Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-03-01
(Second instalment.)

county, having been noted in the pre-
vious article, it now becomes neces-
sary to make an extended notice Of
the advent of population to the ad-
jacent region, in order to appreciate
the elements of Olympia settlement
and progress.
The history of all Oregon settle
ments, and this includes those made
in the portion now known as Wash
ington territory, exhibits a slow de-
velopment of towns or communities,
attributable to the restrictive prOvi-
sions of the first land law of the Ore
gon Provisional government, contin-
ued by the donation act of 1850 and
not materially amended by the pres
ent homestead law. which compels
parties who desire to acquire title to
lands to reside continuously upon
and cultivate them.
Thus while Olympia or some point
enjoying a name, possibly fortunate
enough to be designated as a county
seat or to be recognized as post
Office, is the real destination or in
tended domicile of a settler, yet that
land law defeated aggregation of
population, widely scattered those
who were really but one community
in interest, destroyed that mutually
of dependence upon our fellow beings
so promotive of and essential to
human happiness and comfort Par
ties might be induced by donations
of land to settle in the territory, but
instead of building up communities.
making settlements inviting by Sc
curing social benefit which commu-
nifty brings as necessary incident.
such land law scattered instead Of
aggregating-it multiplied the num-
Der OF settlements without aiding to
establish single community.
1t denied the alienation of shar-
ing each others labors and tighten
ing the duty of each by cooperative
efforts 1t enhanced school expenses
or forced the settler to bring up his
children in ignorance. 1t multiplied
the number of roads, imposing at the
same time upon a single individual
the heavy burden Of opening a way
out or staying eternally a hermit,
away from all society but his own
immediate household.
Large tracts were dotted upon and
but little improved, while no locality
however blessed by nature was able
to receive a marked development.
The towns were therefore necessarily
compelled to remain 2 mere rendez-
vous or bazaar for the exchange of
staple articles of produce for import
ed merchandise.
Those early settlers complied in
good faith with these restrictive pro-
visions. or rather the penalties i'm
posed as the condition of being will
ing 20 convert waste and wild lands
into settlements adapted as the
homes of men and women. never
absenting themselves from their
claims save to pursue for time some
paying employment whereby they
might earn the means to improve
their lands or support and educate
their families. The town, though
not their abiding place. was yet the
point from whence they hailed"
where they expected to be reached
hsould inquirers seek them, whose
growth was but the reflex of the pro-
priety Of judgment in adopting this
as their home.
Thus, even now. while Olympia
proper will hardly number 1000 in
habitants. yet it is the home or
"head-center" for settlers extending
through several adjacent counties,
whose business connections insepa-
rably identify them as part and par
eel of its constitution.
The Sylvester claim" the Smith
field of 1S47, had then already given
indication that it was destined to be-
come the southernmost Of the outlets
and distributing points for the set
Elements then commencing in the
basin of Puget Sound.
The unrivaled waterpower at Tum-
water, at the mouth of Des Chutes
river (the extreme head of Budd's
inlet had already been appropriated
as private claim. The prairie
south of it was occupied by a num-
Der Of American families. The
American settlements of New Mar
ket (called by the natives "Steechas"
and now Tumwater) and Smithfield
were already interviewer as a COM
mon settlement with a common in
terest and common destiny. A few
settlers were scattered between the
head of navigation on the Cowlitz
river (Cowlitz Landing) and Puget
Sound.
Already the vast commercial ad-
vantages Of the Sound were appre-
ciated. and those pioneers fully real
lied that from the Columbia river to
Puget Sound. at no distant day. there