Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-12-15
SECRETARY'S REPORT
WHAT THE CHAMBER OF CON-
MERGE HAS DONE.

Marked Business Improvement Chamber
has Kept in Touch with the Spirit of Progress
Tho Logging Enterprises-Increase Of
Ocean Commerce Show that the
Chamber Should be Better Sustained by the
People.
The part of Secretary Kings Annual
Report to the Chamber of Commerce
that is of general interest is given be-
low:
To the Honorable Chamber of
Commerce-Gentlemen: In his re-
port one year ago your secretary took
occasion to review at length not only
the work OF the Chamber for the pre-
ceeding year but also the general pro.
gress OF our city during the same pc
riod. Believing that such review can
not fail of being beneficial, / have
adopted the same plan in this report.
"The year just now drawing to
close has been one of great advance
ment and prosperity for this city and
the adjacent portions of the State.
Business of every kind shows marked
improvement, and labor has been
fully employed and generally we'll
paid. Manufacture in every branch
has been active, and there have been
no shut-downs on account of lack of
orders, while very many of our manu-
featuring establishments have been
compelled to increase the capacities of
their plants in order to meet the in
creasing demand for their products
and even then some of them have
The Capital Creamery, established
last year, and which received the aid
and encouragement of the Chamber,
still continues to operate, and its
business, am informed, is increasing
so that it may now be said to be estab-
lished Oh a solid basis, and gives
promise of soon becoming one of the
most prosperous business enterprises
in our city, though it must be regret
ted that it has not always received the
hearty support of the farming popula-
ton that it should.
During the past year q number OF
new business enterprises have been es-
tablished here which are of consider
able Importance to our people
Among those deserving especial men,
ton are the keystone Lumber com.
pany's new shingle mill and C. Il.
Mason's machine shops. Both of
these establishments will be consider
able employers Of labor and will be
ready for active operations with the
opening of next year. The Capital
Touring mills, after number of years
OF idleness, have again been placed in
operation, under competent manage
ment, and give promise of future
prosperity.
"The establishment here during the
past year of the dumping grounds OF
the Mason County Logging company
and that of the Log Shippers Associa-
ton of Chehalis county, are matters OF
more than ordinary Importance to
this city. The former of these con-
Germs has placed in the bay during the
past summer and fall many million
feet of logs, and paid on: thousands of
dollars for labor and supplies. The
latter will probably be ready to begin
active operations with the opening of
the next logging season. When these
two companies are in full and COM
plete operation Olympia will be one of
the greatest, if not the greatest, log
market i'm the Northwest.
"During the year the ocean COM
merce to Olympia harbor has in
creased very considerably. Twenty
four ocean-going vessels have loaded
at our wharves since / made my last
report. While this is the case, it is to
be regretted that the government en-
gineers charged with the duty of see.
ing To harbor Improvements have con.
tinued to report that the harbor is
only used by light draft vessels en-
gagged in local traffic. 1t is believed
that the railway traffic of the city will
show like marked increase.
"The city shows considerable and
steady increase OF population of very
desirable class, and healthy advance
in real estate values, while municipal
finances show some improvement.
"The membership of the Chamber
has not increased ms much as its activ-
ity in promoting the public welfare
would warrant nor have all of it's
members given the time and attention
to the public enterprises that a
healthy public spirit would demand.
In no case is this more apparent than
in the apathy shown in failure to at
tend the monthly meetings of the
Chamber. During the year consider
able sums, outside of the ordinary rev.
enues of the Chamber, have been col
lected and expended in assistance of
new enterprises which were DESTROYS of
locating here, while q considerable
amount OF the ordinary revenue has
been used in the same way. The
Chamber has acquired leases of con-
siderable portions of the tide lands
within the city limits and now hold
the same for the purpose of furnishing
sites to any manufacturing or other
enterprises DESTROYS of using them.
"The secretary's Office has furnished
information by letter to many persons
in all parts Of the country and has