Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-07-30
OBSERVATION OF OLDTIME RESIDENT.
A Few Kind Words as True as They Are
Generous. and Sensible Suggestion.
OLYMPIA. July -, 1909.

OLYMPIA. July p, 1909.
EDITOR Standard:
DEAR SIR: 1t is four years since
last visited your city, and | must say
| am delightfully."- surprised at the ac-
tivlty and indications of prosperity
to be seen IN and about Olympia.
The population has greatly increased;
new substantial structures are in
course of erection, the streets are be
ing improved and have already taken
on metropolitan appearance. and
the people are as genial and hosplt-
able aS they ever were. You are at
the head Of navigation You have
as deep water as any port on the
Sound within a mile and u half of the
foot of Main street. Your facilities
for handling traffic can easily be
made as good as any other port,
either by land or water. Your edu-
cational facilities are unsurpassed
and your climate is surely one of the
best in the world. There are no
heavy grades within the city limits,
which fact makes walking here a
pleasure and allows Your streets to
be extended practically to an unlim-
tied extent in any direction. Your
business blocks, especially on Main
and Fourth streets, are as SubStan
tial and imposing as one could wish
to see anywhere and the stocks car
ricd by your merchants. in extent
and variety, leave nothing to be de
sired. | notice that several new in
dustries have sprung into existence
since | was here last. You have
planning mills, machine shops, boiler
works; you produce building stone,
brick, lumber, shingles, etc, and
your fruits, berries and farm pro-
duce generally are of the finest.
You have excellent water power and
your electric light service is of the
best. might add that Olympia beer
is of no small Importance in your eX-
ports, and is deemed equal to the
best imported Eastern article.
Olympia oysters cannot be eXcelled
for flavor, and there is an unlimited
market for this bivalve.
In my opinion. when the natural
advantages of Olympia become
known to the stranger is they are
known to us of Olympia, we will see
a development here that will make
the citizens of this city open their
eyes in wonder.
This is a safe region There are no
cyclones. tidal waves, earthquakes,
deadly epidemics or anything what
ever to alright the resident such as
exist liz other sections of our coun try
1t is really an ideal location in which
to pass ones life. To the ills to
which, of couise, all flesh is heir,
there are no added ones to be feared
from the giant forces of nature.
Untold centuries Of uninterrupted
peace look down upon us from the
Olympic range and the formation of
the land gives us assurance that for
countless ages in the past here has
been seen Nature only in her most
beneiicent and peaceful aspect.
The light of Olympia. however. up
to date, has been hidden under
bushel. An Olympia Promotion
Committee, composed of energetic
citizens, is a crying need. This com
mittee should be made a permanent
one, and should be rs literally pro-
vided with funds as possible to carry
the news. by literature and other
wise. to a waiting world
We should be placed on the line be-
tween Portland and Seattle. This
would bring thousands of people to
Olympia who cannot get here as
things are Out of these visitors a
considerable percentage would settle
here. once they have a chance to see
the place. If the Northern Pacific
cannot be induced to do this act of
justice to Olympia by an appeal to
its conscience, then it is easy to con-
ceive that an appeal to its pocket
may have the desired effect. At any
rate, agitation for this purpose is the
proper course at the present time.
And it may be possible to secure
this great boon by perseverance in
this SIMPLE formula:
Agitate, agitate, agitate y
Too long has Olympia been in the
position described by the poet:
"Full many gem of purest ray serene
The deepest caves of ocean bear;
Full many rose is born to blush I'M
And waste its fragrance on the desert
Let us be up and doing.
| Yours Very ReSpactfully.