Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-03-14
C0UNTy DRAWING
MANY SETTLERS.
PLANT ORCHARDS
Chamber Fosters Colonization
Plan to Cultivate 1000 Acres,
Says Secretary Whiting.
GAIN IN POSTAL RECEIPTS.
Report Urges Establishment of
Port Commission-More Pub
licity-Monthly Meetings.

InaJ JneTe mas Deen a SUBSTANTIAL
influx of new settlers into Thurston
county during the last year and that
the Olympia Chamber of Commerce is
now aiding the promotion of coloni-
zation plan by which 1000 acres of
logged-over lands in this county will
be settled, are two statements made
by Secretary H. L. Whiting in the re-
port he presented at the annual meet
ing of the Chamber of Commerce last
Tuesday night, indicating both the
past growth undergone by Olympia and
Thurston county and that which seems
imminent.
"a week never goes past but what
the Chamber is informed of new peo.
pie coming here to locate" said Secre.
tary Whiting. 81 recall one week in
particular when our records showed
five families had located in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Olympia, and of the
five. three had been in correspondence
with the Chamber of Commerce.
"At this time the Chamber is assist
ing materially in colonization scheme
which should be closed within few
weeks and will result in the settle
ment of at least 200 families on one
thousand acres Of logged-over lands.
Pronounced development Is now
under way in and about Lacey. More
than 1900 acres are being planted to
fruit this year in one section. This
means intensified cultivation upon
small farms. and will do as much to
strengthen the foundation of the city
as any one thing. Numerous orchards
have been set out in other neighboring
districts and the citizens Of Olympia
should see to 1t that Olympia handles
all of this fruit and produce and that
1t Is distributed from Olympia and not
some neighboring city ON Puget Sound
"The report of Postmaster w. T.
Cavanaugh for the year ending March
81 will be great surprise to Olympia.
For the quarter ending September
the city showed a gain in postal
receipts Of more than per cent, which
was far ahead of any city of similar
size in the Northwest. while Seattle
showed q gain of 2.7 per cent. Tacoma
1.6 per cent, Bellingham IL per cent.
and Walla Walla O.3 per cent Other
large cities in the state, not named
above, either lost or made no gain.
With these conditions prevailing
throughout the state, the growth of
Olympia is more than gratifying
"The Chamber is making an earnest
effort to have private interests take up
the reclaiming of oyster shells in Puget
Sound for their lime qualities. This
would not only mean new industry to
the city but would enable farmers in
Western Washington to buy the sell
containing over IS per cent. at very
reasonable price, 50 per ton being suffi-
cient to net the operators more than q
reasonable return on their money"
After urging that more publicity and
advertising be given Olympia by the
Chamber. recommending in this res
pect the issuance of several new fold
ers and at least one community book
let, Secretary Whiting also recommend
ded that the Chamber should take the
Initiative in the establishment Of a
port commission for Thursday county;
should assist the library board in OBJ
tanning $25,O00 Carnegie library;
should encourage trade relations with
other cities and communities by means
or trade excursions; should issue a
map showing Olympia's metropolitan
area; should protest against the dis
elimination in railroad rates against
olympia; should work to obtain more
conventions, and should hold monthly
meetings and weekly or semi-monthly
luncheons, when members can get to-
gether.