Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-07-21
M:ashjr0tpn Standard
.AVs'it. t~G.
thihil NaRNEiL. Jill y. 1905.


The Park Proposition.
p.ymt;a a.,;..y- ma had a Ny Of
3,.i,; th.n:> When u,ec-s.ry. ti.tt r..
>en.hlcs r3'Hilt thr decision II thu
farm. AMI hi- ION E., '.,ov thr ii,,l 81
hay thcu>rit t. after they had found
that other. would not DO it for them.
ard !. was such resolution that iVilt
&C. deep wA:or wharf, at b:owns
!. .:. 81 ,hr Ncs;-!l". 10 scare
IL i.tu!y 1T - al ocean -icsn'r.
a." Pacific. Coa>t : :. Company I'M
M dIaie.y supplying the service when
II was completed. Then We wanted
communication with Westside and
the large tract Of country that was
ready for settlement as far as Mud
Bay and Black Lake, and soon rs it
WAS supplied hy the Long Bridge, the
wisdom OF the work became quite
evident hy settlement Of the country
and tie creation Of residence district
to our town that has not been sur
passed. Both OF these undertakings
were largely aided and wholly con-
Quoted by social entertainments, balls
and fairs being source OF amusement
largely INDUCED in from the fact that
we were isolated from all sorts of dra-
matte or other entertainment. until n
later period, except Jack Rag and his
Grecisn Statues" which, while be.
ing OF the most primitive nature, was
a source of eminent satisfaction to
himself and his audiences, small
though they were. Then we wanted
a fire engine and the first hall" Ia.
coma" afterwards called Good Temp
lars Hall'-just completed from
somewhat pretentious building de-
signed for wagon shop, by its builder,
Mr.. Stewart, was dedicated by truly
grand ball, for which the price of
tickets was placed at $40 and enough
of them sold to aggregate 5000, with
which Columbia engine was bought,
powerful machine that did excellent
service many times in the height OF
her glory, being really the first regular
fire engine brought to the then Terri.
tory.
Later on, when the Northern Pacific
Railroad Co. ignored its contract for
making Olympia its Western terminus,
the same invincible power when
aroused, built and equipped the Olym.
pia.Tenino branch, and did nearly all
the grading by individual labor OF the
people on what were called "field
days"-Thursdays Of each week-when
Offices and stores were closed, and the
merchant and his clerk, the judge and
= his bailiff, the capitalist and the "man
with the hoe" worked side by side,
and the ladies smiled approval on
their efforts and spread charming
lunches during the resting spells
when the change was made from
labor to refreshment. 1t is quite prob.
able that it was this feature which
made " field days" so popular, quite as
much IS the sense Of duty which
animated the chap who was after the
ground.hog-" preacher is coming and
no meat at our house."
These are not the only objects that
have been forced TO successful termin.
alton by the irrepressible will OF oul
people. School houses have been built
the capital located and retained, noun
tain passes open to immigration. and
other projects successfully directed by
attention TO the many details tina
combine to ensure success, and while
it is not denied that the railroad wa
aided by an issue of bonds, and othel
projects by an occasional special ia,
levy, it cannot be successfully denied
but that all would have been futil,
without the underlying spirit Of firm
resolution.
So it may be affirmed of she effor
now to be made regarding the provis
ion OF an elegant park contiguous t
our city. The county and city hav'
done their part, and the people b.
sanction OF the methods have dom
much, but it must do more. It mus
do what our forefathers" did il
building wharvee, bridges and railroad
track. 1t must put its shoulder Il
the wheel, practically as we'll As fig
uratively. Spades must be the truml
suit and vigor and resolution the rule
OF the game. Everybody must worl
disinterestedly; the CRATER told t.
ego way back and sit down." and tn,
resolute worker content to receive hi
pay in that grateful feeling which
accompanies an approving conscience
Tho land secured for the park
near at hand and ideal in location
1t embraces 256 acres of what has al
ways been known as 1.-THE Priest
Point" on the east side Of the ba,
about mile north of town. 1t cam
by its name by having been the site Q
Catholic mission founded by Fathe
Pascal Ricard in 1S4S, the mission
building standing near where no,
John G. Parker resides, on level trac
at the waterfront. Father Ricar
belonged to that self-sacrifcing, con
secrated band of missionaries know
as tho Oblate Order Of Priests, an
their chief effort seems to have bee
directed towards rescue oi::the "perist
ing" savage and promotion of peace
full relations with the few earlier se