbor.
In all ages mankind has dreamed OF
universal happiness, and associated
that idea with the growth by discover
les and inventions, of ways and means,
whereby wealth and luxury could be
gathered by industry and thrift in diff
ferent sections, climes and countries
the proof being accentuated by the
intermediate trades, which like an
electric wire, forms the chain of in
tercourse between the producers in diff
ierent latitudes. For without COM
merce, men who enjoy the material
comforts of civilization, would rest
contented with the few rude and
scanty devices, and satisfactions of
barbarism. Thus the merchant, whilst
trafficking with the products of the
tropics, or the temperate zones, con-
tributes to the sustenance and comfort
of man. Therefore commerce in
creases 10th the impetus toward the
facilities for perpetual progress in the
useful arts, whereof intellectual prog
rcss is the natural counterpart and
concommitant. But the merchant,
to-day, must be genius, financier, i,
for upon him devolves the growth and
success of his section of country. He
must be an efficient receiver and dis
| tributer of the bounties of nature and
the product of labor from his neigh
borhood in competition with the deal
ers of direct exchange OF the products
from other centers of commerce, and
unless he can supply the public de-
mand at as favorable terms in COMPETE
ton with Others, there can be no trade.
This basis for profit, to-day, is founded
upon the lowest rates possible for
transportation. This point attained,
there is prosperity in view for the
mines, manufacturer, farmer and the
merchant alike, and with n fair de-
mand and the ability to supply, a fair
profit can be secured to a community
which will bring success if not fortune.
Now this question of transportation
facilities is not for cities alone but for
the country, from whose mines and
farm produce come the bulk of trans
portation traffic and which trade has
a right to get to the seaport cities at
the least cost, and by the most profit
able route. Upon these practical
tests we desire to show how the un-
exampled gifts OF nature so richly be-
slowed upon Western Washington
can through the Olympia and Gray's
Harbor Canal benefit the people of
Puget Sound and their varied indus
tries as the canalized Main river has
done for Frankfort on the Main Ger
many, from which: it appears that
so far from suffering loss of traffic by
reason of improved water transporta-
ton, the railroads have gained steadily
in business during the entire period,
while the total transportation by water
increased GA per cent. in 1887 and ~
per cent. in 1888 over the figures of
the business of 1885 and IS per cent.
above that of 1887. Taking into ac-
count the rates actually paid upon
this increased business, it is found
that the economy of freights caused
by the canalized river amounted to
1,l41 ,5O2 marks in 1887 and by g
755 marks in 1888 and all upon an in
vestment of less that $3,OO0,O0O. Nor
is this all, nor even the most import
ant part of it. The whole commercial
and industrial life of the city has been
quickened and restored by the new and
improved conditions which the canal.
lied river has entailed. The city has
been put into fair and practical compe-
tition with its former rivals. For
twenty years Amsterdam struggled
through great obstacles for the con-
structlon of the Amsterdam and
Rhine canal which was formally
opened in August, 1892. The time
gained by this canal was 8 to ii hours.
What will the proposed Olympia and
Gray's Harbor Canal do for the mari
time cities of Puget Sound? 1t will
save full days travel for ships
bound for Honolulu at eight knots an
hour as by the proposed canal the
Sound cities will be nearer to the
Hawaiian islands than Cape Flattery.
1t will save half a days journey to
vessels bound for Japan at the same
speed. 1t will shorten the distance be-
tween San Francisco and Puget Sound
one day the same way. 1t will bring
the Puget Sound cities as near to San
Francisco as Portland, Or, and Port
land one day nearer to the Sound
cities. Cities OF the old world have
spent millions of dollars for fraction
of the same advantage that this canal
would give to Puget Sound. Incredu-
lous ones see the fearful costs OF such
canal English railways cost f46,-
600 per mile, whilst the average cost
of eighteen OF their principle canals
cost under 10000 per mile. 1t
would be very injudicious to give an