Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-11-25
Concluded from second page. J

from StCOIlAi pI-c.
Size. with Il succession OF editors,
among whom were Amory Holbrook,
Of Oregon City. Vim. Lair Hill of
Portland and Urban f. Hicks of
Olympia, and ca pd>soht be it noted
f. I. Gum, also of this city was at
one time an associate publisher.
The same business Sagacity enabled
Mr. Pittock to see in Mr.. Scott. the
qualities that afforded the Orcgonion
the staid and dignifed course that
gave it strength and permanency; so
the daily edition had a rapid growth
to full-tledged city newspaper.
No such opportunity was present
ed the STANDARD. When the Nor
thern Pacific Railroad located its
Western terminus at Olympia. how
ever, it was thought to be turning
point for speedy development. The
STANDARD at once secured and used
the first steam power press ever op-
Grated in the Territory OF Washing
ton; it also associated for year in the
editorial work with its founder and
hitherto sole editor, Hon. Beriah
Brown, senior, a writer not only of
coast but national reputation, and
made diligent effort to catch the ap-
parently favoring gale for develop
ment and permanence. The history
of the infamous betrayal of trust by
that company, under manipulation OF
the Lake Superior and Puget Sound
Land ring, who planned to extend
the alternate section land grant
much farther than was intended, and
induced the company to break faith
with our people and move the termi
nus on parallel to the Sound to some
other point, in the stipulation for
striking tide wafer. This was n
death-blow to Olympia and all bud
ding enterprises for score of years
and completely frustrated its hopes
of being large city till at least the
present time.
That is why the STANDARD re-
manned four-page' paper, as Mr..
Scott used for the divisional line,
and many other enterprises were
crushed that would have speedily
built city far excelling Seattle or
Tacoma in Importance, had the mat
ter met with peaceful adjustment.
1t might have saved from bankrupt
cy the financial backing of the rail-
road, Jay Cooke & Co., quite as we'll
as the device of building in to Taco
ma. Notwithstanding the clearing
and grading had passed that city
some ten miles in the effort of farther
progress when the order for "any
port in storm" was given.
The location at Olympia aroused
the greatest enthusiasm. 1t was made
as Christmas gift in 1871. by the
acceptance of the Peoples donation
of land by the company's accredited
agents, John A. Goodwin and John
w. Sprague. The news was an
nOunced by the ringing of bells and
booming of cannon at midnight, and
the people all turned out and trudged
about through snow two feet deep to
mingle their congratulations. For
six months the delusion of perma-
nency existed and no property was
for sale at any price, and after
abandonment of the site, it could be
sold for no price.
Some leading men in our Terrific
rial history were connected with the
advent of the STANDARD. Hon. FL
wood Evans gave it lasting and cor
dial support, L. p. Beach, afterwards
Surveyor General, was on its typo
graphical force, several years, RObt.
Frost, of this city. and George
Hines, of Portland, Historian of the
Oregon Pioneer Society, were init
mately connected with its history.
James G. Swan, author OF Three
Years in Washington Territory"
and Paul K. Hubbs, of Port Towns
end, wrote many interesting articles
relating to early conditions, customs
and habits of both the early settlers
and the aboriginal population.
At the date the STANDARD began
publication there was no Seattle nor
Tacoma. The former was known as
Alki, and was the site of Yesler's
mill and probably a saloon and a
Studil ot'uC VI tWO. 1dCOiilu NdS
known by its old mill name and
new Tacoma had not yet been
born, and first saw the light of day
when McCarver of Portland came
over to act as mid wife. Seattle had
no newspaper till a printer named S.
T.. Maxwell started small paper
called the Gazette. His plant was
small, and for several years much of
his job-work and other printing was
done In Olympia on the STANDARD
presses Mr.. Maxwell was succeeded
by J. r. Watson, from this city, and
afterwards Samuel l.. Crawford, a
graduate of the STANDARD, who be-
came part owner of the P-L and
greatly aided that paper evolution to
the size and dignity of a metropolitan
paper. The first paper printed in
Tacoma was also from Olympia, the
Daily Tribune, transplanted from
this city, after several years of SER
vice here. by Mr.. Prosch & Sons,
who afterwards became identified
with Seattle interests and literally
grew up" with the town.
The entertainment concluded with
selection by the quartet, "Old
Lang Syne," in which the entire
audience joined.
Then another Misunderstanding and
leave-taking ensued in which the bet
ter part Of an hour was consumed,
Notwithstanding the joyous party
had already entrenched upon couple
of hours of Sabbath morning.
SOCIALIST MEETINGS