Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-30

sary for the public health, that there
can be only one answer to such a
plain question. Is it the part of
wisdom to empower the City Attor-
ney to employ legal assistance in a
matter thus plain at the expense OF
the taxpayers of this community?
Are not our taxes high enough al
ready? Where are we going to get
off at?
The freight steamer j. W. Sterritt,
owned by the Merchants Transport
tation Company, was destroyed by
fire at the entrance of Commence
ment Bay, Monday afternoon. from
which six men narrowly escaped with
their lives. The vessel was en- route
for Seattle. loaded mainly with hay.
which in some manner caught fire
and rapidly developed into a surging
blaze. The indianapolis ignored the
signal of distress from the burning
ship, but the Standard Oil Co. s
steamer Maverick and the tug Fear
less started Immediately for the res
cue of the imprisoned crew on the
burning steamer, and succeeded in
taking the remainder, six men. who
had not taken to the boats with the
seven who had already escaped to
shore. The Sterritt was valued at
S15, 900 and insured for $ll $50. The
origin of the fire is unknown.
Two big companies for developing
gas wells and operating coal leads
have been formed by Tacoma,
Portland and local capitalists. One
of them, it is said, will take over the
Mud River Coal and Gas company,
the Black mine and other properties
near Tacoma, capitalized at $500, 600.
jeff Cannon is interested in this en-
terprise. The other, a $50, 900 in
corporation will construct a railroad
and build up the old line, for carry.
ing the product of the mines to the
cities. There are immense deposits
of Ignite coal in the county. and it is
thought that the development of
McArthur's gas-producer will stimu-
late and maintain the mining indus
tries of this district. 1t is highly
probable also that our city will be-
come an important adjunct in the
transfer of products to other parts of
home and foreign demand.
The recent home coming session of
the Knights of Pythias and Pythian
Sisters of this city, held at Pythian
hall, was grand affair. A good
musical programme was rendered.
Mrs. Clara Lasityr Allen presided at
the piano. There were at least 100
Knights and ladies present, includ-
ing the young folks. After the rem
dition of the programme in the main
hall, the crowd was invited to sit
down at the banquet tables. After
partaking of the sumptuous viands,
Knight Robert J. Friedman, as toast
master, called for speeches. Theo-
dOre l.. Brown was the first to re-
spond, giving a short history of Cap
ital Lodge from the time it was or
ganized in 1884. Mrs. Stephen ].
Chadwick responded for the ladies in
neat and appropriate address. State
Organizer Clark Savidge told how
happy he was to be again at home,
among his old crowd. Good addresses
were also made by Judge Nathan S.
Porter and others. The occasion
was a very enjoyable one. Much
credit is due to the Sisters, who
furnished and prepared the eatables.
They never do such things by halves.
Mr.. j. NJ. Hit proved to be of valu-
able assistance to the ladies in this
regard. He knows how to make him
self useful on such occasions and in
lodge affairs generally.