Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-08-16

The contour OF the water front Is
much changed from what it was in
early days. On the east, from where
now the Northern Pacific depot has
found q lodging place on fill trav-
ersed by the line on its southwestern
approach, extending along the eastern
limits of the tier of blocks lying on
Main street, to First. Few buildings.
except Indian wigwams, existed in this
district In fact the land where we
entirely appropriated by the aborig-
ines and stumps, and colloQuialiy
known as Chinook street" The west
ern fill has. however, extended the sur
face several blocks into the bay-as
far as Water street-and varied the
grade on the streets running both
north and west, wholly changing its
appearance.
The shore line of the bay has some
objects of interest. On the east side
about half way to Tumwater is point
projecting into the bay noted as the
lonely burial place Of Judge Victor
Monroe, to whom allusion was made
in q previous paper. 1t was said he
died Of an infectious disease, and In
the early days this precaution was pre-
sumed to be wise as possible pre-
vcntion from it's spreading. A singu-
lar coincidence Is that on the opposite
shore, was the "Percival place" that
was noted for being the asylum of one
Of our old time merchants. F. Breck-
enfield, who, on his return from San
Francisco for purchase of store sup
plies, was found to be broken out with
smallpox, and 1t was here that he was
cared for during several weeks Of treat
ment and during convalescence. His
many friends we're thus debarred from
his close compani0nship. but they did
sometimes fish from the opposite side
Of the stream that flows into the bay
at this point and shout messages of
sympathy and good will across the In
let. The stream that here flows into
the bay is very small. but this did not
dcter very early settlers from using it
to operate small saw mill. but It's
product was very meager-about 1000
feet q day-ample power for larger
mills being only few miles away, at
Tumwater
Other claims" on the western water
front were Of Edwin Marsh, opposite
Olympia, the Dobbins place, on the
point just below, the Moses Hurd
farm. and Browns point, where Kon-
rad Schneider had q farm and where
deep-water wharf had been built, for
the convenience Of landing freight by
head Of the Sound, generally to- load
with piles. 1t was found to be risky
business, after one old ship had her
bottom punched up through her hull
by grounding on the mud fats. rem
dering her unfit for any use except to
reclaim the old iron that was rendered
available by fire, hence the novel spec
tacle of ship on fire was afforded our
people, without any of the usual at
tendant horrors.
It was in those days that a bridge
side, and road on the west bank to
Browns wharf," by which merchan-
disc was hauled the remaining dis
tance to the town. And one of the
characteristics wonders of the day, the
bridge was mainly built by the exer-
tions of the few women then here, by
sewing bees. dancing parties and other
forms of amusements. At one of the
balls given for this meritorious work
the admission fee was placed at $40,
but the hall was filled, as q mark Of re-
spect to the ladies as well as to aid
the good object. But this did not end
the good work. The town afterwards
built Long wharf. which was an ex-
tension of Main street, several thou
sand feet to deep water. to point
nearly opposite the Priests place and
our present city park. 1t may be in
teresting to note, however, that pre-
vious to this. the plan enthusiastically
advocated by some of our citizens of
kicking" out channel was tried.
That was of employing one of the large
steamships, weighing down her stern,
and hitching her to substantial frogs"
consisting Of clusters Of piles, and then
revolving her screw propellers rap
idly. This dug out bole satisfactor-
lily. but the mud and silt settled back
again, and the channel cut was almost
Immediately replaced with as solid