Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-02-08
A Bit II Early History.


thousands Of dollars, and will I'M
doubtedly be a great benefit to the
whole Northwest, and demonstrate
the phenomenal growth Of Puget
Sound shipping, along with other
developments, We are reminded OF a
small debt our people and the nation
owes-and have owed for half a cen-
/ tury-to the master and owner of the
pioneer steamer Traveller, which may
be said 10 have been the bed-plate or
keel Of the present Puget Sound COM
merce, a trade that has led up not
only to the once barren shores OF
/ Alaska, but to the business centers Of
the whole world.
The following memorial is self
explanatory:
MEMORIAL.
FOR CONVERSATION TO JOHN G. Parker,
FOR CARRYING L. :. MAILS ON PUGET
SOUND IN 1906 ON STEAMBOAT
TRAVELLER.
t. tie UonoraJle tie Senate AMI House
Of Representatives. Of tie Cnited States
IN Congress assembled:
The memorial of the Legislative As
sembly of the Territory of Washington
respectfully represents, that William NJ.
Rutledge, Esq. postmaster of the town
of Olympia, in said Territory, in the
years 1866, in the month of September
4. d., 1885. contracted with and en-
ployed Captain John G.. Parker, Junior,
master and owner of the steamboat
! Traveller, to transport the United States
mails one trip per week between Olym-
pia and Seattle, in said Territory, sup
plying the then only intermediate post
office at Steilacoom, the distance recog-
nized by the Postot1ice Department
being 65 miles, and the route then
established and numbered 1903, for
the price or sum of five thousand dollars
per annum that said postmaster Rut-
ledge, Immediately thereafter. to-wit ::
on the twentieth of September, 1855, or
Whereabouts. duly notified the Second
Assistant Postmaster General of the
employment in said mail service of the
said John G.. Parker, Junior, and that
pursuant to said employment said Parker
carried said mails upon said steamer
Traveller from the nineteenth day of
October, 1855. to the nineteenth day of
October, 1856, and that at no time from
said twentieth of September, 1855.
down to the present time did the said
Second Assistant Postmaster General,
or any other officer of the Postoffice
Department disavow said contract, but
the Government of the United States
did enjoy for said full year the services
of said Parker in the conveyance of raid
United States mails; that in 1857 a
contract was awarded between Olympia
and Victoria, a little more than twice
the distance between Olympia and
Seattle, for $4,000 per annum; that
steam mail communication between
Olympia and Steilacoom and Seattle
in the latter part of 1885, and the greater
part of 1856, was essential in the Terri.
tory, as an Indian war was raging and
these points were respectively the CEN
tiers of military and naval operations,
and moreover, any other means Of trans
portation were unsafe and impossible !;
that the sum of twelve hundred and
fifty dollars Isl ,250), was RENTED to the
said Parker in 1853 on account of said
mail service, and that We believe that
the balance of the the price agreed upon
is justly due to said Parker for his
services. Therefore,
| Your memorialists respectfully pray
your Honorable Bodies to make an
appropriation in behalf of the said John
G. Parker for such sum as is Justly his
due for the services hereinabove recited.
| And your memorialists will ever pray.
Passed the House of Representatives
October II, 1875.
ELWOOD EVANS,
Speaker of House of Representatives.
Passed the Council October II, 1875.
B. F. SHAW,
| President OF the Council.
There is an old saying that seems
appropriate just at this time: "Be
just before you are generous" II
Uncle Sam is backward in payment Of
bis smaller debts, probably on &C.
count OF their smsllness, or it may
have been the want of influence of
representatives who present them,
it by no means lessons the obligation.
The following was embodied in the
National Republican platform, adopt.
ed at Chicago, May Goth, 1868:
I'VE denounce all forms of repudia.
ton as a national crime; and the nation
al honor requires the payment of the
public indebtedness in the uttermost
good faith to all creditors at home and
abroad, not only to the letter but the
spirit of the laws under which it was
contracted"
i 1t is respectfully suggested that in
this time of jubilation over the
prospect of Worlds Fair, it nigh,
be we'll to consider the small bu,
honest claim OF one who was such 6
prominent factor in helping the city
selected for the great exhibit when she
90 much needed direct, safe and speedy
communication with Olympia. the
headquarters and base OF supply durinf
the Indian war.
It would be agraceful act ON tn
part OF the State to recognize the
service did at q time when it wal
unsafe for even the villagers to depend
upon their own efforts for safety
Olympia, with her 20. foot stockade tn,
whole longth OF Fourth street connect
ing the two arms OF the bay and en-
closing the lower part OF town and witt
revenue cutter 10 Lane, lying in tn,
harbor, to protect from attacks by wa
ter, was considered impregnable by tn
savage. and Seattle connected by quicl
} means of communication, doubtless i'm
pressed the willy foe with the belief tha
discretion might indeed be the bette
part of valor.
The owner OF that pioneer steame,
the Traveller. Capt. John G. Parker
is now verging on to the age whel
such long deferred payment, il made
would be Of much benefit to him, an,